The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-12-01


saws the Pittsburg Post, in discussing the
schedules of duties proposed by the new
tariff bill We can afford TO wait until
their details pass under the hands Of eX-
perts and are liable to realize Just to
what extent the new system Is
likely To increase or reduce imports
what its effect will he on the public rev.
enues, and what its probable influence
on established industries. There will be
plenty of time for all that. In the main
the bill seeks to maintain advalorem
rather than specific rates, the latter he
ing based on quantity and the former on
the more equitable basis of value. 1t
fayors free raw material whenever prac-
ticable. The bill includes the tariff
schedules and the administrative sec
tions, in many of which there Is no
change from existing laws. Tariff bat
ties are generally waged over few rep
resentative articles. The internal
revenue sections of the bill are as yet in
complete and will be reported al a later
day. The income tax appears to be the
point of greatest controversy, and 1t Is
believed tine idea of an individual IN
come tax has been abandoned. 1t will
be confined to corporations.
In the moderate reduction of duties
in those protected industries that have
made a scandal of protection. the bill,
so far as we can judge of its rates, will
disappoint the more advanced revenue
reformers, as well as the Republican op-
ponents of any tariff change. This Is
illustrated by the sugar schedule, sent
out Monday morning to head off tine
speculators. 1t reduces the duty on re-
fined sugar from one-half to one-quarter
of Il cent a pound, retains raw sugar on
the free list and repeals the iniquitous
sugar bounty in lnStallment so that II
will come to an end in eight years.
This is moderation, certainly. Sugar
can be refined cheaper in this country
than abroad, and the quarter cent. duty
the element of foreign competition
against the exactions of the sugar trust
Wool free of tax, with Il corresponding
reduction of duties on woolen goods OF
all kinds, is the corner stone of tariff
reform 1t is one that goes directly 20
the purchasing power of the wages or
n
in the land. The argument Is SO strong
that if we cannot carry free wool with
revenue duties on wooden fabrics we
might rs well give up the ship. Thirty
years of excessive protection on wool has
reduced the tiocks and the prices; 1t has
not stayed the importation Of foreign
woods, and the excessive cost II has placed
on woods in comparison with outside
values has stimulated To- an amazing de
gree the production Of shOddy and all
other cheap substitutes for honest and
healthful wool.
We are the greatest shoddy-producing
and shoddy-wearing people on the globe.
In our northern states, with extremes Of
heat and cold, honest wooden wear is al
most unknown to the poor man or wo-
man. They cannot afford it because of
the heavy taxes on raw wool, and then
on the finished product. The new bill,
identical with the Springer free wool bill
of last year, puts wool on the free list
l,,a
by one half in some cases and in others
by more To the American working
man this is as grand a gift as were free
breadstuffs and free provisions to the
English people at the hands of Peel,
Golden and Bright forty years ago.
In the metal schedule iron ore goes on
the free list, while advalorem rates are
! established for most articles. On steel
rails the duty is % per cent. and on
structural steel 30 per cent. which would
make the specific rate on rails
about So a ton instead of $13.4 and on
stru ctural steel about $S.75 instead OF
500. Pig and scrap iron and steel are
ton. The plate is put at 40 per cent.
and pig tin is on the free list. Taking
these representative articles on the duti
able metal list, and the rates should
meet the approval of our Republican
friends, as they fully cover the difference
in wages at home and abroad, which is
all that the Minneapolis Republican
platform demanded.
Lum ber is put on the free list, as vel
as salt and other necessities of life. Is
a rule the duties are made lowest upon
the cheaper goods of universal use, and
highest upon articles of luxury. 1t is q
poor mans tariff bill, rather than the
creation of trust and monopoly.