The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-11
Said to Have Been Agreed Upon by
the Democrats.
TIE PLEDGES MADE AT CHICAGO
wDl Be Followed Out as Nearly ~ Can
Re Consistently Done, So Says tho
Latest Report from the Ways and
Means Cemmittee.

fortnight will probably see the new Demo
cratic tariff bill given to the public The
Democratic members OF the ways and
means committee have not yet made their
fnal revision OF any OF the schedules. but
q number Of them are decided upon for all
practical purposes and will not be changed
except IN minor details.
The policy of revenue tariff will bs
pretty closely adhered 70 in dealing with
raw materials. and particularly mixed
goods, and considerable cuts will be made
on finished products.
The Democratic members decided at the
outset thai they would accept the declara-
tion Of the Chicago platform regarding
their rule OF action. That platform de-
clared that the party Endorse the efforts
made by the Democrats OF the present
congress TO modify its most oppressive
features la the direction of free raw mate.
rials and cheaper manufactured goods
that enter into general consumption"
There are reasons for saying. therefore,
that the Democratic members under this
provision will embody in the bill suhstan-
saly all the ''pony" tariff bills which
passed the house In the Fifty-second con-
yrsss--proyi1ing for free wool and re-
duced duties on wooden goods, free silver
ore, reduced duties on tinplate, free cotton
and free tin.
An Important Item.
The wool schedule may be slightly modi-
fed In the definitions of goods, but II Is
believed that the duties will remain SUBJ
stantially the same-the maximum being
40 per cent and the ad valorem rates below
that figure being generally reduced per
cent
The provision regarding silver lead ores
substantially will be that enacted by the
Fifiy-second congress--lead ore shall pay
! 1-2 cents per pound, but that ores In
which the value Of the silver Is greater
than that Of the lead shall bc considered
silver ores and exempt from duty.
The duty on tinplate 10 likely to be re-
duced from % cents to l cent per pound
for the present, with perhaps reduction
after few years to the free list
The bills which passed the house In the
last congress regarding cotton bagging
and binding twine made both absolutely
free of duty, but there has been some op-
position TO those provisions on the ground
that they were not In harmony with other
parts Of the tariff, and moderate duty
may be retained.
Block tin will probably be made free of
duty, as was unanimously voted by the
ways and means committee in the last
congress at the demand Of the tinplate
manufacturers.
Coverings Count
China ware schedules will probably be
reduced 10 per cent on the existing sales
OF 90 per cent and IS per cent. The Nc
Kinley bill restored the duty on coverings,
which are largs element in the cost OF
china ware. and practically made the in
crease In duty much greater than the ap-
parent change In the ad valorem rate.
The silk interests may nob suffer much
Of a cut. and the duties may be left at so
per cent, as under existing laws.
The iron schedule will, 10 is believed,
give the committee good deal of trouble
because OF the conflict of interests between
the New England members, who desire
free iron ores and free coal, and the mem.
bers from northern Alabama and eastern
Tennessee, who desire the retention of the
duty.
The threatened deficit in the revenue
will be met by an income tax, il some OF
the Democratic members of the house
who are urging the proposition are to be
believed The pressure has been strong to
impose moderate tax on incomes above
$500 in preference to putting duties back
on tea, coffee or sugar. Tom johnson of
Ohio has protested very earnestly against
restoring the sugar duty and has had the
support Of ether western members in pre-
ferring a moderate income tax to re.
newal of the customs duties on the neces-
saries of life.
To Re Figured on Iateri
The exact rate Of the income tax has not
been determined, but 1t will apply to all
incomes arove the amount named, with
certain allowances for house rent aud for
losses through fire or other causes. 1t Is
calculated that an immense revenue can
be derived from very small tax upon the
incomes earned by professional and busi-
ness men throughout the country, and
this will equalise the disproportionate
burden imposed upon the poor by some Of
the tariff duties.
The adoption of the income tax will
practically settle the question of increases
In the internal revenue taxes on whisky,
beer aud tobacco. 1t is possible that q
very small increase will be made on
whisky, but the rates on tobacco are likely
En- be left untouched