The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-04-26
THE. TARIFF.
Congress Now Has That Matter
Before It and Will Discuss It
at Great Length.
A Lengthy Report FavOring the
Reduction OF Tariff on Ger
tain Articles.

Reports oil the majority and minor
ity Of the ways and means committee
on the tariff bill were presented to the
house on the 10th inst. The majority
report begins with a stat ement OF the
financial situation and estimates that
the surplus at the end OF the present
fiscal year, will be S92, GOO. 900, and
deducting the sum required to make
the payments on the sinking fund, the
net surplus of receipts over expendi-
lures will be $43,67S,SS3. The esti.
mated surplus OF the next fiscal year
will be $43, ,569, ,522, which, with the
amount OF cash now on hand and
available, Preaching 500, 900, ,OoO) viii
justify reduction OF revenue in the
sum contemplated by the bill report
cd, $50, 1885, ,93o and probably more
from customs, and say $1o,327 ,s7s
from internal revenue, or a total OF
$71.284,414.
The majority report says: "ThG
exact effect upon the revenues OF the
government OF the proposed bill is
difficult OF ascertainment.
That there will be a substantial re.
ductioD, as we will show, admits OF
no doubt. 1t 10 not believed an In.
crease OF duties upon wool and wool
Ell goods and upon glassware will
have an effect OF increasing revenues.
That would, OF course, follow il inn
portations 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 oirevenue collected from these
sources will be diminished. In every
case OF increased duty, except that
imposed upon tin plate (which does
not 90 into effect until July /. 1917
and upon linen fabrics, the effect will
be to reduce rather than enlarge reve-
nues, because importations will fall
of.
"We have not been so much con.
cerned about prices OF articles we con.
sumo as we have been to encourage
the system OF home production that
shall give fair remuneration to do
mestic producers and fair wages to
American workmen and by increased
production and home competition in
sure fair prices to consumers"
The committee admits that free
trade, or revenue duties, would temp
OF arily diminish prices, but they aver
that it would be at the expense OF do
mestic products which would be dis
placed and then prices would advance
and the country would be lett at the
mercy of foreign syndicates and man.
ufacturers.
The committee closes it's argument
upon the general subject OF tariff by O.
quot alton from the last annual mes
sage Of the president and then pro.
ceeds to discuss the details OF the bill.
In thecase OF wool, report cites figures
as an evidence OF the alarming decline
in production and says an advance OF
duties has been recommended which,
it is believed will afford ample protec-
ion to wool growing farmers. :
While the senate bill fixed the duty
on third class wool at tour cents, COM
mittee places it at 3 1-2 cents, acting
upon the belief that with restrictions,
definitions and classi6cations, and the
addition OF port charges, recommend.
ed by the bill, the difference will be
fully compensated. The committee
believes that the United States should
produce all of the wool it consumes and
that with adequate defensive legisla-
tion 1t will do so. The annual con-
sumption is 900, 900 900 pounds and
with the protsction offered by the bill
the farmors OF the United States will
at an early day be able to supply this
demand, by an addition OF 100 per
cent or 100000, 900 sheep to the
present number. &"sr 1a.rf w.. 4
The bill seeks to stop frauds which
have been SO shameleesiy practiced
In the past by importing woods ready
for the loom under new names and
forms to avoid legal duties.
The report gives, an increase Of duty
on wool and construction given to
worsted clause OF the existing law as
reason for increasing the duties on
wool goods to prosect manufacturers.
The average rate OF woolen goods
schedule proposed including specific
duties on the wool used and manufac-
turers duty is Oils per cent. The
average rate at present Is 67.15 per
cent, but II the worsted decision bad
been made at the beginning OF the
wear 1t would have been increased 10
per cent and Is per cent more would
have been added IL worsted yarns at,
| the same price, SO that II these mani
test errors In the constructions OF law
had oeen earlier corrected the average
L ka Ia uk 4roaw u.rns,lH hax kno~. n.a.
ly 80 per cent. .-a, .. .
OF lumber the report says that any
reduction of light duties would have
discouraged proper care OF our timber
lands and have insured to the benefit
Of Canada without diminishing mar.
ket prices.
OF the metal schedules the report
says that no reduction can be made
on pig iron or ore duties, without det-
riment to existing industries and tine
committee has not felt justified in in
teriering with the further develop.
| nients OF our Iron ore resources, now
so promising IN southern states. The
report strongly susCains the iRcr sas
ed duty recommended on tin plates.
Coming TO agricultural products,
the report says the committee has
given months OF Investigation to ex.
isting conditions OF agricultural aud
kindred matters. IL saws:
THAT there 10 wide spread depres-
sion in this industry to-day cannot be
DOUBTED. Every remedy within the
sccpe OF practical legislation known
70 your committee has been recon-.
mended in the proposed measure To
meet the urgent requirements OF the
situation, Enemies OF the protective
system have no word OF criticism for
the real causes OF agricultural depres
sion. No suggestion ot relief from the
real burdens which are weighing il
Gown to-day. but, siezing the present
Ms favorite time, they solemnly
charge that the decline IN our market
70 solely due to the tariff. They are
pleased TO ignore the tact that one
purpose OF o protective tariff Ia to
hinder still larger importations OF for
L.. A.