Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-04-17
WASHINGTON CULLINGS.
Eontana'S Republican Senators Are
Sworn In.
REPORTS UPON THE TARIFF BILL.
McKenna of California Dissents-
He Makes a Strong Protest
Against Sugar Bounty.
REPORTS UPON THE TARIFF BILL.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE RzcoRD-uN1os. !
PRESENTED AT LAST.


Majority and Minority Reports on the
Much Discussed Tariff Bill.
WASHINGTON, April 16th.-The reports
of the majority and minority of the Ways
and Means Committee on the tariff bill
were presented to the House this afternoon.
The majority report begins with state
ment of the financial situation, and init
mates that the surplus at the end of the
present fiscal year will be $4,000, 900, and
deducting the sum required to make paw
ments on the sinking fund, the net surplus
OF the receipts over expenditures will be
$43, ,679, 900. The estimated surplus of the
next fiscal year will be $43, $40 900, which.
with the amount of cash now on hand and
available (reaching 800, 600, ,OOO), will Justify
reduction of the revenue in the sum con-
templated by the bill reported, $50, ,937 900,
and probably more from customs, and saw
$40, ,32S 900 from internal revenue, or a total
of 81, ,264,000.
The majority report further says that the
bill as proposed will result in decreased
revenues; that in all cases, except tin, an
increased tariff will result in decreased i'm
portations and, therefore, decreased rev.
enue; that the committee aimed to put an
increased rate on manufactured goods and
".
in order to develop the home market; that
the committee was not so much concerned
about the prices of articles we consume as
to encourage the increase and diversified.
tlon OF home products, giving fair returns
to producers and fair wages to American
workmen, believing that home competition
will regulate the prices
The committee admits that free trade
would cause q tempory reduction in price,
but argue that it would be at the expense
of domestic products, and that prices would
then advance, with the country at the
mercy of foreign syndicates and manufact.
urers.
The ultimate result would thus be disad-
vantageous to both capital and labor. The
committee says that the country is least
prosperous in which low prices and wages
prevail, and point to the present agricultu-
raj depression as a sample.
The committee believes it better to raise
the $400, 900, 600 necessary to run the Gov.
ernment by taxing foreign imports than to
take it from domestic products.
The entire bill is based upon protection
to American industry, but at the same
time recommends no duty above the point
of difference between the normal cost of
production abroad.
The report then takes up the details of
the bill, and saws the reduction in reye.
nues from placing on the free list chemicals
not produced in this country will amount
to $S75,0O0; cite figures to show decline
in the production says that allowance
duties have been recommended which will
afford ample protection to the wool-growers;
while the Senate bill fixed the duty on
third class wool at cents, the committee
makes 1t 81 cents. with change in defini-
tons and classification, ETC., which will
compensate for the difference.
The committee believes the country
should produce all the wool it consumes.
This can be done by the addition of IOO.-
OOO.OOO sheep to the present number.
The report says the bill seeks to stop the
shameless frauds which have been prac-
hced in the importation of woods and
woolen goods.
1t declares that during the past fiscal
year the undervalued invoices showed that
the importation by wooden manufacturers
was valued at $50, ,6S1 900. whereas the real
market value was nearly $50, 900 900 equiv
alent to the Importation of 10000, 900
pounds of wool.
The present bill argues that by increas.
ing the duty on fine woods 1t will transfer
to this country from SIS ,000, 900 to $40, ,OOO,.
600 in woolen manufactures.
The average rate of the woolen goods
schedule proposed is 917S, against the pres
ent rate of 81 Is.
With the foreign grain market under the
sway of such oppressive competitions,
with the foreign cattle and pork market
depressed and ebstructed by the various
and ruinous measures of restriction, with
foreign agricultural products crowding our
nome market, your committee have recon-
mended an increase upon agricultural pro-
ducts, with view to increase the number
of gainful occupations open to the farmer.
The committee has recommended a
bounty to growers of silk, as duty of 81
per pound TO be required to protect Amer
lean silk and reelers. The committee de-
cided that high duty would embarrass
the silk-weaving interests without suf-
ticient reason, and to secure the industry
as speedily as possible offers the necessary
dlfferential, bounty of 81 per pound, or
about 20 per cent. protection on reeled silk
The report says: ITO produce our an
nual importations of reeled silk it will re-
quire 1900 basins and give work to
20 600 persons in the different branches of
the industry. To produce the cocoons nee
essary to supply this silk would give tenn
porarlly but remunefative employment to
the families of half million farmers
every season." To encourage the produc.
ton of cocoons and give direct encourage
ment to the producers the committee has
provided bounty of cents per pound on
fresh cocoons, the bounties to continue for
ten years.
OF the internal revenue sections, the
committee says it recommended the repeal
of all statues imposing restrictions upon
farmers and growers tobacco, that they
may sell with freedom. In conclusion the
report says the advance duties on agricultu.
raj products:are, for the most part, articles
which this country cannot produce to the
extent OF our wants. The increased duty
will reduce the importations, so the rev.
enues will not be increased and our farmers
will hold their own markets.
The same result will follow in other
cases of increase, and where the revenue in
special cases increases, 1t will be far less
than indicated by computation based on
the theory that importations will continue
as large as under lower duties.
Even on the assumption that with proper
we shall eventually be able
10 produce all, or nearly all, the sugar re-
auired for the consumption of our people,
this encouragement can be given much
more economically and effectually by
3 bounty of 2 cents per pound, an
of little more than S., 600, 600
per annum, with the present production OF
sugar in this country, than by an imposi-
ton of duty involving the collection of
s55, ,975, ,6l0 in duties in the last fiscal year,
not to mention the amount indirectly in
volved. In providing that not only raw
sugar, but also sugar including No. 16, be
admitted free, an opportunity is given for
the tree introduction of yellow sugars
suited for family use.
This arrangement will secure to the
people sugar at the lowest prices exist
ing in the markets of the world, while
even imported white refined sugar will be
subject 10 duty of only four-tenths of one
cent per pound.
Coming to the agricultural products the
report says; The ecommittee has given most
OF its investigation to the condition of agri-
cultural and kindred matters. The report
says the enemies of protective system
have no word of criticism for the real
causes of agricultural depression and no
suggestion of relief from the real burdens
vro 4 k,,t