The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-28
A TARIFF FOR The PEOPLE,
The New Bill FaVOrS the Masses
Rather Than the Glasses.

Ou4y w I'LL 4AG1u5Ata1 HTOG6GL1On.
The Free List Intended to Put Ameri-
can Manufacturers in a Position to
Compete in ths Markets of the
World.
Washington, Nov. 27.-The promise Of
the platform adopted by the Democratic
party at Chicago is redeemed in the tariff
bill completed and given to the public to-
day. 1t is drawn on the lines of a tariff
for revenue only. There is not a line
word or syllable in it which looks in
the direction of McKinleyism, or "protec-
tion for the sake of protection" What
ever protective features are left in the bill
are of purely incidental and constitu-
tional character. The bill is devised to
raise revenue for the government, not to
swell the revenues of a favored and
pampered class at the expense of all the
rest of the people.
The free list is considerably extended,
but it is not so much in the mere exten-
sion of this list as in the character of the
articles added that the innovations ap-
pear bold. To generalize, it places raw
materials entering manufactures on the
free list. Coal, iron ore, timber, tin ore,
block tin, copper ore and some other
articles entering largely into manu-
featuring are untaxed. With these
advantages American manufacturers
should be able to compete with
England or any other country for
the markets of the world, while at the
same time holding our own at home. Be
sides these articles many of domestic use
have been added to the free list, as salt,
apples, meats, laundry soap, lard, tallow,
etc. Then articles used on the farm
binding twine, cotton ties, plows, thrash
ing machines reapers, cotton gins, har-
rows and the like. And where articles,
such as clothing, carpet, cotton goods,
etc, have remained dutiable, the duty
has been greatly reduced.
LEGISLATION FOR THE PEOPLE.
The aim has been, where duties remained,
to make them low on the cheaper grades
and highest on the more expensive
articles. Thus, for instance, on manu-
factured wool no duty is left higher than
45 per cent and that only on ready-made
garments, the average being below 40 per
cent. The cheaper quality of blankets
and tannels are only taxed 25 per cent.
and the lower grades of carpets 20 per
cent. The idea as to the woolen schedule
is gradually to reduce the tax until in five
years it will amount only to 40 per cent.
as the highest tax with the average about
30. 1t will be observed that the special
duties are abolished wherever this is
practicable The bill is therefore an
advalorem measure, that is dutiable
article, will bear a tax according to
its value, and not an arbitrary tax, re-
gardless of whether it is a costly or an
inexpensive article. This has always
been regarded, even by protectionists, as
the most scientific way of levying duties,
the only weighty objection ever urged
against it being that it was more open to
fraud by differentiation than the specific
duty system. This objection is disposed
of by the clear and convincing statement
of Chairman Wilson, given out this morn
ing with the bill
THE BILL WELL RECEIVED.
The bill is well received here by demo
Gratis except in a few cases where the
toes Of local interests are regarded as be-
ing trOdden upon. These are not enough
to jeOpardise the chances of the passage
of the bill through the House. The treat
ment of sugar for instance has not pleased
the Louisianians. The tax on refined sugar
has been reduced to one quarter of a cent
pound with raw sugar remaining on
the free list, the bounty at the same time
Is reduced at the rate of one eighth of a
cent year until it is wiped out. The
Lousianians wanted rather to increase it.
There will be more objections of this kind,
but, as said, not enough to endanger the
passage of the bill through the House,
though there will be hopes of amending
IN the Senate in this direction.
THE WOODEN SCHEDULE.
The woolen schedule is the most i'm
portant to the people, Of all contained in
TINS large and complicated measure
Wool, hair of the camel, goat etc. are
put on the free list. Under the McKin-
ley law this was divided into three
classes, at rates equivalent to AZ, 46 and
81 per cent. These duties are abolished
Woolen and wOrsted yarns valued
at not more than 40 cents a pound
are in the present bill, put at
a duty of 30 per cent. Under the Nc
hlnley bill, these articles were taxed at a
rate which in 1892 was equivalent to 103
per cent. On woolen and wOrsted Clothes
shaWls, knit fabrics, ana all fabrics
made on knitting machines or frames,
made wholly or in part of wool, hair of the
camel, etc, the rate is 40 per cent. In
lhe Mckinley law the rate is equivalent
10 ~ to 50 per cent,
on BLANKETS.
On blankets, hats of wool, hannels for
Underwear, etc, valued at not more than
'J cents pound, the duty is % per cent,
ana from that up to 35 according to the
Nauation. Under the Mckinley law the
average duty was 80 per cent. 1t runs
THIS way all through the woolen sched-
ue' The bill reduces the duty at an av-
erdge from 80 to 60 per cent.
ON CARPETS.
On carpets it is the same way. On
administer, Moquette, and Chenille car
Iels woven for rooms oriental and like
II4gS the duty is 30 per cent Under the
NMehmley law it was equivalent to So
IN Saxony, Wilton and Tournay velvet
carpets the duty in the bill is
@u per cent; the Mckinley duty
was equivalent to 60. On Brus-
SelS carpets the duty is %
FER cent. the Mckinley duty was equiva-
Zen TO 50. On velvet tapestry and velvet
carpets common carpets), the duty is
- per cent. the Mckinley is equivalent
10 ~ SO it is all through the carpet
lue' And as it is with the wooden sche-
uule so 1t Is with all of them. The reduc-
'4ons are considerable all along the line.
hlNLEY's BILL CUNNINGIY DEVISED.
?, 10 must be remem bered that the Nc
Miin.iey law itself enlarged the free list,
VINE at the same time it largely in
CiedSed taxation 1t was cunningly de-
hlsed IN this regard, and its advocates
ndVe defended it at times on the singular
5iouhd, considering it was a protective
ttLLGaSufe distinctly, instead of being. as
ts i',s OH IS, distinctive revenue measure.
'N'O IL mad greatly increased the free list,