The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-10-11

WASHINGTON, Oct. S.-Work on the
tariff bill by the democratic members Of
the ways and means committee continues
on the lines Of making the raising Of
revenue the object Of the bill and pro-
lection the incident That, according 10
one of the members, is the direction all
proceedings are taking at present. There
seems to have been considerable talk
about charging the free list, as there are
many articles now subject to duty which
yield but little revenue to the govern
ment This points toward to many agri-
cultural products where competition with
American producers is impossible to any
considerable extent.
The tax on wheat and other grains may
be abandoned, with the exception OF bar
ley, S there is a considerable demand
for protection against Canadian barley.
1t seems that the protest Of the market
gardeners of the Atlantic coast who did
not want the duty removed from vege-
tables will not have much weight as
there seems to be an opinion prevailing
in the committee that the Bermuda pro-
ducts will not cut much figure as COM
peting against those grown on Long
Island and other places along the coast
1t is claimed that the Bermuda products
are shipped in at a time when the pro-
ducts Of the home gardens could not be
planted. The market gardeners in the
vicinity of Buffalo. Detroit and other
large cities along the Canadian border
have been disturbed to some extent by
the anticipated competition of the Can
adams, but members Of the committee
say that the consumers will receive the
benefits of the reductions in price If any
follow.
1t was supposed that after the state
ments Of the governor of West Virginia
before the committee that perhaps Chair
man Wilson might be inclined to oppose
a change in the coal schedule. But il is
intimated at least that coal is very likely
to go on the free list. It has been argued
that the West Virginia coal fields are
benefited only where tide water can be
reached by rail and canal routes and
that is a small matter when the entire
consumption of coal is considered, while
it is claimed that the benefits to be de-
rived by free coal to the New England
manufacturer is an item Of great i'm
portance. 1t has also been claimed that
the interior coal fields cannot be affected
materially by free coal.
There has been considerable talk over
the iron and steel schedules. and that
there are intimatioas that this is the
most difficult problem that has yet con-
fronted the committee, and one which is
still quite far from settlement. Mem
bers of the committee have talked about
a reduction of duty on pig and scrap
70 N q
the view that there would be large rev.
enue derived from importations under
such a reduction. AS to the manufac-
tured products of iron, there is yet moth
ing that can be called an agreement.
That there viii be reductions is beyond
doubt, but the fixing Of the duties is
considered one of the most difficult mat
ters before the committee. The iron ore
schedule is another stumbling block. The
pressure from the regions along the great
lakes is for retention of a consider
able duty. The Lake Superior iron mines,
which have a large output, have been
urging their members OF congress to
maintain If possible protection on iron
ore. But this part OF the bill has not
been generally discussed by the men,
bers of the committee.
Some members Of the committee say
there will be no difficulty in raising sufti-
Client revenue. and that they need not
fear making reductions on that ground,
but on the other hand it is intimated
that whisky VIII stand an increased tax
of twenty-five or thirty cents a gallon
very easily; also that the tax Of dol
lar a barrel on beer is very light and
especially as the brewers are expecting
a reduction on barley and hops. There
are also intimations of evening up the
duty on sugar so that refined sugar will
have no great advantage over raw sugar
AS a means of raising revenue some
members Of the committee say that a
half or quarter of cent might be placed
on sugar without any i'll effects.