The morning call., 1893-12-03
LEADERS MAKE EXCUSES.
Ad ValOrem Duties Said to Be
Much the Better.
STILL THE SUGAR MEN PROTEST.
II the Bill Is Enacted 1t Will Mean
Starvation for Thousands
of Them.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-The Democratic
members of the Ways and Means Commit
tee were in session for three hours this
afternoon reviewing the tariff bill for the
purpose of correcting typographical errors
and other minor incoDgruities. The SUBJ
Committee on Internal Revenue reported
that Its la6ors were not complete, and
that 1t would be impossible to report the
schedules before some time next week,
the chief difficulty being the impossihilty
OF liking rates of taxation until the reve-
nue. estimates under the new bill are 80
far completed as co indicate the probable
deficit. The uncertainty as to the amount
of the deficit has given rise once more to
discussion as to the wisdom Of making the
income tax general in character and appli-
cable 10 all individual incomes in excess
of $1,000 instead of restricting it to corpo-
rations and SUGGESTIONS only.
A circular issued under the auspices of
the Democratic majority of the committee
argues that specific duties are calcu-
lated to stop the Importation of the lower
grades OF goods, and that while ad valorem
are the fairest and most equitable duties.
the disadvantage Of ad valorem duties lies
in the great temptation to undervaluation.
The policy of the Democratic party has
always been to substitute ad valOrem for
specific duties. The circular draws atten-
tion to the proposed changes in the admin
istrative branch of the tariff laws. ana
says the official report OF the committee
will devote much space to the advocacy of
these changes. 1t concludes that the mis-
sion of the Democratic party, among
others. is TO demonstrate that tariff reform
will benefit the whole people, merchants
as well as laborers. The customs admin
istrative act, amended as proposed, insur-
ing the rigid enforcement of such tariff
laws as the party sees fit TO enact, would
greatly assist in that demonstration.
There are indications of severe strug-
gle in the Senate over the sugar schedule
of the Wilson bill If not modified in the
House. A prominent Southern Senator
said to-day the Senators from all the
States which produce sugar. including
those from the cane-sugsr producing
districts of the South and those from the
beet-sugar producing States of the West.
such as Nebraska, Kansas and California,
would unite to oppose the change proposed
in the bill. The plan of graduated reduc-
tion In the bounty, he said, would
result in killing the sugar-producers
by inches. The sugar men, he
added. were never in favor of the
bounty plan, but preferred an import
duty. They would not. be said, ask for
protection in the sense understood by Nc
Kinley. but would be content with a rev.
euue duty of, say, ~ cents on raw sugars.
and 15s on sugars refined above IA. Dutch
standard. From the foundation of the
Gnvaromopt ti1l tho hou .u 10
went into effect sugar has been recognized
as an article from which a revenue could
be legitimatey derived, and one which
could be more evenly distributed than al
most any other. 1t was. he asserted, folly
for the Government, with the revenues
running low. to cut off S6S. 900. 600 of rev.
enue which it obtained during the last
year foreign sugar was taxed. Four hun
dred thousand people would be deprived
OF the means of livelihood in Louisiana
alone by the Wilson measure.
LONDON, Dec. 2.-The Economist com.
menting on the Wilson tariff bill, says: 1t
would be wise for our manufacturers not
TO expect too much from the bill. even if
it is carried in its present form. Undoubt-
edlY trade has suffered to some extern by
the Mckinley bill, but it is doubtful
whether trade has suffered as much as
many suppose. The reduction of import
duties will undoubtedly have a beneficial
effect upon certain industries. but it would
not Of itself enable them to make good all
the ground lost since 1890 Regarding
general trade there is no doubt whatever
that the removal of the duties On raw
material would render American manufac-
turers. whose competition we already feel
in certain markets, much more serious
rivals than they now are.