Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-23
ANoeRsoN's TARIFF REFORM.
Bill to no Urged for Adoption By the
Administration.
fyy telegraph 70 tho DlsDstch.l

NEW YonK. March ~. "A special COM
mittee OF the Reform Club Of this city,
consisting Of +. Ellery Anderson. Charles
s. Eairchild, Thomas q. Shearman. DAVID
A. Wells. John De Witt Warner, and
Everett p. Wheeler. has completec draft
of bill which, when perfected. VIII 90
urged upon Congress as supstitute ios
the present tariff law and fulfilment OF
tho pledges under which the Democracy
has obtained control of the National Gov
ernment. This special committee was ap.
pointed Immediately after the election OF
MIR. Cleveland. Its report, which IL tne
product of much labor, assisted Dy COM
petent expert knowledge. has been SUD-
mitted TO the regular Tariff Reform Com,
mittee of tho club for suggestions ana
criticism. After such further consideIa-
tion aud amendment as may be thought
advisable the bill. drawn in accordance
with the recommendations OF the report,
will be presented 20 Secretary Carlisle Tor
his information and assistance in the work
of formulating measure which shall con-
stitute the administration scheme for re-
forming the tariff. The general principles
upon which the proposed tarih OH mas
been formed are IN the main as follows;
Crude materials, to be used in the pro-
cess of manufacture. are generally madc
free of duty. In taxing other articles tue
general object has been to fix such rates
as would produce the largest amount OK
revenue in series of years consistent
with large importations. The purpose
OF obtaining the largest revenue has.
however, been limited by considera-
ton of the welfare and necessities
of the people OF large and especially the
poorer classes. The purpose OF obtaining
revenue for the government has been
made in good faith the sole reason Tor
leyyinr any of these duties. IL has not
been thought necessary and hardly proper.
however, TO reduce rates merely Tor
the purpose OF avoiding some, met
dental protection 10 domestic producers.
All duties have been made strictly
1d r1,orein. EXCEPT some of those when
have been levied az compensatory tor IN
tornal-reyenue taxes upon similar articles
produced at home. In order to secure the
honest administration OF an at rngrch
tariff il IL esseatlal that the rates OF duty
upon the great mass OF articles shall
be kept at very moderate hgures.
Upon articles Of immense. value
and small bulk it IL absolutely
necessary TO impose very low duties; pe-
cause otherwise they Will be smuggied oy
wholesale and no revenue VIII be ob-
tained. Upon other articles experience,
has shown that duties cannot be raised
above 2j per cent. without oheriug
dangerous Incentives to fraud. while IT
they are kept at or below that rate the
inducements TO fraud are not often sufh-
cent to compensate for the risk OF punish
ment. A few articles of luxury
NAV be excepted from the operation
OF these general rules IN Difference to
widespread prejudice on that point. al
though il NAV we'll be doubted whether a
duty OF 25 per cent. is not as much DS can
wisely be levied upon anything whatever.
All foreign articles which, If made here,
would be subject to internal-reyenue
taxes, must of course, be subjected to at
! least an equal tax.