Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-30
The Democrats Want to Put Wool, Fruit,
and Nuts on the Free List.

CALIFORNIA INDUSTRIES.
The Democrats Want to Put Wool, Fruits
and Nuts on the Free List.
lcopyris, 1883. by The California associated Press
WASHINGTON, January 29th.-Chairman
Mills, of the House Ways and Means Com
mittee, says that some time will elapse be-
lore the tariff bill is in readiness to be pre-
sented to the House. In conversation with
the correspondent of the California Asso-
clated Press, Mr.. Mills tonight said IF |
only had to consult my individual views. |
could bring in a tariff reform measure very
quickly. and one that / believe would not
only reduce the surplus, but give an i'm
petus to American manufacturers that
would soon put the United States at the
head OF the great nations of the world in q
commercial sense. The improvements in
machinery, the wonderful mechanical in
genuity OF our people, and the limitless re-
sources of the country would, were it not
for high tariffs, put the United States at the
head OF the list of the exporting nations.
All statements to the contrary nothwith-
standing, our labor to- day is cheaper than
that of Great Britain, gauged by the result
produced. Instead of England wishing
free trade in the United States, the reverse
is the fact, for the statesmen of England
say that if the American people were
brought into direct competition with the
English for the sale of manufactured arti-
cles in the markets of the world we would
beat them.
/" have been represented" continued
Mills, as desiring to destroy our indus
tries and to overthrow the system upon
which our manufacturing prosperity is
based. This is not true. If could do
what believe to be for the best interests
OF the country, l would probably go
further in direction of free trade than some
OF my associates. But l know that the
only hope for revenue reform lies in a
moderate bill that gives protection to
young industries which actually need it,
| and that will abolish duties On articles of
everyday consumption which can be made
as cheapiy in this country as abroad"
WOULD HAVE WOOL FREE.
Will your bill put all woods on the free
list, or only the coarser grades of wool ?"
asked your correspondent
cannot say which bill l will propose,
for the bill is not prepared, but l have no
hesitation in telling you my views. The
day that all woods are put upon the free
list, IN my judgment, our wool will bring
much higher price in the market than it
commands to-day. To put the coarse on
| the free list and tax the better qualities
| would be of no benefit. We cannot man
utacture wooden goods, such as clothing,
worsteds, etc., of good quality without an
admixture of the finer grades, such
as come from Australia, Silesia and other
countries. Make these wools free, and the
demand for our home products would be
increased for the mixture and its price en-
hanced. Ny State of Texas land California;
are the two largest wool growing States in
the country, and I wish that the WOOL
growers of those States could be made 10
see the advantages that would result to
them from putting wool on the free list"
He STRIKES sNAG.
What do You propose to do with fruits
and nuts, the young industry of California.
in which millions OF capital is invested and
| the success of which depends largely upon
the protection afforded by Congress ?'' asked
the correspondent.
My attention has not been peciallv
directed to this question, said Mills as he
ransacked bundle of papers for docu-
ment which has been prepared at the Treas
ury department., showing the present rate of
duties on articles in the tariff ffschedules, the
revenue yielded therefrom and the effect of
changes that can be made. According to
these hgureSfor the year 1887, cUIrrants pay
duty of one cent per pound, and %. 1866
S|D PCuA'Ho NciC IupOIltu, NlelU1UP q rev.
enue of S291, 1868 SO. or an average ad valor-
EN- rate OF 2.74S per cent. This is within
the revenue limit, and l can see no reason
for removing the duty. Dates also paw one
cent per pound, and the average al valorem
rate is 1854 revenue duty. Figs paw two
cents per pound, and yielded q revenue of
$175 057 9S.
Grapes are dutiable at twenty per cent,
clearly within the revenue limit, and the
FNr Tan1 11asa4 a4r.rl, Il
to S74 900 The rates will not be disturbed.
Lemons pay variety of rates of duty, ac-
cording to the capacity of the boxes, and
yield revenue of over 1927 900, and the
| rates are within the revenue limit. The
same can be said about oranges, but pre-
sumo that the maintenance of the duty on
green fruit is not really of so much CON
Germ as that of keeping up the rate on dried
fruits, etc. There is duty of one per cent.
per pound on plums and prunes, which
last year yielded a revenue to The Govern
ment of $70S,0SS 50 and paid an average
ad valorem rate of 3081 per cent. | see no
reason why the rate should be reduced.
'Raisins pay a duty of cents per pound
and the value of the importations last year
was 81, 297 ,469 80, yielding a revenue of
SS13,2l2 O6. The average ad valorem rate
of duty is $40. That rate might be cut
down to say 30 per cent. ad valorem but |
do not know that it will be done. While
the al valorem equivalent of the specific
duties on almonds, filberts, peanuts, etc, is
higher than fruits, l doubt very much if
any changes will be made.
II cannot see, from looking over these
figures, that the California fruit industry is
in any very serious danger. | am not com
mitting myself. you understand. The
changes in these rates have been cortem-
plated in some quarters but so far as can
judge, without consultation with nv COL
leagues on the committee, / do not believe
the California fruit interest need have any
fear of suffering at our hands"
CALIFORNIA MEMBERS ANXIOUS.
Mills will undoubtedly favor an extern
sive enlargement of the free list, to include.
among other articles besides wool, both
lumber and salt. As the till has not been
completed, 1t is subject to change at any
time, and apprehension is felt by members
OF the delegation from California in Con-
gress, who are anticipating that a reduction
of the duties on fruits may yet be realized
Members of the committee are chary
about saying anything concerning the
| tobacco tax, but it is known that the prop
osition to abolish it will be void, as a
means OF inducing certain representatives
from the tobacco growing districts to come
into line in support of tariff revision bill.
The revenue reformers have as yet had no
word from Mr.. Randall as to what he will
do, and until the bill is reported to the
House they do not expect to hear from
him. They calculate, however that in no
reasonable contingency will he be able to
control the votes of over ten or twelve
men, and they believe that there will be
about that number of Republicans who
will favor moderate scheme of tariff re-
vision.
SHORT AND SWEET.
Senator Stewart Has q Plan to Keen