The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1893-12-28
BATTLE NOW BEGINS.
THE WILSON BILL IS LAID BE.
FORE CONGRESS.
Some Of the Changes that Are Made and
the Effects "a Seen Through Democratic
Eyes-Approved by the Ways and Means
Committee.
The Fight IL On.


Washington dispatch: The Ameri-
can PEOPLE, after the fullest and ,host
thorough debate ever given by any
people to their fiscal policy. have de-
iberately and rightly decided that the
existing tariff is wrong in principle and
grievously unjust in operation" Such
! is the olening paragraph of the ma
jori,y report submitted by the Demo-
cratic members of the Ways and Means
COMMITTEES. The report was written
by Chairman Wilson. laid before his
Democratic associates, and received
their approval.
The report continues with an argu-
mcnt i'll support of tariff for revenue
only. at the same time denouncing the
existing tariff as an extreme system of
class legislation. having no lawful or
constitutional exercise. The argument
is lengthy and exhaustive, dealing with
the various phases of tariff legislation
from 1916, and its effect upon the well
fare of the nation and the industries
involved. 4 reduction of about one
third is made upon the larger sizes Of
plate glass. Iron ore is free and duty
of 22t per cent put on pig iron. In the
remainder of the iron and steel sched-
ule substantial reductions are made.
Steel rails are put at % per cent, q
rate calculated to protect the farmers
from monopoly prices. The duty on tin
plate is materially lessened.
The repeal of the sugar bounty is
provii led for by Il gradua Oblitcration,
which snail not inJure the industry nor
b. a source of loss to money at present
invested. The rat IS on tobacco are
left SO high that ample protection is
afforded. Agricultural implements are
given to the farm @: free. also binding
Irvine and cotton ties. The tax ON
spirit uous liquors is put at double tho
internal revenue tax on the same.
The cotton. flax, hop and jute sched-
ule reductions have been in accordance
with the general scheme of the bill,
but they are not believed to be Of such
a marked character as to offer any
special explanation. The placing OF
wool on the free list has justified q
very substantial reduction of the duties
on WOODEN goods. The carpet manu-
facturers have such a full control of
the home market that they will not
suffer from the free carpet wool. The
average rate of duties levied under the
existing law upon the dutiablc goods
imported in 1892 was 4s.1I per cent.
That the duties proposed in the
present bill have been levied upon
that years importation of dutiable
goods, the average rate. including
those transferred to the free list. would
have been 3O.3l per cent. but SO many
of the rates Of the present law are
really prohibitory that it is impossible
to say what it's real rate of taxation
really is, yet it is safe to affirm that 1t
is much higher than any import tables
will disclose.
The experience of this and other
countries has shown that the decrease
of tariff duties Immediately operates
such an enlargement of commerce of
production and consumption rs rapidly
to make up any apparent loss OF rev.
enue threatened by these reductions.
A most important change in the bill
proposed from the present law will be
found in the general substitution of ad-
valorem for specific duties. 1t is the
purpose of the present bill to repeal
section 3 of the tariff act of Oct l, 1890.