Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-03-24

Mr.. RandalI's TariH MA Introduced ta {
Ho,tSe D,a the I9fh.

M. Rdnd0u's Tariff BtU Introduced th dte
House on the I2th-
Mr.. Randall has completed and intro
duced in the house his tariff bill. In
explanation of its terms and scope he
makes the following statement: The
bill repeals the entire internal tax on
tobacco aud on fruit brandies. 1t also
repeats the license tax on wholesale and
retail liquor dealers, leaving these as
recommended by Jefferson, so that the
state authorities might adopt them. "
1t makes alcohol used in the arts free
and reduces the tax ON whisky to 90
cents gallon. On the tariff the bill is
a careful and complete revision of the
whole tariff system. 1t carries TO the
free list large number of articles now
paying duties, and which enter into con-
sumption, either as raw material or 9th
erwise, and in the production of which
there is no injurious competition be-
tween this and ether countries. In the
revision of the tariff the aim has been
intelhgently to apply consistent prlncl-
pies to all branches of industry, and IN
so doing our industrial system has been
considered as whole, and DIFF
fering from ether industrial systems
in the important fact that labor in
this country receives q larger share OF
annual products of labor and capital
combined than in any other country.
This important advantage to the labor
interests of the United States this bill
aims to preserve throughout, while at
the same time, in fairness to all inter
-, ,k,N,,l Ah.a (vhfaasrn .,1otfn1sT,
to reduce and equalize" the duties ON
imports. The principles applied to the
revision of the tariff in this bill are,
first, that differences in the cost of pro-
ducing commodities in this and other
countries where there is no climatic or
other natural cauSes why they cannot
be produced abundantly in this country,
has been studied and everywhere adj
hered to rs the cardinal principle to be
enforced in any revision of the tariff.
In such q scheme all industries OF course
should stand on an equal footing, and
In no instance should the powers of the
government be used to elevate one
above the other. One principle of great
Importance has been kept constantly in
view, and that is the line which marks
the difference in cost of producing COM
modities here and abroad-in other
words the line of fair competition is al
ways and necessarily above the point of
maximum revenue. Consequently TO
reduce the duties on any commodities
below the line of difference in cost,
which, it is stated, Is the line of even
competition, until the maximum rev.
enue is passed, necessarily increases
the revenues. On the contrary, to raise
the duties from the line of maximum
revenues, by lessening importatiOns,
reduces the revenues This prin-
ciple has been kept in
view throughout the bill in the adjust
ment of duties. To determine Just
where the line of difference in cost falls,
is, of course, in many instances, diff
cult, but it may be safely assumed,
when the importations of any line of
commodities is large and increasing,
and no good reason appearing why
things cannot as well be produced here,
that such duties are below the cost line,
and that the advantage Is with the for
eign producer. If production in the
same line is diminished or suspended
altogether IN this country, it becomes
proof positive that the advantage is too
great to be overcome without read
justment of duties. In such cases, en-
bracin9, however, but a few articles,
there has been no hesitancy, in prepar-
ing the bill, to raise the duties so as to
permit these industries to take their
place abreast with others Of the coun-
try. Where the importations are light
it may consistently be assumed that the
duties are quite high enough, and in
many cases may be safely reduced, and
in case an industry is of such nature
as to permit of trusts and combinations
of any kind to raise prices above the
level of prices or profits in other indus
tries, then it becomes important that
the cost line should be closely adhered
to, and that has been the aim in the bill
in industries where trusts or combina-
tions are supposed to have such power.
1t is less important, of course, to APP
ply this rule rigidly where prices are
regulated through free competition. In
such cases, under well known economy
principles, the tendency is always to
general level in profits, wages and prices
In any industrial system. In working
out the details of the bill under this
principle, the aim has been to pare
closely and adjust carefully the differ
emit schedules, with the object always in
view to lower the duties wherever posi-
bic, and reduce the revenues, being
careful at the same time to hurt no es-
tablished industry.
The estimated reductions under this
bill will be:
Estimated reduction on tariff schedules z5OO0.OO0
The bill is fully twice as long as the
Mills bill, and relates to many more