The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-06
No Tariff Bill This Session.

It looks very much as If a tariff bill would
not be passed at this session. The Senate
appears to be getting a great deal more
light on the Mckinley bill than the House
had. The hundred or more importers who
appeared before the Senate finance commit
tee on Wednesday made some rather start
ling statements. Tney represented the i'm
porting interests IN all the large cities of
the country, and, according to their own
testimony, they are protectionists. They are
not the kind of protectionists that Mr.. Nc
Kinley is. however. They believe in giving
manufacturers reasonable amount of pro-
lection, and favor a gradual reduction in
the duties.
They showed themselves TO be much bet
ter informed with regard to the tariff and
its workings than most of the members of
congress. They ought to be well informed
with regard to it. because it is their duty to
study it practically. They pointed out that
the effect of the Mckinley bill would be to
largely increase the cost of living, and that
it Disseminated against the poor and in
favor of the rich. They supported the
points they made by showing how it would
AASAOShoo bhO COob vi iL1Clco RiO
mainly purchased by the poor. They ex-
hibited samples of a great many articles
which are affected by the Mckinley bill,
and they compared the price of them under
the present tariff with the prices that
would be demanded if the McKin ley bill
should become law.
The members of the finance committee
were evidently surprised and impressed by
what they heard Some of them doubtless
had an idea that the Mckinley bill reduced
the tariff. They found out that it did
nothing of the kind-that in fact, it greatly
increased the duties on very many articles
II they do their plain duty they will have
to go over the bill carefully. item by item,
and make the reductions which ought to
have been made by the ways and means
committee.
One of the members of the importers
delegation said that South American mer-
chant went to New York few weeks ago
to purchase $4,000 worth OF goods. The
South American was able TO make pur-
chases only to the amount of 5000, and
was compelled by the high prices asked to
go to Europe to complete his stock. The
importers declared that the subsi-
dizing of a line of steamships to
Central and South American states would
not materially increase our trade with those
states. The only way to get the trade of
those states was to offer them bstter bar
gains than they could obtain in Europe,
and that could not be done unless the policy
of admitting into this country raw ma
terials free of duty were adopted, SO that
manufacturers could compete with those of
foreign countries. This is the position the
MORNING NEWS has always taken with
respect to the tariff.
The Senate finance committee having
opened its doors to those who want to say
something with regard to the interests they
represent there will not be much time for
the Senate to discuss tariff bill, even if
congress should not adjourn before Sept. 1.
Iii fact a 50 that there is a great differ
ence of opinion among republican senators
as to the kind of tariff bill which ought
to be passed. tits pretty safe to say, there
fore, that no tariff bill will be sent to the
President for his signature during the
present session of congress.