The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-03-10
The New Tariff Bill,

InG NGW
A bill for the revision of the tariff was SUBJ
mitted TO the Ways and Means Committee by
the Democratic majority thereof on Thursday
of last week. 1t is now under consideration
by the committee, and, it is expected, will be
presented to the House within the next two
or three weeks. 1t is not probable that the
Democratic majority of the Ways and Means
Committee will submit to any material change,
and the bill as it now stands will be the one
the House will be called upon to consider.
Nor will the Democratic majority the House
be likely to consent to amendment or altera-
ton to any considerable extent, so the bill
may be taken as the Democratic ultimatum-
the bill upon which it proposes to stand or
fall in the House, and upon which it will go
before the country in the next campaign.
The measure is in The line of Democratic
promises and in accord with the message Of
President Cleveland upon the assembling Of
Congress, which was so heartily commended
and endorsed by the press and people of the
country, and with unanimity that was as
founding to the selfinterest advocates of
protection. 1t places salt, lumber, dye
stufs, certain classes of wool, ssSd
many otner artic .eiin aapon which duties are
now lni rosed, upon the free list, and reduces
ode tax on sugar, and other articles of neces-
sity and of common use. 1t has been care
fully prepared, and the reduction of taxation
to be effected by its passage is estimated at
from fifty to sixty millions of dollars. The
bill deals not at all with internal revenue re-
duction, that matter being left for future and
separate bill.
The admission duty free of certain classes
of wool, instead of being an injury to sheep
husbandry, as has been proclaimed by the ad-
vocates of protection to hoodwink the sheep
raisers of Ohio and other states, will stimulate
it, for it is well known that some domestic
woods are only valuable in the manufacture of
certain classes of goods by reason of mixing
with them foreign woods. The tax upon these
foreign woods, therefore, can only operate to
enhance the price of certain grades of wooden
goods, curtail their consumption at home, and
embarrass our manufacturers in competing in
the markets of the world.
The addition of tin.plate to the free list will
lift vast tax off the people, particularly in
this state, where the canning interests are so
large. There are no tin mines in this coun-
try, and as the government has annually an
excess of receipts over expenditures, there
1. for 1onoar TO
this article of so common and universal use.
Tin plate has been found the best material for
the preservation of fruits, vegetables, fish,
oysters and other edibles. A tax upon it,
then, is tax upon the necessities of life, for
the duty upon it enhances the cost of the food
we eat.
The reduction in the duty upon sugar, is
another feature of the bill that commends the
three cents pound-that is, every person
buying pound of sugar has to pay about three
cents tax 10 the government. By the pro-
posed bill the average reduction will be nearly
cent pound, and this reduction, it is esti-
mated, will take off about 81 200, 900 of taxes
from the people.
There is also reduction in the duty on
pig iron, nails, wire, forgings and chains,
which will particularly benefit the farmer;
upon common china and earthenware, which
will benefit the laboring. man and those of
small means; upon rice, spices, medicines,
&C., &c.
We have not SPACE to enter further into
details but, the bill, indeed, is in the interest
of the consumer. Its passage would result to
the advantage of agriculture and labor, and
manufacturers as well, and would not do vio-
lence to any home industry.
The fate of the bill is a matter of uncer-
tainty. The Democrats of the House are
substantially united upon it, and few Re-
publicans are favorably disposed toward it.
If the latter call caucus apon it, the Repub
lican side may be marshaled solidly against it.
Mr.. Randall, too, will likely oppose it, and will
have a following of perhaps dozen. If the
Republicans don't make party question of
Offset the Randall detection. If the House
fails to pass the bill, the Democratic party
will appeal to the country upon the measure,
and it may be taken as the chief issue of the
coming campaign. The President and the
party are in earnest in their desire and deter
mination to revise the tariff and reduce the
surplus, and there can be no doubt as to the
result upon this platform.