New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-17
THE T4PIFF REPORT

sailed the Free-Trade measure offered by MI |
Mills will not be surprised that his argument
in behalf of the Republican bill now pending
i remarkable for manlincSS mastery OF facts |
and soundness of reasoning. After reading 1t |
ono reioices that the day of moalymouthcd |
,imditv is over. and that Republicans are no
lonocr itching TO so disguise their tariff policy
that nobody can distinguish it from that of
the Democrats
The report frankly avowS that the committee
has endeayOled "tO fix the duties upon that
class of manufactured goods and farm prod
nets which can be supplied at home so rs to
discourage the use of like foreign goods and
products. and secure to our own people ana
our own producers the home market believing
that competition among ourselves VIII secure
reasonable prices to consumers IN the future
rs il has invariably done in the past" IT Is
de .larod that cheaper products from abroad
10 the American CONSUMERS mean cheaper
labor at home and lower rewards to the do
nestle producer. with no permanent benefits TO
tho consumer The country is the
least prosperous where low prices and low
wage, prayan.1 The committee therefore de
clalcs with truth. in golden words which should
he remembered
This hill is framed in the interest Of the people Of the
1-red state IT is for the better defence Of American
homes and American industries. While securing the
needed revenue. its provisions look alike TO the "'-
clpaticns Of our own people their comfort ana thcif
welfare to tie successful prosecution Of industrial en-
,egpri,os already started. and to the opening OF new
lines Of production where conditions and resources
Will admit.
The uending bill the committee believes
will reduce the revenue about SILICA A T.
The transfer of thirty-Scven articles or classes
of articles 10 the free list will cut of SCI
q71 Of revenue. At a late meeting yesterday
the committee wisely decided 10 leave hides
on the free list a change that viii be gratifying
TO the East \ much more important change
wa, also made and one exactly in accord with
the recommendations Of farmers two wears ago
namely. that all sugar below No. l6 puich
standard and molasscs should be put upon the
free list. with bounty of > cents per pound
10 home producers. No wiser solution OF the
difficulty was found than TO encourage homo
production in the most direct manner. while
greatly lessening the taxes paid by the people.
The committee further maintains that the
advance of duties on agricultural products III
Guiding wool and tobacco and on some man.
ufactured articles is intended to diminish I'M
portation, so largely that the revenue VIII there
ly be reduced In addition ia" changes III IN
torral taxes are expected to reduce the rcvcnu"
S1O327S7s As 10 the ability Of the Treas
ury 10 spare so much OF its revenue the com
mittoe states that the excess Of revenue over
cypenses for the next fiscal year. on the basis
of nrcsent laws. would be Sl3,569.522
(which with the amount Of cash on hand
tlv -
Will Justify" the reduction contemplated. The
natural enlargement of revenue from increase
in the population and business Of the country.
without any change OF the laws is not men
toned by the committee but i would pro'ahiN
average at least 3 per cent yearly, or 81
600 GOO. 50 that the surplus on hand would NOT
be reduced more than year or two. II AZ all.
The report takes ~ the bill by sections. cN-
plaining and giving reasons for cach Grange
with conspicuous candor and ability. j. merits
careful pcrusal by all who would Judge the
Republican policy intclligcn'y and fairly. In
Justice would be done to il rcaSonlngN hY any
attempt TO cOndcn>c or cpliOmlze them. hui u
| few points call for especial notice. i j. justly
! maintained that more than a million n"'h
! masters must be forced 10 produce gram on
other farm products more largely II wool
growing cannot be proiiiahly pursued. but thd'
the country ought TO and can produce all OF the
wool consumed not only the 100000, 600
uounds now grown but the 35o.00o.0Oo
pounds imported either a> raw wool on IN
| manufactured form or a. waste. which would
REQUIRE more than 100, 600. 600 sheep. II the
wool should average no more 'han ~ GEMS
nor Mound the value would pay for fair farm
:,I { lion,
crs. The committee holds that the present
duties on woollcn goods arc more than Is re-
auircd on unfinished goods like blankets ana
hannels but less than Is required Tor iinIShcd
manufactures Of wool which are beng I'M
rolted in large quantities" Accordingly the
protective part Of the duty is reduced to 80
ner cent on the cOarser blankets and ilannel>,
remains 80 per cent on the medium grades
and is placed AT 40 per cent on the hl@hcI
GRADES Of blankets and on carpets ana tie low
est grades of cloth. and 30 per cent on the
finer grades of cloth.
In the same spirit duties on almost all forms
Of manufactured iron and steel are reduced
but duties on cutlery and tin plates are raised
the latter because the establishment OF The
manufacture here would furnish additional en-
ployment to at least n 900 men. y large part
Of the report is devoted 10 the reasons Tor IN
croasing duties on agricultural products Other
than wool, and it is stated that the increase
in imports of such products from forty millions
in 1850 10 more than three hundred and fifty
six millions has brought the farmer into direct
competition with the poorly paid labor OF Other
lands The ayOwcd purpose is 10 save the
entire market to the American farmer ano
, there are few who will attempt to deny that he
needs defence as much as persons IN oihcl
ayocations The committee deserves honor
| and the thanks Of Republicans for It's report
, and for the ability and the courage with which
il has framed its bin.
RAPID TRANSIT AND THE TINE LIMIT