Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-01
NEW TARIFF RIII.


The following resolution relative 10 legis-
lation for the reduction Of customs duties will
be offered in the House Of Representatives 1t
the opening Of the session Of Congress BY VIM.
]. Coombs. the Representative for the tenth
| district:
Resolved, That the COMMITTEES Of vays and
means bs directed to prepare and present for
| the consideration Of this House . bin for the
collection Of revenue and other purposes sub
stantially upon the basis and principle Of the
| following propositions:
The bill shall have four schedules, ~ follows:
Schedule A-To be composed of articles free
of duty, including all raw materials necessary
In the manufacture of goods.
Schedule BIO be composed of articles
which. by their nature, should not pay duty
exceeding 10 per cent
Schedule C-To be composed Of articles.
principally wine spirits. tobacco, cigars and
cigarettes, and upon which duty must be
charged, sufficient at least to protect manu-
iacturers, who pay a tax under our internal
revenue laws. Also of few well-defned
articles of luxury, which will bear q rate OF at
least 40 per cent ad vaorem.
Schedule D-To be known the schedule
for the protection of labor. and which shall
be made up from time to time IN the manner
hereinafter specified.
All articles not covered by the preceding
specified, " and shall have a uniform rate Of ad
valorem duty as provided hereafter.
The bill shall also provide that as soon as
Congress shall ascertain the amount of money
necessary for the conduct of the government
for the current year it shall submit report Of
the same, deducting thereirom the following
items:
(A.) Surplus remaining over from preceding
year.
OBJ Estimated income from internal revenue.
IC.l Estimated ipcODno from achai,1lo
% Estimated income from schedule c.
Cd Estimated income from schedule ID.
% Estimated income from all other sources.
Which amounts being deducted from the
government will leave result the amount
to be raised by import tax on all ''unspecifed'
articles.
1t shall, in its report to Congress, estimate
the gross value of such importatiOns for the
current year and the percentage OF duty neces-
sary to be levied on the same, in order as near
as may be, to realize the amount ascertaiped rs
above.
The bill shall also provide that in case any
manufacturer or manufacturers of goods or
merchandise included in the class of ''unspeci-
fec" shall find that the item of labor cost in
Guiding the use Of machinery, of his productions
In this country shall exceed that paid by the
manufacturers of the same class of goods made
In foreign countries, he may present sworn
proofs OF the same to the committee, with the
demand that such articles shall be entered on
schedule ID.
II, upon examination, the committee find
that the statements are correct. or if they find
thatany difference exists in favor of the foreign
manufacturer, they shall cause that article or
class OF articles to be entered upon schedule d,
with a specific duty equal to such difference,
always provided that the ar ticle is not protected
by letters patent issued by the government.
In speaking to a New York Times reporter of
his resolution Mr. Coombs said: INV object is
tn fath ahr,,f
In framing theory for the regulation of the
tarlff on such a basis shall be sufficient for
the wants OF the government, and no more. At
the same time the resolution meets the objec-
ton that the interests of labor in such a
measure are liable to be sacrificed or jeop-
ard1zed. In fact, claim that it makes pro-
tectiom more positive to the artisan than as it
exists under the present law. The measure
puts the burden of proof as to the question of
the cost of labor, including machinery, upon
the manufacturer
For the last year or more l have had the
positive conviction that no political party
could formulate tariff composed of schedules
embracing all the articles which may be i'm
ported which shall entirely satisfy the people.
temptations for misrepresentation and the
variety OF knowledge required in members of
the ways and means committee are SO great
that 1t seems almost impossible to accomplish
this object In TACT, do not think that any
party will ever have the courage to attempt it
again.
Schedule d is the main feature Of this reso-
luton. 1t assures the people of the will and
intention of the democratic party to protect
labor as such protection may be required 1t
also recognizes the right Of the people to grant
protection in making it necessary for the man
ofacturer to prove that the ordinary rate Of
duty which would be levied for revenue on I'M
specified articles is not sufficient to enable him
to compete with foreign manufacture seeing
that he would get all his raw material tree Of
DUTY All other articles are classed as inspect
ned. which will include probably IS per cent in
number OF all the goods that will come to this
country"