Los Angeles herald., 1890-04-17
THE M'KINLEY BILL.
Majority and Minority Re-
ports Submitted.
Some Remarkable Innovations
Promulgated.
The Bounty System to be Applied to
Silk and Sugar.
The Minority Sharply Criticises the Bill
McKenna Up in Arms Against
the Measure.
Associated Press Dispatches. |

WASHINGTON, April 16.-The reports of
the majority and minority of the ways
and means committee on the tariff bill
were presented to the House this after
noon.
The majority report begins with
statement of the financial situation, and
estimates the surplus at the end of the
present fiscal year at $92, 900 900, and,
deducting the sum required to make
payments on the sinking fund, the net
surplus OF receipts over expenditure
will be $43, ,679, 900. The estimated sur
plus OF the next fiscal year will be
$43, $40, 900, which, with the amount of
cash now on hand and available, reach
ing 10000, 900, will justify a reduction
of the revenue in the sum contemplated
by the bill reported, $60,937 900, and
probably more, from customs, and say
$40, 1923 900 from internal revenue; total,
$71, 264,000.
r Alleged Results of the Bill.
The majority report further says that
the bill as proposed will result in de-
creased revenue; that in all cases, ex
cept tin, the increased tariff will result
in decreased importations, and therefore
decreased revenues; that the committee
aimed to put an increased rate on
manufactured goods and farm products
producible in this country, in order to
develop the home market; that the COM
mittee is not so much concerned about
the prices OF the articles we consume, as
to encourage an increase and diversi-
fcation of home products, giving fair re-
turns to producers and fair wages to
American workmen, believing that
home consumption will regulate the
price.
The committee admits that free trade
would cause temporary reduction in
prices. but argues that it would beat the
expense of domestic products, and that
prices would then advance, with the
country at the mercy of foreign syndi-
Gates and manufacturers, and the ulti-
geous to both capital and labor.
The committee says that that country
is least prosperous in which low prices
and wages prevail, and points to the
present agricultural depression as a sam
pie.
The committee believes it better to
raise the $400 100000 necessary to run
the Government by taxing foreign i'm
ports than to take it from domestic pro-
ducts; that the entire bill is based upon
protection to American industry, but at
the same time recommending no duty
above the point of difference between the
normal cost of production here and
abroad.
Details Of the Bill.
The report then takes up the details
OF the bill and says the reduction in
revenues from placing on the free list
chemicals not produced in this country,
will amount to 1915, 900.
1t cites figures to show the decline in
wool production, and says an advance in
duties is recommended, which will afford
ample protection to the wool-growers.
While the Senate bill fixed the duty on
third-class wool at a cents, the committee
makes it 31a cents, with change in
definition, classification, ETC., which will
compensate for the difference.
The committee believes the country
should produce all the wool it consumes,
as can be done by the addition of 100,
100000 sheep to the present number.
The report says that the bill
seeks to stop the shameless frauds
which have been proceeding in importa-
tions Of wool and woolen goods; declares
that during the past fiscal year under
valued invoices showed the importation
OF woolen manufactures valued at
$52, ,68l 900, whereas their real market
value was 500, 100000, equivalent to the
importation of 160,000,000 pounds of
wool. The present bill, it argues, by
increasing the duty on fine woods will
transfer to this country fifteen to twenty
million dollars in woolen manufactures.
The average rate of the woolen-goods
schedule proposed is 91.78 against the
present rate of ID.
The Metal Schedules.
OF the metal schedules the report says:
No reduction can be made in pig iron or
ore duties without detriment to existing
industries, and the committee has not
felt justified in interfering with the fur
ther development of the iron ore re-
sources now so promising in the South
ern States.
With regard to pig iron, it says it is
in no sense raw material. 1t is the pro-
duct of the highest skill, requiring for
it's manufacture large and expensive
plants, the capital invested in which in
our country more than equals that in
vested in any other branch of the iron
and steel industry. Pig iron is made in
twenty-five States of the Union.
The report strongly sustains the in
creased duty on tin plate.
Sugar and Molasses.
OF sugar the report says: "The COM
mittee recommend that sugar up to and
including No. 16, and molasses be placed
on the free list; duty of four-tenths of
one cent. per pound ON refined sugar
above l6, and bounty of two cents per
pound paid from the treasury for a
period of fifteen years, for all sugar
polArizing at least 85 per cent, made in
this country from cane, beets or sorg-
hum produced in the United States.
TN 1883 the consumption of sugar in
the United States was !, ,469, 1898 tons, or
5S,1 pounds per inhabitant. OF this
only 1854 tons were produced in the
United States. So large proportion of
sugar was imported that the home pro-
duction OF sugar does not materially
affect the price, and the duty is there
fore tax which is added to the price,
Not only of the imported, but Of the do