New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-17


HIDES LEFT on THE FREE LIsr-A
REDUCTION OF OVER s7o.oo0o0o
IN REVENUES EXPECTED.
,sY TELEGRAPH TO THE TKIBrNE.l
Washington April 16.-" This bill is framed
in the interest of the people of the United States
Il is for the better defence of American homes
and American industries While securing the
needed revenue its provisions look alike to the
occupations 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 con-
ditons and resources will admit
In the foregoing sentences the majority OF the
Committee on Ways and Means clearly and sue
cinctly states the chief aim by which it has
been controlled in the preparation of the revenue
bill which was reported TO the House this after
noon The report, which is one Of the ablest ana
most exhaustive documents which has ever en-
mated from n WAYS and Means Committee is un-
dcrsood to be n composite work and not the pro-
duction of a single mind. although, and almost
as "A matter of course, the heavier part Of the
burden rested upon Chairman Mckinley, who'
as was 10 have been expected, showed himself
fully equal to the occasion and responsibility.
The report pretty efectualiy dispOses OF the ac-
cusations which have formed the chief stock IN
trade of the Democrat and Mugwump free-traders
during the last week. that the majority Of the
committee was guilty of weakness and vacillation
that the Republicans did not know their own
| minds. Comparisons have been published 10
! show in how much shorter period the " dark
! lantern" bill was drawn and brought before the
| House than has been consumed in the framing
of this bill Impartial and intelligent men who
H. lao r.a1 pnf
! because this one has occupied more time than
the dark lantern" bill. but that so much time
was wasted upon the latter production. The
most serious offence Of which Chairman Mckinley
and his colleagues have been guilty, however, IN
tie opinion of the frcc-traders, has been the pa
! thence which they have exhibited from the begin
ming in hearing every person or group Of persons
who came with arguments facts or suggestions
pertinent to the subject and which might aid the
committee to reach wise and safe conclusions.
Because they have done this and have steadily
refused To shut the mouth of any man. whether
frcc-tradcr or proicctionist who could contribute
anything TO the Investigation. they have been
abused with great zeal and scant justice. But
the fact remains that. however sound and Just
may hc criticisms upon features of the bill.
the Republican members Of the committee deserve
and Will receive credit for faithful, pains
taking and conscientious work and an honest de-
sire to promote the general welfare.
The sugar schedule is one which has provoked
| "A great deal Of discussion and developed marked
differences of opinion IN the committee. The at
tempt to harmonic the differences by heavy cut
Of the duties and The substitution of ad valorem
| for specific rates no. successful: il was un-
satisfactory to the producers OF beet and sorghum
sugar in the Western and Pacific States. as well as
| to the cane growers of the South neither was IL
satisfactory to any considerable number of Repub-
leans who favored the abolition OF the sugar
duties. nor other representatives who regarded
with suspicion the change from specific to ad
valorem rates. All efforts in the committee 10
agree upon specific rates which should be equva-
lent TO the ad valorem rates proposed were un.
availng. All these things taken together resulted
late lkst night in a radical change in the sugar
! schedule when. in the opinion OF the majority
of the committee. will be generally regarded AZ
more satisfactory by the consumers well rs by
the sugar producers of the country than was the
plan at first adopted The reasons which con-
trollcd the committee are set forth the report
Us follows.
The committee recommend that sugar, up to and in
Guiding No. 10 Dutch standard Of color ana moi>seS
be- placed On the free list. with duiN "i i'lo o cent
per pound on refined sugar above NO lO, ana thdi
Treasury for a period Of fifteen years for all sugar
fptrilng at least - per cent made IN TINS country
|
In l--- the consumption OF sugar in the United
states was liGg.!91 tons )3.l pounds per inhabi-
iant Of hi- only l-9.-1l tons c}13,J0ilJl poundsl
were produced In the niicd states, and l,2oO,lo3
tons. seven eighth, Of our consumption, were I'M
ported We have not at hand the statistics of sugar
consumption and production for l-e9 but the relative
proportion II domestic To- foreign production was sub
,,,.'' ~ ,',,r,,d tb.t The h5nc nr"d,'ton ~ sugar
doe, not materially affect the -icc. and the duty is
If The mportci hut Of the domestic product which il
| moi lf
made hero substantially e. the extent OF our wants
In l--? the duties collected on imported sugar ana
mola>,c, amounted to S559756 10. \dd this to tho
increase Of price OF domestic sugar arising from the
duty. and is clear that the duty sugar and
mola,,c, made the cost Of the and moas,es con-
,c by the people Of this country AT least Si Ooo,-
tinted states more than il wouTd have been II no such
duiic, had been levied and the domestic product
with proper announcement >hal eventually he
able to produce all nearly all the sugar required tor
the consumption Of our pcopc-an assumption which
your committee believe To be- sustained by many facts.
notwth- standing the slow progress thus far made In
bee given much more economically and eifectually by
bounty OF ns % per p1nn nn no o 'ne ner apem
w1h the present production of sugar IN ts country
to mention the amount Indirectly Involved: When It
is considered that this Increase In cost due to the
yor committee are persuaded that justice as well rs
good policy requires that such an unnecessary burden
in the way Of direct should be removed from sugar
and that the encouragement regmri to induce me ne
given through bounty rather than by an import duty
In providing that not only raw sugar. hut also sugar
M and including No Ii. shall bee admitted free OF
duty. opportunity !, given for the free introdnc-
tOn of yellow suited for family u>e-an arrange
mcnt which will secure 10 our people sugar al ths
lowest price existing in the markets of the world.
while imported white refined sugars VIII be sub
jcct to a duty Of only 40 of cent per pound.
In support of the proposition to pay bounties
on sugar rs well raw silk cocoons Of domestic
growth and manufacture the committee quotes
the authority of Alexander Hamilton the first
Secretary of the Treasury. in his historic report
on manufactures. transmitted to Congress in
December. 1891.
Another important change made last night. and
one which will greatly strengthen the bill. was
the restoration of hides TO the free list. third
change was a reduction of the duty on binder
| twinc from II cents to IA cents per pound.
| This WAS n concession to the grain growers of the
hn iA ntnlh h,.