The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-19

dstef US from carrying out as Ialth1ully ana
effectually as we could the instructions given
by the American people when this Congress
was put INTO power. Our own experience
and that of other countries has shown that
decrease of tariff duties Immediately oper-
ates such an eniargement.of commerce, OF pro-
ductien and consumption as rapidly to make
up any apparent loss of revenue threatened
by those reductions.
AID vALoREM FOR SPECIFIC DUTIES
"A most important change in the bill pro-
posed from the present law will be found in
the general substitution of ad valorem for
SPECIFIC duties. This must always be the
characteristic of a revenue tariff levied upon
a large range of articles, especially when
they include the plain necessaries of life. A
duty which taxes according to kind pound,
weight, measure or the like, without regard
to quality, always oppresses the less wealthy
consumer and lightens the just burdens of
his richer fellow citizens Such inequalities
as we have mentioned in the woollen
schedule, and many still grosser ones that
might easily be cited could only be hidden
in the specific duties and would never appear
In tariff that assessed its exactions accord
ing to the real value of the article taxed.
JUSTICE OF THE SYSTEM.
eThe justice of the ad valorem system is
often admitted by those who still contend
that it has such inherent difficulties of admin
istration and so easily lends itself to fraud
and underyaluation as to be unjust to the
government, the honest importer and the
home producer. A ready and sufficient an
swer to this may be found in the fact that in
no tariff eAer adopted in this country has
there not been a very large introduction of
ad valoren duties and that especially as to
goods whose value was most difficult of ascer-
tanning. With the improved administra-
ton of our customs under the laws recently
adopted and to be made more perfect by this
bill, there need be no fear that the extension
OF this just and open system will lead to any
OF the wrongs and abuses anticipated.
REPEAL OF RECIPROCITY PROVISION.
sit is the purpose of the present bill to re-
peal In toto sec. 3 of the Tariff Act of Octo-
ber l, 1880, commonly but most enormously
called its reciprocity provision. That act
placed sugar, molaSses. coffee tea, and hides,
on the free list, but authorized the President,
should he be satisfied that the Government
OF any other country producing such articles
imposed duties upon the agricultural or
other products of the United States, which
ne might deem reciprocally unequal and un-
reasonable, to suspend the provision under
which these articles were admitted into this
country free. This section has brought no
appreciable advantage to American expor-
ters, is not in intention or effect provi-
sion for reciprocity, but for retaliation.
1t infiicts penalties upon the American peo-
pie by making them pay higher prices for
these articles If the fiscal necessities of
other nations compel them to levy duties
upon the products of the United States
which, in the opinion of the President, are
reciprocally unequal and unreasonable under
the provisions of this section Presidential
proclamations have been issued imposing re-
taliatory duties upon the five above-men-
toned articles when coming from certain
countries
RESULT OF RECIPROCITY.
These proclamationS have naturally led
to i'll feeling in the countries thus discrimi-
mated against and in the case of several of
them have led to diplomatic correspondence
IN which they have claimed with apparent
justice that such determinations against
them were violations of our solemn treaty
obligations. Since 1916 we have had treaty
with the Republic of New Granada, now
Columbia, in which each country
mutually pledges itself not to grant any
particular favor to other nations in
respect to commerce and navigation, which
shall not Immediately become common to the
other party, who shall enjoy the same freely
If the concession was freely made, or on al
lowing the same compensation if the conces-
sion was conditional. Under the Presidents
proclamation we have been imposing duties
on hides and coffee the products of Colombia
introduced into this country while like pro-
ducts of other countries have been admitted
free. No concession of any kind has been
made TO the United States as consideration
for this privilege and it would seem impossi-
BILE for the government under any fair CON
struction of its treaty, to deny to Columbia
the favors freely accorded to other nations
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
When the Ways and Means Committee
met this morning Chairman Wilson an
nounced that the majority report was ready
to be laid before the members. He added
however, that it had been given to the press:
'whereupon the Republicans said that they
would see it in the afternoon papers The
reading of the report was therefore dispense,}
Al
mittee will meet tonight and perfect their
report. The finishing touches will be added
by Mr.. Reed tomorrow, and it will be made
public Thursday.
Ex-sPEAKER REED SURPRISED
The minority report is not ready. Ex-
Speaker Reed, to whom has been entrusted
its preparation, when seen by a United Press
reporter said he could not state with definite
ness when it would be ready. 1t was in
course of preparation, but not nearly fin
ished. He was very much surprised, he
said, that the majority report should be
violation of the understanding which,
as he supposed had been entered into,
between the majority and the minority that
the minority should have ten days in which
to consider the majority report, and that
then day should be fixed when both reports
would be given to the press simultaneously
THE TARIFF DEBATE
1t is the purpose of the Democratic major
ity to limit debate on the tariff bill in the
House to the fewest number of DAYS con-
sistent with a full discussion of the subject
1t is the desire of Chairman Wilson
to reach debate under the fire
minute rule within two weeks after
the bill is called up. If the time of the
regular sessions be too limited to accommo-
date all the gentlemen who may wish to
speak, the length of the daily session will be
extended two hours. This will result in the
House coming together at eleven o'clock and
extending the legislative day until six
o'clock in the evening; if neces-
sary, night sessions will be
had; but fortnight will cover the entire
period of time in which the bill may be gem
orally discussed. The bill will be called up
by Chairman Wilson on the first day of the
session after the holiday recess.
THE SENATE'S DECISION.
The Senate Committee on Finance, at its
meeting this morning, decided that it would
hold no hearings ON the tariff during the
holiday recess, and whatever hearings may
be had thereafter will be reduced to the low
est possible limit. Quite discussion ensued
over a circular letter that Mr.. VOORHEES,
laid before the committee which he proposed
to address to merchants manufacturers and
producers, representing the industrial ele-
ments of the, country, in which "a questions
are propounfled and upou which the commits
tee ask for information The circular was
adopted and will be sent throughout the
country The information thus Oh
tanned will largely obviate the necessity for
extended hearings, but the committee will