Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-16
PROTECTION ADVOCATED.
The Tariff Bill Reported In the House
This Afternoon.

The Tariff Bill Reported In the House
This Afternoon.
POINTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE MAJORITY OF
THE WAYS AND MKANs coMMrrrHx-xNcouR-
AeEMENr OF AMERICAN LABOR THE KEY NOTE
TWO MINORITY REPORTS.
The reports Of the majority and minority of
the ways and means committee on the tariff
were presented TO the House this afternoon.
The majority report begins with statement of
the financial situation and estimates that the
surplus at the end Of the present fiscal year
will.be ss2, 100000 and, deducting the sum re-
CURED to make payments on the sinking fund,
the net surplus Of receipts over expenditures
will be S43, $751; S3
The estimated surplus Of the next fiscal year
will be S43, 569, 522, which, with the amount Of
cash now on hand and available Preaching
$50, 900, 000), will Justify q reduction of the
revenue in the sum contemplated by the bill
reported-S60, 1886, 536, and probably more from
customs and $40, 327 1878 from internal revenue
or total Of Ell, 264, Ala.
THE EFFECT OF THE BILL UPON THE REVENUES
The majority report says: The exact effect
npon the revenues Of the government Of the
proposed bill is difficult of ascertainment
That there will be substantial reduction, as
we shall show, admits Of 10 doubt. It is not
believed that the increase of duties
upon woods and wooden goods and
upon glass ware will have the effect
Of course, follow if the importations Of the last
fiscal year were hereafter to be maintained,
which, however, is altogether improbable.
The result will be that importations will
be decreased and, therefore the amount
OF revenue collected from these sources wall be
diminished.
In every case Of increased duty except that
imposed upon tin plate, which does not 20 into
effect until July l, 1891, and upon linen fabrics,
the effect will be to reduce rather than enlarge
the revenues.
BECAUSE ISPoRTATIoNs WILL FALL OFF.
1t was the aim of the committee to fix the
duties upon that class of manufactured goods
and farm products which can be supplied at
home SO as to discourage the use Of like foreign
goods and products, and secure to our own
people and our own producers the home mar
ket, believing that competition among our
selves will secure reasonable prices to con-
sumers in the future, as it has invariably done
in the past.
We seek by the increased duties recon.
Dended not only to maintain but to enlarge
our own manufacturing plants and check those
supplies from abroad which can be proftably
produced at home. The general
policy of the bill is to foster and promote
hmtTlCdu prOuuCtlOn ana QlverSlncatlOn OF
American industry. We have not been so much
concerned about the prices of the articles we
consume as we have been
TO ENCOURAGE SYSTEM OF HOME PRODUCTION
that shall give fair remuneration to domestic
producers and fair wages to American work
men and. by increased production and home
competition, insure fair prices to consumers"
The committee admits that free trade or
revenue duties would temporarily diminish
prices, but argued that it would be at the ex-
pense of the domestic products, which would
vance and the country be left at the mercy Of
foreign syndicates and manufacturers.
CHEAP FOREIGN PRODUCTS MEAN CHEAP LABOR
AT HOME.
The report says: Cheaper products from
abroad to the American consumers mean
cheaper labor at home and lower rewards to
benefits to the consumer.
Neither condition would prove a blessing to
the United States. That country is the least
prosperous where low prices and low wages
prevail One of the chief complaints now
prevalent among our farmers is
that they can get no price for their crops at all
commensurate to the labor and capital in
vested in their production. Those who differ
from must believe that even
further agricultural depression is desirable,
ioT 10 OtueT consequence can result
from their economic theories. They advocate
cheap prices as the chief object of the indus
trial policy they commend to the country.
This means permanently low prices for
agricultural products as well as for manufac-
tured goods.
This bill is framed in the interest Of the peo-
pie Of the United States. 1t is for the better
DEFENSE OF AMERICAN HOMES AND AMERICAN IN
DUsTRIEs.
We have realized, the committee says that
a reduction of duties below the difference be-
tween the cost of labor and production
suit either i'll the abandonment of much of our
manufacturing here or in the depression of our
labor.
EITHER RESULT WOULD BRING DISASTER,
the extent of which no one can measure
We have recommended no duty above
the point of difference between the normal
cost of production here, including labor, and
the cost of like production in the countries
which seek our markets.
TWO MINORITY REPORTS.
Mr.. McKenna made a minority report on
sugar.
Mr.. Carlisle made the report for the demo-
Gratis of the committee.
THE ONLY CHANGES IN THE BILL
not heretofore recorded are that hides
are on the free list again and
sugar is made free with bounty
All sugar below and including sixteen Dutch
standard is admitted free of duty with bount;
of cents per pound to run for fifteen years.
All above sixteen is dutiable at 4-I0 Of a cent
per pound.
No change is made in the wool schedule.