The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1890-10-10
THE TARIFF BILL.

The measure known as the Mckinney
tariff bill is now the law of the land, it
having been adopted by both branches
of Congress and endorsed by President
Harrison. The pledge of the Republi-
can party made in 1888, to revise and
reform the tariff has been fulfilled by
giving to the people of America the
most thoroughly considered measure
ever before Congress, and one very just
to all portions of the Union and to all
the great and diversified interests OF the
whole American continent. There is no
good reason to doubt the wisdom of the
bill, and it is believed that it will be
quite satisfactory to the great mass OF
the people-all in fact who love their
own country better than any other.
Since the passage of the Morrill, bill of
1852 and after the changes IN the law
of 1883, but little Of the original bill was
left unchanged, but the present is the
first time the subject has been taken up
and thorough revision of the whole
subject matter had and an entire new
bill framed and enacted.
The bill passed makes many import
ant changes. The average per cent. of
duties, taking the last years lmporta-
ton as the basis of calculation, is one
and half cent lower than the average
of the Mills bill. Imported goods last
year amounting to $109, 1923 900 and upon
which the duties were 1896, 536 are
now on the free list. 1t admits free of
duty on the same basis over 40 per cent.
of all our imports, that is, on the last
years imports as basis. 1t admits free
of duty goods valued at 1886, 1906, 10
against 1875 1924 6S7, on which duties
averaging lighter than before will be col
lected. 1t givestbe largest amount of
| free goods ever before given under any
preceding tariff law. The reduction Of
revenue on the same basis of imports
will be some sixty millions. By the
Mills tariff bill not to exceed AZ per cent
of our imports would have been on the
free list, and the duties levied on the
other sixty per cent. had no reference
to the principle of protecting American
industries or labor. The Mills bill only
transferred articles to the free list in the
value of $23. 100000. The Mckinley bill
transfers in all more than 500, 900, 600.
The low grades of sugar are made free
and the higher grades pay but very
light duty, which will be wholly stricken
off whenever like concessions can be
made with the sugar producing States,
admitting equally important American
products to their markets on the same
terms. The duties levied are calculated
to strengthen the weaker industries and
withdraws the proper measure Of pro-
lection from the stronger, where 1T can
be safely done without injury or detri-
ment to the laborers employed therein.
The duties on most forms of iron and
steel are considerably reduced, and re-
duces the duty on binding Irvine to so
near nothing that even farmer Baker
can find no sufficient cause for travelling
over this Congressional district, passing
around the hat to secure travelling ex.
penses, to show to the farmers how poor
and impoverished they are, because they
cannot have free binding Irvine. 1t re-
duces the duty on lumber and on al
most every article in common use nee
cessary to the farmer or laborer of the
whole country, while abundantly pro-
te citing the products of the farm against
all foreign competition. In short, it is a
bill which reflects honor alike upon the
committee that framed it, the House
and Senate that enacted it and the Presi-
dent that approved it, and it will be
ratified by the people in November and
overwhelmingly endorsed and confirm
ed in 1892
The present Congress made a glorious
record and will deservedly receive the
commentator of the people as true
men and faithful to their pledges.