The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-22

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-The report of
the minority Of the ways and means
committee OF the House upon the tariff
bill was made public this evening.
In discussing the wooden schedule the
M inority says the schedule, as proposed
in the committee bill. is, in some
respects, the most reprehensible. 1t
proposes to destroy at blow the great
industry of wool growing. Nothing
short OF the total destruction of this
important industry can be counted upon
as che consequence Of placing both wool
and mutton on the free list.
The metal schedule presents some
features that illustrate in significant
way the illogical character OF the bill.
Among these may be mentioned the
substitution in almost all cases of ad va
loren for specific duties, the making
free OF mum Der of articles called raw
material" the disregard Of the relations
that exist between more and less
finished products and the totally in
adequate duties named upon certain
leading articles.
Condennc Free Coal and Iron Ore
The placing of iron ore and bitumin-
Gus coal upon the free list is especially
condemned.
There are two provisions in the bill,
which, when brought side by side, dis
close in significant way its sectional
character. Hoop bands. iron or steel,
bear an ad valorem duty of 30 per
cent except as otherwise provided
for" Tho otherwise provided for" has
reference to ties of iron or steel for
taling cotton, which are placed on the
free list.
Under the existing law the duty on
tin plate is 20 cent per pound the
duty at first proposed by the committee
was 40 per cent. al valorem, but has
been changed TO q specific duty of lie
cent per pound.
IL will be observed that the proposed
duty is ono cent per pound less than
that OF the present law. This means a
severe blow to an enterprise, which,
under existing conditions, has grown
to immense proportions, and which
promises under proper protection to be
one Of the great industries OF the
country.
Defense of the Sugar Bounty.
A defense is made Of the sugar bounty
and the cotton manufacturers schedule,
tho minority says, shows tho same in
constituencies and q lack Of knowledge,
on the part of the trainers of the bill,
OF tho intricacles OF the industry that
have marked tho preparing of the other
schedules in the bill.
AS to the bituminous coal, the
minority say: "One Of the mos amazing
propositions OF the bill is that o,tumin-
Gus coal shall be put upon the free list
and the $1,000, 900 per annum (almost)
that we receive from its importation by
way of revenue absolutely thrown away
Coal has little value save it gets it
from labor. 1t is worth almost nothing
in tho hill; would be worth absolutely
nothing were it not for the prospect OF
being mined. 1t is not raw material,
for 1t is not worked into any further
shape. but is consumed and done for at
once Call it raw material in the hill,
IL you please; it then cuts no figure in q
tariff bill.
Except Tor a short period, it has al
was borne duty. Under the revenue
tariff OF 1916 1t bore duty of 30 per
cent. ad valorem. No change has been
made in the duty on it since 1879
Tho Mills bill provided the same rate
as present LAWS per cent. per ton.
Now it is proposed to make it free 1t is
difficult to imagine why. 1t is the most
universally prevalent of all the subjects
OF American industry. There are few
States or Territories that an interior
ence with it will not effect.