Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-10-25
THE MAJORITY REPORT.
Senator Allison and HIS Colleagues Ell
plain Their Tariff Bill.

First-To reduce the National revenues,
which are now excessive.
Second-To protect honest importers and do
mestic producers from the disastrous conse-
quences resulting from fraudulent undervalua-
tons Of imported merchandise on which ad va
loren rates OF duty are levied
Third-To remedy the defects, anomalies and
fncongruities which have been from time to
time discovered Ia the tariff schedules or which
have been created by erroneous decisions OF
the Treasury Department.
Fourth-To secure the proper readjustment
and equalization Of tariff rates rendered neces-
sary by modified business cond tons, improve
ment IN methods OF production, radical changes
in prices, or by new elements Or sources OF
competition.
Fifth-To give relief and protection to many
industries which are now suffering on account
of the inadequate rates levied on competing
products.
The public demand for a reduction
of revenue, the majority says, is more
urgent on account of the inexcusable
retention in the National Treasury or
on deposit in National banks of vast
sums of money in excess of the amount
required to pay the current demands
upon the Treasury and to meet the
maturing obligations of the Govern
ment. This sum; with the additions
which will accrue within the next four
months and before any legislative
action reducing the revenues can be
effective, it declares, will be sufficient
to pay in full the outstanding A per
cent. bonds due in 1891, S221, OO0, 900.
This accumulation, it insists, could
and should have been proftably
avoided, and the possibility of business
disaster averted, prompt return of
the money collected from the people to
the channels of trade through the pur-
chase OF United States bonds that could
at all times have been obtained for
prices which, to the Government,
would have been equal to an invest
ment of otherwise improbable funds at
a rate of interest of not less than 2 per
cent per annum.
The majority expresses its conviction
of the inadequacy of the House bill as
a remedial measure for these reasons:
Frs:-That it would probably increase in
stead of reducing the revenue.
Second-That it provides no remedy for I'm
gives immunity to fraud by substituting ad
valorem for specific duties, and,
Third-That II does not remedy any OF the
inequalities or anomalies, or cure any of the
defects of existing law.
The results, however, 1.-The majority
says" which would flow from the fail
ure OF the bill, as a corrective meas
ure, would be much less disastrous to
the material interests of the country
than those which must surely follow
the adoption of its vicious affirmative
propositions.
The report here embodies a list of
about fifty manufactured articles from
which duties are proposed to be re-
moved by the Mills bill, referring to
which list the majority says:
This is free trade in the concrete, and the
list furnishes conclusive evidence of the intent
of the House bill, which can not be neutralized
by the eleventh hour disclaimers of its sup
porteTs. UIon investigation 1t will be found
that, with the exception Of tin plates, the sup
ply of the above articles for home consump-
tion IS now supplied 10 a great extent by do
mestic producers. whose business would be in
the most instances at once destroyed by the
adoption of this bill. 1t is estimated that at
least $500 600 600 of capital and 800 900 workmen
are now so employed.
The provision to admit German
looking-glass plates free of duty, the
majority believes, is the first attempt
which has been made in an American
tariff to discriminate between the pro-
auctions of various foreign states, and
it thinks it can be safely assumed that
the producers of France, Belgium and
England would not consent to this dis
elimination in favor of German man
ufacturers.
Of free wool the majority says:
We have been recently advised by the Presi-
dent Of the United States that in any tariff re-
vision "such reliance upon present revenue ar
rangemenbs as have been invited or encouraged
should be fairly and justly regarded and as
sured that in the reforms inaugurated by his
party friends abrupt and radical changes
which m ght endanger such enterprises and in
iurlously affect the interests of labor depend
ent upon their success and continuance are not
contemplated or intended " There can be no
better test of the sincerity OF these high sound
ing declarations than the proposition to put
wool on the free list. Wool has been dutable
since 1916 and through all the tariff mutations
which have taken place since no suggestion
has been made by any political party, up to the
Inauguration OF the present Administration,
for the removal of duties. the wool-growers
Of the country produce annually 3J0,O000O0
pounds of wool valued at s1o0, 100000. They
supply nipe-tenths of the clothing wool used
by American manufacturers, and they have
raised the United States TO the first rank
among the woolproducing countries OF the
world
The majority terms the Mills bill
ga sectional BILL" and says its pro-
visions point to an attempt to dis
criminate in favor of the planters of
the cotton growing States, an attempt
made with the vain hope that it may
be found possible to achieve the
permanent prosperity of one section
at the expense of another. This dis
elimination is not less marked in favor
of the people of Canada and against
the farmers and the lumbermen living
along our northern border from Maine
to Oregon" The majority treats at
length upon the advantages of home
market for farm products. arguing
that it is for the highest interests of
the American farmer that the number
of our food consumers rather than of
food producers should be increased,
and that the general prosperity of all
should be secured. The report says:
After months spent in violent attacks upon
the protective system, and when, ortunately,
the people OF the country have become thor
oughly aroused to impending danger, the
friends Of the House bill suddenly discover
hat &c a nd hat Z