Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-04-30
1ajo'lty and Minority Repofts-.-l Dis.
sentins Report BY IcKsnna.
Sugar and Hides on the Free List
Features Of the Bill.

Plus OF TsuUU,VUu
| The estimated amount required for thu
sinking fund will be &4s, ,S2l, ll6 %, leaving an
estimated net surplus Of t&3, ,6'S, ,Ss3 OF.
| The excess OF revenues over expenses esti
mated for the fiscal year ending June 50
1891, We are advised from the same source
will amount To s43 SOS, So 30, which with the
amount Of cash now on hand and available
reaching nearly $900)0,0 ,0O0 the COMMITTEES
believe will justify reduction OF the revenue
In the sum contemplated by this bill OF $50,
aS6, ,gr'6, and probably more from customa
and say l0,327,s7s from internal revenue,
or total Of Ell ,26iIl4
The exact effect upon tho revenues of the
government Of the proposed bill is difficult Of
ascertainment That there will be a substan-
tial reduction, as We shall show. admits of no
doubt IL is not believed that the increase OF
duties upon woods and wooden goods, and
upon glassware. will have the effect OF in
creasins the revenues. That would, OF course.
follow If the importations OF the last fiscal
yuar were hereafter to be maintained which,
Oowever, is altogether improbable
In every case OF increased duty, except
chat imposed upon tin plate (which does not
90 into effect until July |, 1891, and upon
linen fabrics, the effect will be to reduce
rather than enlarge the revenues, because
importations will fall of II was the aim Of
the committee To fix the duties upon that
class Of manufactured goods and farm pro
ducts which can he supplied at home 50 as
to discourage the use Of like foreign goods
and products. and secure to our own people
and our own producers the home market, be-
lieving that competition anon. ourselves will
secure reasonable prices to consumers In the
future as it has invariably done in the past.
We seek by the increased duties recon-
mended not only to maintain but to enlarge
our own manufacturing plants and check
those supplies from abroad which can be
profitaby produced at home. The general
policy of the bill is to foster and promote
American production and diversiiication OF
American industry.
HoMK PRODUCTION AND FAIR WAGES
We have not been so much concerned about
the price of the articles we consume as We
have been TO encouraged system of home pro-
duction which shall give fair remuneration to
domestic producers and fair wages to Ameri.
can worknien. and by increased production
and nome competition to insure fair prices To
consumers
The committee will admit that free trade
or revenue duties would temporarily diminish
the cost of products consumed by the people,
but it would I've only because the foreign
product ut a lower price would force down
the home product or dlsplace 1t altogether,
and if the latter. then prices would at once
advance to the consumers, AS experience has
demonstrated, who would be without relief
against the exactons Of foreign 3, indicates
and foreign manufacturers We would have
" give up considerable part of our own pro
ductoD that we might for a brief time enjoy
the cheaper products of other countries and
their products produced by cheaper labor
than our own, or reduce every element Of
cost including labor, to tine foreign standard
Cheaper products from abroad to the Ameri
eau consumers mean cheaper labor at home
and lower rewards to the domestic producer
with no permanent benefits to the consumer
Your committee has not sought by the pro
posed legislation to further cut down prices,
but to provide with certainty against That in
creasing competition from other countries
whose conditions our peope are unwilling to
adopt We have not believed that our people,
already suffering from low prices. can or will
be satisfied with legislation which will result
in lDwer prices.
This bill is framed in the interest of the
people Of the United States 1t is for the bet
ter defense of American homes and American
industries. While securing the needed reve-
nue. its prov isions look alike to the occupa-
tions of our own people, their comfort and
their welfare: to the successful prosecution
Of industrial enterprises already started, and
to the opening Of new lines Of production
where our conditions and resources will admit
Ample revenues for the wants Of the gov
ernmeut are provided by this bill, AMI every
reasonable encouragement is given TO pro
ductive enterprises and to the labor employed
therein. The aim has been to impose duties
upon such foreign products as compete with
our own, whether Of the soil or the shop. and
to enlarge the free list wherever this can be
done without injury TO any American indus
try, or wherever an existing home industry
can be helped without datrment to another
industry which is equally worthy Of the pro
tecting care Of the government.
The COMMITTEES believe that, inasnuch "A
nearly 800, 600 900 are annually required To
meet the expenses Of the government, it is
wiser to tax those foreign products which seek
a market here in composition with our own
than to tax our domestic products or the non
competing foreign products.
We have not looked alone to a reduction ot
the revenue. but have kept steadily in view
the interests Of our producing classes, and
have been ever mindful Of that which is due
to our political CONDITIONS our labor and tbs
character Of our citizenship. We have real
lied that a reduction nf duties below tine diff
ference between the cost Of labor and produc
tion in competing countries and our owr
would result either IN the Abandonment o
much of our manufacturing here or In th,
depression Of our labor.
We have recommended no duty above ths
point Of difference between the normal cosl
| of production here. including labor, and tn.
cost Of ike production in the countries whict
seek our markets. nor have we hesiiated tt
give this qnantun of duty even though it in
volved an increase over present rates ant
showed an advance Of percentages and a,
valorem equivalents We have not sought t.
make uniform rate Of duty upon all i'm
| ported articles This would have been mani
testify unjust and inequitabls, We posses
advantages in some branches Of production
| which Offset the necessity for the highes
duties. and these have been fully recognize,
IN the arrangement and adjustment Of rates
| The labor cost of any two manufactures
| products which may be mentioned is not tn
same, one being largely the prodnct of ma
| cninery and the other largely the product o
| hand labor. and therefore, while one produc
requires one rate Of duty for protection, an
other product may require another ard differ
snt one to afford equal protection. We havt
sought TO look at the conditions Of each In
dustry at home and its relation 70 forei2l
competition. and provide for that duty which
would be adequate in each case
| EXEMPTIONS FnoM DUTY LIMITED.
| The present provision in the free list ia
! 'articles imported for the use Of the Unitet
States, provided that the price u the sam
did not include the duty" is omitted in tn
| proposed revision.
It has teen productive Of fraud and has rs
suited in other serious abuses Per- ms hav
ing contracts with the United States, unde
color Of the law. have fraudulently imports
large quantities Of material for sals, with
resulting loss to the revenue.
The provision also work. injury 10 our ow
people by inviting foreign competition in tn
matter II government eonEacts. The remii
don of duty in such cases il in effect . pr<
MUM offered the foreigner tocompece with th
honest importer who pays duty, as also Wit
the domestic producer It Is nnwi-s to remi
duties when the money goes neither into tn
public treasury nor the pockets Of our ov
people, bus TO enrich their foreign compe
itorn The government ought not 70 bu
II b. exempted from the laws is impo~ss up,
t:s GtisnaA Tns United Ssas0 gains nothins
| fCn~Hin~>A an &n.xsh r.,sN