, 1888-10-11
THE GREAT ISSUE
Report Of the Majority on the
Tariff Measure
PRESENTED TO THE SENATE.
A Forcibie Argument In Favor OF Pro-
tsction-..Other wAshingt N
News.


demand for careful and thorough revi
sion of the revenue laws is imperative
First--To reduce the national revenues
which is now excessive.
Second-.To protect honest importer
and domestic producers from disastrous
consequences resulting from the fraudu
lent differentiation Of imported merchan
disc on which ad valorem rates of dbt,
are levied.
Third-To remedy the defects which
have been, from time to time, discovered
in the tariff schedules, or which hav,
been created by erroneous decisions from
the treasury department.
Fourth--To secure q proper re.adj ust
ment and equalization of the tariff rates
rendered necessary by the modified bust.
ness conditions and improvements in the
methods of production and radical
changes in prices, or by new elements or
sources of competition.
Fifth--To give relief and protection to
the many industries now suffering
on account of inadequate rates levied on
competing products. To the public de.
mand for a reduction of the revenue, the
majority report says the nation wants a
more urgent account of the inexcusable re-
tention In the national treasury, on the de-
position of national banks, of vast sums
OF money In excess Of the amount required
to pay the current demands upon the
treasury aud to meet the maturing obi ga
tions Of the government. This sum, with
the additions which will accrue within
the next four months and before any leeis-
lative action reducing the revenues can be
effective, 1t declares to be sufficient to pay
in full the four and one-half per cent bonds
due in 1891. This accumulation, Ii in.
sists, could and should be proftably
avoided, and the possibility of business
disasters avoided by the prompt return of
the money collected from the people TO the
channels of trade. The report expresses
its conviction of the inadequacy Of the
house bill AS remedial measure, for the
reasons; First, 1t would probably increase
instead of reducing the treasure. Second,
1t promises no remedy for the underyalua.
tions, but on the contrary, invites and
gives immunity to fraud by substituting
al valorem for special duties. Third, it
does not remedy any Of the inequalities or
anomalies or cure any OF the defects of the
existing laws.
ABOUT IMPoRTATIoSs.
The expansion OF impots, it declares,
would follow the reduction of rates on
china, porcelain, common window glass,
manufacturers of iron, steel, Hax, hemp
and many manufacturers with great aug
mented revenues. IL declares the house
bill perpetuates the existing intirmities
created by its obscurities and faulty con-
struction. The promoters of this bill
must have been familiar with the testi.
mony submitted to congress by Secretary
upon revenue and honest merchants
through United States ad valorem rates
The United States ad valorem rates were
condemned by the experience every com.
mercial nation in the world by the judg-
ment of those who have been entrusted
with the responsibilities of the customs
administration, and by the honest
i'm pofters and merchants, as we'll
as by the intelligent political
economists and Legislators of the
every shade Of belief. When business is
depressed and foreign prices are normally
low. when foreign competition Is most to
be feared and when II defensive barrier is
most needed by domestic producers, then
the ad vaorem rates are lowest, protection
reduced, and the depression is intensi fed.
On the other hand, when foreign values
are highest, the rates are highest and re-
striction enlarges into prohibition. IL it
is desirable that a sliding scale of duties
should be adopted, the rates should in.
crease as foreign prices diminish. The
proposal to apply this principle to all
manufacturers of wool would be unsatis.
factory and destructive. The rates pro.
posed in the wool schedule would prevent
the importation of low grades of hannels,
blanks and all low and medium grade
cassimeres and other c.1thes which enter
into the clothing OF the great mass Of our
people. but would be insuiciently in finer
classes of dress goods and clothes for mems
wear.
TO DESTROY OUR INDUSTRIES.
The majoritSsaysth that with the exception
of silks, wines, liquors, tobacco and sugar
every tariff schedule is invaded by the
alterations made with the hostile spirit
which prevades the house bill and that
nearly all our industries would feel the
blivhtnV effect of the changes which are
utter ineOusiderate or purposely destruc.
tive. The report says that the free trade
tendency OF the party concealed in these
to cripple or destroy numer-
Gus industries, are clearly brought into
view by the examination of the list of ar
ticles which the bill proposes TO place on
the free list. 1t declares in many cases
where manufactured articles are placed
on the free list the duty is
retained on the materials from
which it is manufactured and that this
would act as prohibition
upon the production in the country. The
provision admitting German looking glass |
plate free. is believed to be the first at
Tempt which has been made by the Ameri-
can tariff to discriminate by the production
Of various foreign states. The producers
Of France, Belgium and England would |
- Ia, -.
Of German manufacturers. In several |
cases articles are free. under one descrip- |
lion and dutiable under another. In a |
great number OF instances the material |
used by the manufacturer is dutiable ut |
,ne rate while the furnished product is
iutiable at lower rate. Relative |
10 the free wool the report says:
'We have been recently advised by the
president Of the United States that
in any tariff revision or reforms inaugu.
rated by his party friends any abrupt and
and radical changes which might endan.
Danger our enterprises and injuriously
upon their success and continuance, were
not contemplated or intended. There can
be no better Test of the lnsincerity Of these
nigh sounding declarations than that pro-
position to put wool on the free list.
Wool has been dutiable since 1916, and
though all tariff inventions which have
aiken place since. no suggestion has been |
made by any political party up TO the In.
auguration OF the present administration |
Tor the removal Of these duties. The |
wool growers Of the country produce an
nually SOC, ,0OO, 900 pounds OF wool, valued |
At 100000. They supply nine.tenths |
of the wool used tor clothing by the wool |
and they have raised the |
United States TO n first rank among WOO |
producing countries by harmonious pro.
zress and this disorganization by labor we |
are asked 10 face, in the hope that with |
lne. sixth of the wnrld,a annnlv of wool |