The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-03-10
CONGRESSMAN MILLS ON THE
TARIFF BILL.

WASHING TON, March 2.-The tariff
bill, formulated by the majority of the
ways and means committee, Is neccssa-
rily the subject of wide comment, and
Mr.. Mills in an interview makes the
following explanations: "To begin
with, let us glance at the free list.
There are POO or 800 articles on which
the duty j. to be removed A large
number of these articles thus placed on
the Tree list are of minor Importance
and the change can in no way affect
our industries; and where a country
charges ali Import duty upon any of
the articles named the present duty
will Ie;nain. The principal items are
lumber, and as to some OF the articles
placed on the free list, the result will
be to break up few of the numerous
trusts now forming in the country.
Copper is an instance. The total
amount of reduction that will arise
from the extension of the free list will
be something like $22. 100000. The
reduction on wool and woolen goods
will amount in round numbers to about
1000, 900. Where specific duty
was charged before we have changed
| it OH number OF manufactured arti-
cles to an ad valorem standard. On
sugar reduction is made OF Sll ,OOO,-
900. One result of this will be to
break up the Infamous sugar trusts
that have formed for the purpose OF in-
creasing the price of that article. The
reductions on iron, steel rails, etc, are
small, aud think the importation of
such articles will not be materially in
creased. Iron in pig is put at Sc per
ton. The reduction is only Y cents.
On imported tobacco, in the Leaf, man
ufactured and not stemmed. we have
fixed the duty at 35 cents per pound.
Sumatra Is included. When the duty
OH Sumatra was 81 per pound good
deal of it was smuggled and the reve-
nue. was thereby lost to the govern-
ment On some OF the articles on
which we have reduced the duty the
revenue will be increased, while on
others it will be reduced. Fish We
have not touched. That question has
caused trouble between this country
and Canada, and involves dispute
that we don't encourage. We have
purposely left the internal revenue
question outside, and will bring IN u
separate measure for that. We intend
to have a bill on that subject. 1t may
be appended in the house to the gem
eral bill, but that am unable to say
lust now. The customs duties will be
reduced about S55, 900, 900 and in such
way that the manufacturing indus
tries of the country will have no cause
for needless alarm. OF the amount of
reduction about 22,0O0,OO0 is caused
by additions TO the free list; $4,000
900 on wooens, $l1 100000 from re-
ductious on sugar, So ,0OO, 900 on metals,
81 100000 from sundries and 81 ,000,-
900 Oh cotton"
MIR. Mills said later: 81 think the
bill will pass by a slender majority.
said that the reductions proposed by
the bill were about $50, 200, 900. We
intended, however, to re-enact the old
package clause providing Tor duty OF
packages, which clause is not included
in the present bill. This will add iron
S5, ,O0O, 900 to $40, 900, 900 to the revenue
,, so that the net reduction of revenue
proposed by the bill will not exceed
$45, 5,OOO,O 900. think it is the opinion
of the majority OF our committee tha
,, the revenue of the government shoult
he reduced not less than $1O,OOO, ,oUn
: We have therefore left 5000, 900 t'
:; be disposed OF by changes in intcrna
l revenue taxation"