Montgomery County sentinel., 1890-03-28
TIE NEW TARIFF BILL.

The Mckinley tariff bill is properly de-
scTibcd by its friends as "a bill to revise the
tariff" II revises the law, but it does it in
such a manner as not to reduce taxation
materially. 1t is not, therefore, the tariff
reform measure the country demands. but
spccious device in the interest Of certain
section Of Northern producers. The pres
cnt bill exhibits, it will be observed, fea-
turc that distinguishes ii from all previous
high tariff protectionst bills. The war tariff
was framed by Morrill,, of Vermont, and had
II keen eye 10 New England interests. The
later notifications of the tariff were shaped
by the Hon VIM. d. Kelley, of Pcnnsylva
MIA, recently deceased, chiefly in the Penn
sylvania interest, but not without regard
to New England's supposed interests. The
present bill shows, in manner to starte
New England, that the centre OF gravity oi
the Republican party and the control of its
policy have passed beyond the Alleghani
and that in the future New England is tc
be classed, in the determination of economic
| questions, with the South, as section o
the country that need not be considered ex
cept as respects its capacity TO bear burdens
The bill, being substantially the work O.
regard for the Middle and Western States
| Not only are New England's demands fo
free coal, pigiro and wool and reduced
duties on other raw materials disregarded
but, in Difference to Western ideas, raw
hides, most important raw material fo
the New England shoe manufacturers, il
taken from the free list Tin plate ant
other raw materials Of New England indus.
try are at the same time subjected to al
increased duty. A duty of one cent PEI
pound ON fresh fish is apparently the only
concession made to any distinctively New
England interest, and that is not likely tC
win votes for the party. To prevent re
duction in the tax on woolens, cotton goods
iron, steel, glass and earthenware and othel
necessaries consumed by the poor, some
$l0000,000 or $12 100000 will be taken from
the tax on tobacco, and some $6,000,00(
from the tax on whiskey. With the same
object in view, some ser 900 is to bt
taken from the tax on imported sugar, re-
ducing the tax on that article by about one
half This reduction is recommended by
the fact that sugar is not grown in the
North Nearly all that is used is imported
SO that the revenue from the tax on it goes
almost wholly into the federal treasury, and
not, as in the case of steel rails, cloth OF
carpets, into the pockets of the American
tarii lords. Raw sugar is not, therefore, an
article in which the prorectienist can fee
much interest. With refined sugar the case
is different, but the odium into which re-
finers have brought their business by "trust.
ing" it has encouraged the ways and means
committee to make sugar in all its forms a
tariff scape-goat. The reductions on to.
bacco and sugar arc accompanied by an in.
crease Of tax on ear thenw ware, glass ware
aluminium, chemicals, cutlery, screws and
other manufactures of iron and steel, tin.
plate, zinc, cigars, fish, fruits, figs, oranges
lemons, wool and woolens, carpets, tobacco
and agricultural products generally. The
features of iron and steel upon which the
duties were absurdly high, copper, nickel
lumber, sugar, manufactures Of leather and
gun barrels. Upon coal, pig.iron, statuary
and paintings the duty remains unchanged
Upon diamonds and pearls the duty is &C
per cent, which is much below the average
duty on the necessaries of lie. The amount
by which the trainers of the bill estimate
that il will reduce revenue is $60,000,00O
This, we think, is an excessive estimate
Like the increase of tax on imported hen
eggs, hops, hides and hay, it is intended for
the consumption of farmers during the fall
congressional elections. AT the present gait
of the majority in Congress there will be
no surplus to reduce, but, on the contrary
| q deficit -BQgtO Sun