Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-03-23
A Draft of the Document that EI-
presses Their Tariff Views.
RAW MATERIALS ON FREE LIST.
Articles Upon Which the Reve-
nue. Collected is Too Small to
Pay for Collection Go Free.
Tin Plate is Put Down at
Twenty Per Cent.-Woolens
and Worsteds Of Every Kind
Placed at 25 Per Cent.

New YORK, March GA special
committee of the Reform Club OF this
city. consisting of E. EIery Anderson,
Charles S. Fairchild, Thomas g. Shear
man, David A. Wells, John Dewitt
Warner and Everett 2. Wheeler, has
completed draft Of bill which, when
perfected, will be urged upon Congress
as a substitute for the present tarlf
laws and fulfillment of the pledges
under which the Democracy obtained
control Of the national government
The general principles upon which
the proposed tariff has been framed are
in the main as follows:
Crude material, to be used in the pro-
cess Of manufacture, are in general
made free of duty.
In taking other articles, the general
object has been to fix such rates as
would produce the largest amount OF
revenue in a series OF years, consistent
with large importations.
The purpose of obtaining the largest
revenue has, however, been limited by
consideration of the welfare and neces-
stiles of the people at large and espe-
cially the poorer classes.
The purposes of obtaining revenue
for the Government having been the
sole reason for levying any Of these du-
ties, il has not been thought necessary
and hardly proper to reduce rates mere
ly for the purpose of avoiding some in
cidental protection to domestic produ-
GERS.
All duties have been made strictly
ad valorem, except some of those which
have been levied as compensatory for
internal revenue taxes upon similar ar
tlcles at home.
All foreign articles, which II made
here would be subject to internal reve-
nue. taxes, must, Of course, be subject
to at least an equal tax.
Silk is clasSed as a luxury, but silk
ribbons are practically a necessity of
life TO the vast majority OF women.
Marble may be considered a luxury,
and therefore we put higher duty
upon that than that upon ordinary
stone.
As to liquors and tobacco, the duties
upon them should be made with view
to obtaining the greatest possible
amount of revenue without any con-
Germ in so doing as to whether we give,
or withhold protection to the domestic
producer.
All forms of crude metal, not merely
in ores, but in pigs, ingotS and bars.
with the exception OF iron and steel,
have been made free of duty.
The duty of woolens aud worsted
mat ufactures of every description is
placed at % per cent.
Tin plates should certainly not be
taxed more than 20 per cent. and per-
hapS not more than Is per cent.
Most provisions are made free Of duty,
but some which partake in a mild de-
gree of the nature of luXuries, are put
in the 20 per cent. schedule, while
breadstuffS are mostly made free.
Domestic books could not be admit
ted without the consent Of the domestic
publisher; and foreign books, copyright
ed here, could not be admitted at all.
1t would be exceedingly desirable to
have no specific free list, but 10 make
everything free which is not made ex-
pressly subject TO duty. All articles
upon which the revenue collected is too
small to pay for collection and upon
lUhich it is not probable that any mere
reduction of rates lCOuld produce sub
tantiaL reUerle, have been placed on the
free list.
We are satisfied that the proposed
tariff would produce an immediate
revenue Of S12O, 100000, If not more.