Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-29
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER %. 1898
Countervailing and Othor Duties

AONlItINtlAlAR anu Ollti l(utltHs
No other feature Of the tariff question
has commanded so much Of our atten-
ton for many months as the counter
yuiliue duties ON tobacco and the manu-
facture Of tobacco. The cry for
tariff for revenue only was direct war
upon the largest business which Virginia
has IN the shape Of manufactured arti-
ccs. and we began long ago the task
o. showing 60 the people of this State
how rulnouely 10 their interests a tariff
levied for revenue only would operate.
10 affords us pleasure therefore, 10 re-
peat that in the Wilson bill. given to
the public yesterday, manufactures OF
tobacco are put AT 40 cents per pound.
This tax was. Of course intended as
protective. and will operate 10 prevent
the ruin which would come upon every
department Of business In Virginia If the
government should tax manufactures of
tobacco under the intcrnal-revenue laws.
ana then leave the market open 20 for
cien competition.
We congratulate our friend Of the Nor
folk Landmark upon his success in Sc
curing a proposed duty Of 10 cents per
busheI upon iiish-potatoes. And we con-
rrutulate whom IT may concern" upon
The proposed continuance OF the existing
duty on peanuts, and upon the proposed
duty OF 10 per cent al valorem upon
ground sumac. These and other Viz
ginia interests are thus provided for in
case the recommendations of the Wilson
committee are all adopted by Congress
and approved by the President 1t is
not al all certain that the new bill will
not be materially modified by the two
houses. but We infer from the outgivings
which We have seen on the subject that
the President approves OF the bill as
agreed upon 10y the Wilson committee.
and win bring TO bear in its favor all
the inhucuce which the administration can
properly undertake 10 exercise in the
premises.
1t was stated IN the local department
OF the Dispatch yesterday that the Hon.
George -. Wise was opposed to the ad-
mission Of coal and iron ore free of duty,
hut was willing 10 vote for reduction
Of the present rate. He win find so
much backing in West Virginia. Alabama,
Tennessee. and other States, as well as
Virginia, that It cannot be assumed as
at all certain that the Wilson bill will
not be essentially modified before 1t be-
comes "a law.
The Committee Of Ways and Means
has. as yet, made no report touching
the proposed income-tax. Men of large
incomes are generally men OF large in
nuence," We have taken the liberty OF
saying several times recently. and so we
think we understand the delay OF the
committee In the matter OF that tax.
Already IL is given out that the COM
mittee viii not recommend u real in
come-tax. but viii substitute "A tax
which VIII not be open 10 the objections
to which such tax is obnoxious. But
whether Congress VIII have the courage
90 pass the Wilson tariff bill and leave
untaxe1 the large incomes OF the coun-
Try IS yet TO DO determined.
IL seems to US that the proposed
gradual. or graduated, abolition OF the
suEar-bounty will have the effect of
keeping up agitation on that subject for
the next eight years. So as TO any other
feature OF the new bill which provides
Tor such a settlement of the tariff ques.
lion as would not be n settlement at
all. Let us have done with the tariff
y permanent tariff-law. TO which all
the varied interests of the country can
adjust their business operations would
lie preferable TO temporary tariff-law
leaving the whole subject open TO fur
Their and unlimited agitation. A bad
permanent law might be better than
good law liable TO be changed every
year.
Mr. Wilson has not damaged his re-
putation as an advocate of tariff reform.
His statement Of the propositions. or re-
commentators, OF his committee is very
ingenious He VIII have good hackers in
the House OF Representatives and In the
President We await with much interest
the further developments of the tariff
problem. which are sure TO be made at
IN early day.