The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-17
SLASHES AT THE TARIFF.
THE M'MILLIN AND BRECKIN-
RIDGE BILLS REPORTED.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6-The ways and
means committee had a short meeting this
morning, but one full of re ults The Nc
Mhlin tariff bill, which was presented to
the committee yesterday was finally con-
sidered aud ordered to be reported to the
House. According to the committee's til
mates the bill would, II enacted into law,
reduce the revenues ST3 900 600 It is
closely patterned after the Mills bill retain
ing the,free. list, with few additions made by
the Senate. 1t omits, however the chem
ical COZ ton and iron schedules ex-
cepting pig iron, rails, structural iron
and tin plate, which are treated aS in the
Mills bill. The other changes made arc in
the dates and other important details.
BRECKINRIDGE's BILL.
Whom this was disposed of, the commit
tee, with view TO having at hand II b Il to
meet the immediate emergencies in the mat
ter of the excessive revenue, authorized
favorable report upon the original hi pre-
pared by Representative BreckinridgN Of
Kentucky, which proposes TO Iut tin plato
and wool on the free list, aud TO reduce the
internal revenue as proposed by the Mills
bill which, in its evenue sections, is de tical
with the Cowles bill The bill also in
cludes the wooden and worsted cloth Soc
tions of the Mills bill. This measure, j, is
estimated, would reduce the revenues about
100000 900
THE APPROACHING CONFLICT
1t is generally believed that this m asilro
will be the main recourse of the ways and
means democrats in the approaching CON
hct with the appropriations committee.
The committee wound up its meeu g by
directing favorable reports on some pr yato
relief bills, and ON Mr. RiCe's bill amending
the statutes SO as to include the Rainy Lake
and Lake of the Woods forest Owners Of
Minnesota in the privileges now accorded
those Of st. Croix river, Maine, Of free m
portatlon Of their timber sawed in Canada.
PRESENTED IN THE HOUSE.
In the House this morning Mr.. McMllin
from the committee on ways aud means,
reported the bill to reduce taxati II aud
simplify the laws in relation 10 tho in, ernal
revenue 1t was referred to committee Of the
whole.
Mr. McMlllin's report accompanying his
bill begins with an attack upon tho Se1ate
substitute; some Of the provisions Of which
are characterized as entire incXCusahle
The report says that tho committee being
unable to agree to any tariff bill which
gives no relief to the people, but which in
creased these burdens, they have prepared
the accompanying bill and tender it in the
hope that 1t may DO accepted and adopted.
While it does not make all of the reductions
that the present condition Of the treasury
and the best Interests Of the people demand,
it Is rendered in IA spirit of compromise
Practically il is the bill heretofore passed
by the House with the chemical, cotton and
most Of the iron schedules stricken out
Figures are given to show that the bill
would reduce the revenues b9 $72. 1888 ,039
/ he remainder Of the report is made up of
an argument in favor Of tariff reduction
based upon an array of figures showing the
value Of agricultural products at different
periods.
THE KENTUCKY PLAN.
Mr. Breckinridge Of Kentucky, from the
same committee, reported the bill "tO re-
duce taxation and for other purposes"
The report accompanying the bill says
that the committee believes that the inter
e,ts Of tho country demand the reduction Of
the revenue proposed by the original tariff
bill But the committee recognizes that at
this late hour, in the second session, il may
be possible that only propositions reached
by compromise and concession can be
passed, and therefore it reports tho accom-
panying bill. The report says:
Every provision in it has already received the
approval Of the House. IL puts tin plate and
wool on the free list, and proposes n wooden
schedule by which rates are reduced corres-
pOndingly, and IT remedies the present unequal
provisions as to wooden and worsted fabrics. IL
removes the tax on tobacco and includes the
provisions Of the bill adopted by the House the
Mills biD as to tobacco. The aggregate reduc
ton proposed is Sil.78O 900. on tin plate s. 70I,
433; on wool. 1880, ,053; wooden schedules, si2,
25i,5l2.
M Reed of Maine asked that tho report
on this bill be read.
Ths speaker stated that the bill was not
before the House for consideration.
Mr.. Reeds there a reporti
Tho Spcaker-There is a brief report
Tho i'll was referred : the committee OF
the whole. The effect Of the report of the
two measures is to place them upon the cal
eudar ahead Of the internal revenue bill 20
be reported from the committee on appro
printions, and 10 give them the right Of
way unless tho friends Of the Cowles bill
can muster sufficient force 10 set them
aside.
Mr.. Randall, from the committee on ap-
preparation, reported the Cowles bill amend
ing the internal revenue laws, which was
referred 20 committee Of the whole, to-
gether with tho minority substitute, re-
ported by Mr.. Fcrney Of Alabama
In the report accompanying the Cowles
bill tho majority Of the committee On APP
preparations explains that sections and 2 |
repeal all internal taxes after June 30, 1889,
on cigars, cheroOts and cigarettes, suuf, |
manufactured tobacco, the special : xe3 on
manufacturers Of tobac 0, dealers In leaf |
tobacco. and on pedders Of tobacco. The |
amount OF revenue TecO.Yel from tneh3 /
sources during the fiscal year ende1 June |
30, 1888, was $50, GG2 431. Tho enactment Of |
the bill would reduce the estimated surplus |
for tho fiscal year $50 from t53, 1881 % |
$22, ,745, 1865, a result, whether viewed from |
the standpoint Of an excessive revenue or as |
relief from unnecessary taxation upol tho |
people, most desirable.
NO NEED FOR WAR TAXES.
Tho report saws:
"lnternal revenue taxes levied bee II /
the necessities Of the war, have heretofore |
been oil removed from capital and from all |
manufactured articles, leaving the uro- |
ducts Of agriculture to bear all the burdens |
Of the internal tax system. The taxes pro- |
posed 10 be repealed by the bill reported |
are particularly oppressive on tie farmer, |
both in the amount Of tho tax levied against |
his product as we'll as in the yexatious man |
ner Of its collection. There Is no .onger, /
in the opinion OF the committee, any just /
iicatiOn for continuance of these taxes. /
There are no bonds which are due and pay |
able at par at the option Of the govern |
ment. Under existing conditions bonds |
will have 10 be purchased at high pro-
MUM in the market with the surplus reyo- |
nue., or else the accumulation Of money in |
tho treasury will result detrimentally 30 |
tho commercial interests Of tho country. |
The committee believes that the bill fur |
nishes practical and simple means Of ro-
ducinR the surplus reyenue aS IL ig evil |