Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-11

ciate the existence of a new tariff law only
by its results in the reduction of his neces-
sarv household expenses.
Undoubtedly many rates have been raised,
many remain as they were. many have been
lowered. But the claims Just made are es-
tablished by the fact that every increased
rate must be placed in one OF these five
classes:
First-That which consists in the correc-
tion of errors. This Is small class, rem
dered necessary by the inequality in rates
between the raw material and the manufact-
ured article, or by Treasury Department
regulations, or by fail ure in the language
of previous acts to express the Congressional
will clearly and accurately. The interests
of the consumer are affected by this class,
if at all, only in an infnitesimal degree.
Second-That which consists in the revi-
sion of ad valorem rates where, by reason of
the great fall in prices, they have lost their
protective value. This is also small class.
1t has resulted largely from new and i'm
proved machinery and from the great fall in
transportation prices, so that the moderate
ad valorem levied in former tariffs no longer
possesses any protective strength, but signi-
fes less by from 80 to Is per cent than it
signified when originally levied.
Third-Agricultural products. An i'm
portant and general increase in duties has
been provided for all farm products. The
tariff of 1888 has been found by experience
wholly inadequate for the protection of the
farmer. Although, under the protective
system, his expenses for necessary supplies,
such as farm implements. hardware, cloth
ing, drygoods and groceries has been con-
stantly decreasing, he has been unable to
obtain for his own products q fair living
price. Importations of farm products into
the United States have increased from S40,
900, 900 in 1850 to S256, ,O0O, 900 in 1889. The
purpose of the Mckinley bill is to check
this importation, and to hold the American
market for the American farmer.
Fourth-LuXuries, whether their like is
produced here or not. Champagnes, BRAN
dies and cigars are illustrations of this
class. The theory upon which these articles
are made to pay heavy duty is conceded to
be correct, even by the advocates of ''rev-
enue tariff" 1t insists that people who can
afford such indulgences can afford to con-
tribute through them to the support of the
Government
Fifth-That class of fine manufactured
goods hitherto not produced in this country.
The American market for these goods has
hitherto been conceded to foreigners. They
constitute the largest and by far the most
important of these five classes. They in
clude such articles as fine laces, fine linens,
the finest grades of wooden goods, of satins
and velvets, and the most highly decorated
pottery. The want of protection is the only
thing that has stood in the way of the man
u acture of these goods in America. Into
their manufacture the elements of human
labor enters enormously, and it is the Re-
publican party's proposition, by imposing
such tariff on the foreign article as will
make up or the difference between the
price of labor here and the price of labor
abroad, to enable our people to enter into
this new kind of manufacture.