Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-05
CITY AND DISTRICT.
THE TARIFF PROBLEM.
Majority aud Minority Repo. ss Of IN,
senate Finance COMMITTEES.

fHE REPUBLICANS DEFEND TIE SENATE RrrI ANN M
CLARE The MILLS BILL TO BE- sscTros.L-"rHE
AMERICAN sYsrEhr-rHE DEMOCRATS pEsouScE
The NEW BILL AND sAY IT Is IN rHx INTEREST
OF cLAssEs-xR sscKs vIKws
The majority and minority reports nm the tariff,
bill were submitted 10 the senate late YESTERDAY
afternoon.
The Majority Report.
The republican majority declare the demand for
careful and thorough revision OF our revenue
laws 20 be Imperative .
First To reduce the national revenues which
are no" excesSi'e' second. To protect honest i'm
porters and domestic producers from the disas
trous consequences resultin; from fraudulent un-
dervAluatiOn OF imported merchandise on which
al 'aIorem rates OF duty are levied Third To
remedy the defects, anomalies and inconoruities
which have been from time 10 time discovered IN
the tarin schedules or which have been created nv
erroneous decislons OF the Treasury Department
lOuiNn- 10 secure tne proper readjustment and
hlollneu business conditions, improvements IN
methods OF production, radical changes In prices
T,r,S tn S,v e'ements or sources OF competition.
Iuth. 10 give relief and protection TO many In
uustres winch are now suffering on account OF
VIC in1uequate rates levied on competing products.
How TIE SURPLUS SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED.
The majority assert that the demand for reye-
nue. reuuction Is more urgent because OF the mex
cusaoie retention In the Treasury OF the vast
or money In excess Of current public demands
anu say That within the next four months this
s Will De sufficient 70 pay on the outstand-
Ing - per cent bonds due In 1S91-S22l, OOO, 900.
Inc report maintains that the surplus should have
Deen USED LOT the purchase or United States bonds
~ charges that the policy OF the party In power
has been 10 delay action magnify evils and charge
al emoarrassments 70 the protective system.
THE MILLS BILL CRITICIZED.
Inc majority expresses Its conviction OF the In
adequacy OF the House bill as a remedial measure
for the reasons: First that IL would probably in
nf rafin
that II provides no remedy for undervaluat1On, but
on the contrary, invites and gives immunity TO
duties; and third, that IL does not remedy any OF
the inequalities or anomalies or cure any OF the
ueiects Oh existing law. The majority assert that
creates by It's obscurities and faulty construction
doubts and antiquities which must multiply In
contend thai tne propossd sa6sttuIion a Of al
valorem for specific duties by the House bill Is
vicious;" that IL could have no other effect than
10 change rates now protective for others which
would not protect; that the evils which flow from
ad valorem rates are great and so manifest that
tnls plan Oh collecting duties has no advocaIes
and dishonest consignorS.
FREE TRADE TENDENCIES
The majority continues: The free-trade tenden-
cies which are partly concealed In these PROPOSE
lions TO cripple or destroy numerous industries
are clearly brought into view by an examination
OF the list Of articles which the bill proposes TO
place upon the free list. or the 104 items from
which the duties are removed nearly One-half, As
In number are manufactured articles; 10 are agri-
cultural products; IL are articles which are now
Tree OF duty, or without commercial Importance,
and 81 are articles which now pay a small revenue
DUTY, out which are OF such character that re-
Inoval OF duties Is unoDjectionaole. This Is Tree
Trade In the concrete, and the list furnishes con-
elusive evidence OF the intent OF the House bill,
which cannot be neutralIzed by the eleventD-hour
disclaimers Of its supporters The percentage OF
nmportationS OF free and dutiable articles under
the various tariffs which have been In existence
from 1886 inclusive, Is shown by the following
table: