Evening journal., 1890-04-17


ports on the new tariff bill and Il was re-
ferred to the committee Of the whole The
majority report discusses the effect that the
bill will have upon the revenues OF the gov
ernment It states that the exact effect is
difficult Of ascertainment. The report says:
That there will be a substantial reduction, as
we shall show, admits OF no doubt It is not be-
lieved that the increase Of duties upon woods and
woolen goods and upon glassware will have the
effect OF increasing the revenues That would
OF course, follow II the lmportations Of the last
fiscal year were hereafter 70 be maintained
which. however is altogether improbable The
result will be that importations will be decreased
and therefore the amount of revenue collected
from these sources will be diminished In every
case OF increased duty, except that imposed on
tin plate which does not go into effect until July
i 1891, and upon linen fabrics, the effect viii be
20 reduce rather than enlarge the revenues, be
cause importations will fall of. IL was the aim
OF the committee to fix the duties upon that class
OF manufactured goods and farm products which
can be supplied at home so a. 70 discourage the
use Of like foreign goods aud products and SO
cure to our own people and our own producers
the home market, believing that competition
among ourselves will secure reasonable prices to
consumers In the future as it has invariably done
in the past. We seek by the increased duties
recommended not only 10 maintain but 20 enlarge
our own manufacturing plants and check those
supplies from abroad The general policy OF the
bill is 70 foster and promote American industry.
The Duty on Wool.
The report quotes the recommendation
concerning the tariff in the presidents an
nual message, and terms them sensible aud
patriotic" In regard TO wool, the report
states that by the proposed bill the duties
upon first and second class woods are made
at II and II cents pound, as against 10 and
Il under existing law On third class wool,
costing ~ cents or less, the duty is raised
from 2l8 cents a pound 60 80 cents, and
upon woods Of the third class costing above
II cents, the duty recommended is an nd-
vance from TO cents per pound. The re-
port says:
There seems 70 be no doubt that with the pro.
lection Afforded by the increased duties recon
mended IN the bill the farmers OF the United
States will be able at an early day 70 supply sub
stantially an Of tho home demand and the great
benefit such production will be to the agricultural
interests Of the country cannot be estimated
The production OF G000l0.U00 pounds OF wool
would require about 1O0,O0o,000 sheep, or an ad-
dition OF more than 100 per cent TO the present
number
system Of Compound Duties.
In revising the woolen goods schedule so
as to afford adequate protection to our wool
Is
continued the system Of compound duties.
which have proved TO be so essential In any
tariff which protects wool, providing first
for a specific compensatory pound or square
yard duty equivalent to the duty which
would be paid on the wool if imported, for
the benefit Of the wool grower, and an ad
valorem duty of from SO to so per cent, ac-
cording TO the proportion of labor required
in the manufacture of the several Glasses OF
goods as a protection 10 the manufacturer
against foreign competition and 10 per cent
additional upon ready made clothing for the
protection of the clothing manufacturers
The report says:
From the best Information we can obtain il is
probable that the increased rates Of duty given 10
manufacturers Of wooens will reduce certainly
not increase, the revenue from this source and
transfer to this country the manufacture Of from
Sl5O00,00O to 900 Of wooden goods now
made abroad. In comparing the equivalent ad
yalorem duty on manufactures OF wnolens. the
combination Of both the specific duty, which Is
simply compensatory for the duty on the wool
used Of which the wool grower receives the bene
At, and the duty on which protects the mauufact
urers makes the average resultant rate OF the
woolen goods schedule proposed 9lss per cent
The Sugar and AIoIasses Schedule.
After defending its action in increasing
the duty on certain kinds of iron and on tin.
plate the committee goes on to discuss the
sugar and molasses schedule The sugar
schedule was only decided on Tuesday night.
The committee recommend that sugar up tc
and including No. Is Dutch standard Of col
ored and molasses be placed on the free list.
with duty Of 4-l0 Of I cent per pound on
refined sugar above No. l6, and that boun.
ty OF cents per pound be paid from the
treasury for period Of fifteen years for all
sugar polarizing at least S. per cent made
in this country from cane, beets or sorghum
produced in the United States Discussing
the sugar question, the committee say;
SO large proportion OF our sugar Is imported
that the home production Of sugar does not ma.
terIally affect The price, and the duty is therefore
tax which is added to the price not only OF th,
imported bus OF the domestic product which 4
not true Of duties imposed on articles produced
or made here substantially TO the extent Of our
wants In 1889 the duties collected on imported
sugar and molasses amounted to S55, GOOD Ada
20 this the increase OF price OF domestic sugar
arising from the duty, and it is clear that the
pnty on sugar and molasses made the cost Of
the sugar and molasses consumed by the people
Of this country at least S64, 900 900. or about a.
for each man, woman and child ia the United
States more than Il would have been II no such
duties had been levied and the domestic product
had remained the same.
Even on the assumption that with proper en-.
couragement we shall eventually be abhs 20 pro
duce all or nearly all the sugar required for the
consumption Of our people-an assumption which
your committee believe TO be sustained By many
facts, notwithstanding the slow progress thus far
made in sugar culture in this country-this en-
couragement can be given much more economic
ally aud eftectually by bounty OF 9 cents per
pound, involving the expenditure OF but little
more than S7,OoO'0OO per annum with the present
production Of sugar in this country than by the
imposition Of duty involving the collection OF
ea5,H5,blO IN duties In the last fiscal year not TO
mention the amount indirectly involved when il
is considered that this Increase in cost due 70 the
duty falls on an article Of prime necessity as
food, your committee are persuaded that justice |
as wei as good policy requires that such an un.
necessary burden in the way Of a direct tax
should be removed from sugar, and that the en-. |
enlargement required to induce the production /
OF sugar In the United States should be given |
through bounty rather than by an import duty. |
In providing that not only raw sugar but also |
sugar up 10 and including No. l6 shall be admit /
ted free Of duty, an opportunity is given for the
Tree introduction Of yellow sugars suited for fam
ny use-an arrangement which will secure 10 our |
people sugar at the lowest price existing in the /
markets Of the world, while even imported white /
refined sugars will be subject to a duty Of only /
i-l0 Of cent per pound.
Internal Revenue Features.
Several thousand words Of the report are /
devoted to giving reasons for increasing du.
ties on agricultural products Concerning !
silk the committee states that in order TO Sc
cure this industry as speedily as possible, |
they offer the necessary dferential OF a |
bounty Of 81 per pouni, about the egufva- !