The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-03
Democrats Divided as to How
Big It Will Be.
INCOME TAX NOT YET SETTLED.
The Sugar Men Will Make Vigorous
Fight for Protection.
Democratic Committssmsn Say Ad Va
Iorem Duties Are the Only Just Ones
The River and Harbor Bni-Gres
ham Negotiating rrs6sy with China.

wAsHIssroS CIrr, Dec. 2-The Demo-
cratic members of the Ways and means
committee were In session three hours
this afternoon. reviewing the tariff bill for
the purpose of correc ing typographical
errors and other minor incougruities.
the subcommittee on internal revenue re-
ported their labors not complete and that
ii would be impossible to report their
schedules before some time next week, the
chief difficulty being the fixing OF rates Of
taxation until the revenue estimates un-
der the new bill are so far completed as to
indicate the probable deficit. The uncer-
tainty as to the amount of the deficit has
given rise again to discussion As to the
wisdom of making the income tax general
in character and applicable to all indi-
viduai incomes in excess Of 5000 instead
Of being restricted TO corporations and
SUGGESTIONS only.
A circular issued under the auspices of
the Democratic majority Of the committee
argues that specific duties are calculated
to stop the importation Of lower grades of
goods, while ad valorem are the fairest and
most equitable duties. The disadvantage
of ad valorem duties il the great tempta-
tion to undervaluation. The policy of the
Democratic party has always been TO snb-
stitute ad valorem duties for specific. The
circular draws attention to the proposed
changes in the administrative branch of
the tariff laws. and says the official report
Of the committee will devote much space
to advocacy of these changes. The circu-
lar in conclusion says the mission of the
Democratic party among others 10 to
demonstrate that tariff reform will benefit
the whole people, merchants as we'll as
laborers. The customs administrative act.
amended as proposed, insuring . rigid en-
forcement of such tariff laws IS 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 today: "The senators from all states
which produce sugar, including those
from the cane sugar producing districts
of the South and those Of the beet sugar
producing states of the West, such as Ne
braska, Kansas and California, would
unite to oppose the change proposed in
the bill. The plan of graduated reduction
IN the bounty would result in killing the
sugar producers by inches. The sugar
men were never in favor of the bounty
plan, but preferred an import duty. They
would not ask for protet sssyn in the sense
understood by Mckinley. but would be
content with a revenue of, say, 1Lc per
pound on raw sugar, and. 1ssc on sugars
refined above Is Dutch standard. From
the foundation of the government till the
present bounty law went into effect sugar
has been recognized as an article from
which revenue could legitimately be de-
rived, and one which would be more evenly
distributed than almost any other. 1t was
folly for the government. with revenues
running low. to cut off the Sos. 000. 0VD OF
revenue which 1t obtained during last
year from foreign sugar taxes. Four
hundred thousand people would be de-
prived of a means of livelihood in Louisi-
ana alone by the Wilson measure.