The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-28
NOTABLE FEATURES OF THE BILL
Are Found I'm the Addition to tho Free
List That VIII Help Destroy Prosper
Gus New England Manufact orics--It
IL Likely to he Killed.


he will be able to carry 1t through that
body without any important changes He
expects that It will be assailed by the
representatives of the iron and coal and
wool interests. He asserts that his own
state is as much interested in keeping the
duty on coal and iron ore as any other
state.
But he maintains that in the prepara-
tion OF general tariff bill, local interests
must give way TO the general interests, and
that no discrimination should be allowed
to interfere in formulating q tariff and
revenue measure. The general features of
the bill are fully understood by President
Cleveland and have been carefully consid-
cred by Secretary Carlisle, and both these
high officers approve of the measure.
Where the Fight Came.
The committee has had protracted
struggle for several days over the subject
Of whisky, sugar and the income tax
The more the last was considered, the
greater were the objections alleged against
it. At one time President Cleveland was
rather disposed to favor it, but after talk
Ing the matter over with Secretary Car
Isle, David A. Wells and other eminent
authorities on economic questions he was
persuaded to believe that it would be a
very unpopular measure, and one which
could not be passed concurrently through
both houses without creating dissensions
In the Democratic party.
Another source of revenue that has been
discussed, but of which no mention has
been made In the papers, is tax upon
proprietary medicines. This has found
considerable favor and is endorsed by
treasury officials. The arguments urged
In its favor have been that it could be
easily collected by compelling every bottle
or package to bear stamp, and that the
taxation would not fall upon the con-
sumner, as the list prices of the medicines
would remain unchanged.
The Bill Summarized.
The following is summary of the tariff
bill;
The bill puts wool, coal, lumber, salt
and iron ore on the free list, and reduces
the tariff on refined sugar from one half to
one-quarter Of a cent a pound; it also pro-
vides for the determination Of the bounty
by degrees.
AS rule. the tariff has been made low
est upon the cheaper goods of necessary
use and left highest upon the more ex-
pensive articles. In the wool schedule
there is no duty higher than As per cent
on manufactures of wool, and that only
on ready made garments, the average
being less than ~ per cent. The cheap
quality OF blankets and flannels are taxed
25 per cent, and the lower grades of car
pets CO. A gradual reduction has also
been applied to the wooden schedule SO
that at the end of five years the highest
duty will be 40 and the average near 80
per cent
Very material reductions have been
made In the cotton schedule. Iron ore is
placed on the free list and large cut is
made all along the metal schedule; the
duty on steel rails is reduced more than
80 per cent. Free lumber will benefit the
people Of the prairie states, and free salt
will give to those who need salt for their
cattle or for curing meat the same advan-
tage which has been secured heretofore by
means of rebate to those who cured fish.
Agricultural implements have been placed
upon the free list because many of our ag-
ricultural implements are being sold
abroad today cheaper than at home.
But Few Republicans Present.
The meeting of the ways aud means
committee was very brief All the Demo-
cratic members were on hand, but the
only Republican members present were
Reed, Burrows. Hopkins, Payne and
Dalzell. Immediately after the rollcall
Chairman Wilson spread the tariff bill
before the committee and the clerk in
stantly supplied 1t to the members of the
press outside.
The Republican members were supplied
with copies OF the bill, few jocular re-
marks being made, and the committee ad-
journed TO give time to the minority to
examine the measure. Most Republican
members declined to express any opinion
ON the bill until they should have an op-
portunity to examine 1t in detail.
Ex-Speaker Tom Reed, member of the
nays aud means committee. said last
night: 'Of course 1t is very easy for the
gentlemen who prepared this bill to pre-
sent their views, since they have been
busiiy engaged in the work for number
of weeks. while the first sight that the
had of the bill was nc II o'clock
today. Like any other tariff bill, which
covers so many different objects and takes
up so much spSce, all any one could do
who has but seen IL is to make some obvi-
Gus comments on certain portions of it.
''In the frst place, the country ought TO
understand that there has been certain
uegree OF unialrness ABOUT the preparation
IF this bill--unfairness TO the country
rather than to Notwithstanding from
the composing Of the committee. The
Democracy have taken the lions share OF
the committee and have done this for a
purpose, for while the northern Demo-
Gratis are represented upon the committee
they are represented in such way that
the south holds strong and very un-
fortunate predomihation.
"As their industrial status Is very much
different from the average OF the whole
country, it nece sssrily follows. and abso-
lutely Ia fact has followed, that the bill Is
as bad as could be reasonably imagined.
1his may not he true with regard to every
item, but IL Is certainly true with regard
TO the most important matters in the
BILL
As Viewed by Mckinley.
CLEVELAND, Nov 2s.-Mr. Mckinley
arrived In Cleveland last evening. He was
asked his opinion OF the Wilson tariff. lie
said he had not read the abstract of the
measure and had only glanced through IL.