Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-10-18
THE SENATE BILL.

The xenate tariff bill as whole Is TO be
judged rather as measure OF reveru
reduction th..n as one of tariff reform
Pressing az is the demand for revision
of the tariff, it must yield, for the present
10 the mere urgent need of cutting down
she surplus. That scheme OF tariff re-
form which is to be both just and popular
which is to rest upon scientific princi-
pies instead of rough guess work, which
is to conf I'm to the interest of producer
and con, mer alike, must be the work of
body of experts, free from oorgression-
al entanglements and from the clamor of
private greed. To that We ma look
forward as the ultimate and certain
product of the great public demand
or revision and reduction Of the tariff.
What is called for Immediately and must
be had without unnecessary delay IS a
troublesome surplus. The treasury must
not be enabled or encouraged to distrib-
ute among its fsvCrite banks many mil
lions of idle mOnsy belonging to the
people, nor should it be compelled, as the
only alternative, to purchase bonds at any
price which the holders may la future
choose to set upon them. As means Of
cutting dowE revenue to figure coinci-
dent with the requirements of the govern
ment, without injury to any native indus
try and to the benefit of many, the senate
bill is a practical measure adapted to the
exigencies of the day and hour. II con
templates reduction OF some $75,000,
COO in the national income. OF this
amount roughly speaking, the sugar
duties furnish S28, 100000, the duties on
tobacco $24,5OO, 600, and the tax on alco-
hol used in the arts 100000, while ar
ticles placed on the free list contribute
$4,000, 900, and other articles on which
duties are reduced $8, 100000 or SO more
The main feature of this proposition IS
the certainty thet it gill dispose of the
surplus. It is always doubtful IN i'd
vance whether the reduction Of any given
duty will increase or decrease revenue.
But the absolute repeal of taxes, the en-
largement of the free list, and the lower
ing of tae duty on sugar will operate
defnately. The senate bill is, therefore,
what the Mills bill is net, an act that will
prevent the gathering of g surplus for
come years to come. In addition TO this,
il includes many of the changes most
earnestly desired by tariff reformers. t.
deed, if such bill had become law st any
time in the last two or three years, with
out the sugar and tobacco clauses, which
dwarf and distract attention from the 9th
er sections. it would have been hailed as no
inoonsiderable or unwelcone advance
along the date of tariff reduction. To
cite few examples, we find on the free
list books, printed in foreign languages
feathers and downs of all kinds, jute
butts, MANILA, sisal grass and other ma
terials for rough cordage and wrsppings,
ana a large number of chemicals. In
some parts of the wool scheoule there are
slight advances. The chasges in the
metal list are very numerous; and, while
tn. reduction in each classification is not
heavy enough to disturb industry, the ag-
gregate is decided decrease of taxation.
The same is true of cotton goods and of
fax, hemp and jute. If public attention
were not so engrossed by abstract ques
tions relating to the tariff, it would be
seen that there is here, as we'll as in the
chemical schedule, such uniform lower.
ing of rates as must go far to satisfy the
public demand. The senate has done well
in presenting to the country a carefully
considered tariff act, in such marked con
trast to the violent, revolutionary and
sectional bill which the house has ap.
proved. Its distinctly tariff reduction
features are an earnest of the ability aud
Willingness of the republican party &c
carry ont q thoroughgoing reform of the
tariff, In accord with the maintainence OF
the protective system, when it shall be re
tured to power. Between the politics
thus outlined the country must choose,
and the republican party should be able
60 wait the result with squanimity and
confidence.