New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-20
TARIFF BILL REPORTED.
IT'S NOW BEFORE THE HOUSE
PROVISIONS OF THE MEASURE EXPLAINED
BY MR. WILSON.

HE MAKES SOME RATHER BAD SLIPS. HOWEVER,
AT WHICH FARMERS WILL STAND AGHAST
RAW MATERIAL FALLACIFS-
RECIPROCITY ATTACKED.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUxE1
Washington. Dec. 19.-The report of the major
fly Of the Ways and Means Committee which
was submitted to the House Of Representatives
to-day, leaves no doubt to its authorship. 1t
Is scholarly as all of Mr.. Wilson's essays are, and
II Is as courageous in tone as he is In his con-
victions. If he had had more time some OF his
arguments and apologies for the bill submitted
might have been clearer and more frank. For
example, the farmers who a class are men
easily deuded. in his opinion. would not have
had an opportunity to say that Mr.. Wilson APP
pears to be ignorant of the sharp and growing
Canadian competition In agricultural products,
competition which the bill will vastly encourage
and promote, or to ask why discrimination in
favor of the Southern rice grower was made by
giving him protective duty Of 81 per cent,
while at the same time the duty on hay and
beans the importations OF which last year
equalled the importations OF rice in value. We're
reduced from about 40 per cent to 20 per cent ad
vaorem.
1t was rather a loose statement that Mr.. Will
son made when he said that the duties on farm
products "are useless for protection and fruit
less for revenue" in view Of the facts that the
importations of vegetables alone last year
amounted to s5.457.727. and yielded a revenue Of
s24OOsS1; that the importations of breadstuffs
amounted to 81. ABB, and yielded revenue of
sS42231 in 1S93 as compared with imports
amounting to S. 900 in 1890. yielding revenue
of s114S611, under an average duty of 20 per
cent: and that the importations of animals last
year amounted to s3.126.942 and yielded revenue
Of s797 107 to say nothing of the heavy importa-
lions of woods of the first and second class, leaf
tobacco, flax and hemp. provisions, eggs, fruits.
and many other products of the farm The farm
ers are not so easily "deuded" Chairman Will
son imagines.
FREE RAW MATERIALS AGAIN.
AS was to have been expected the subject OF
'free cav materials is treated with wealth of
assumption and poverty of fact. such as char
acterize every discussion of 1t by free traders.
The markets of the world" are to become the
easy prey Of the American manufacturer. whose
raw materials are to be cheapened by the re-
moval Of duties. and at the same time the 40
nestle producer of raw materials Is TO De
benefited by higher prices and an enlarged de-
mand and the demand for labor, as well as the
wages paid for It, is to increase No fact Is ad-
sumptions all Of which merely outline the hopes
and expectations Of free-trade doctrnaires.
The report furnishes some strange contradic-
tons which might have been avoided IL NOR u,
time and thought had been bestowed upon IT,
For example, in one place the transfer TO the
free list OF cotton gins and certain agricultural
implements is defended on the ground that they
are not protected by the duty. but by their
own intrinsic superior cheapness ana quahty,
and in another place the farmers OF the cout,,is
are reminded that the majority Of the committee
hos given them "untaxed agricultural lmple-
ments" which act is not so great boon as IL
would be if these articles were not also OF IN
trinsic superior cheapnesS and quanty VI
course the unfounded and often refuted charge
that agricultural implements OF American manu-
facture and Of the same quallty are SOLO 10
foreigners at lower prices IMAM ~ HN'iiN"
farmers is repeated. 1890. -
That the arguments brought In defence OF
the sweeping substitution Of ad valorem LOT
eneci6c rates of duty are neither strong nor
pertinent and are contrary TO al teachines y,
experience, will be generally admitted py az
persons who have studied the subject with inuch
care Indeed the action of the majority OF the
committee itself in restoring specllc rates oi
duty tin-plate. preparations OF lead anu &
other articles after having first decided 10 I'M
nose ad valorem duties was CONFESSION Oh 'he
superiority of the former.
RECIPROCITY ATTACKED BY THE MAJORITY
The assertion that the reciprocity provision OF
the act of 1890 has brought no appreciate
advantage to American exporters" indicates that
he ma -oritv of 'he committee 's not acquainted
with o
in the report Of the minority. II may be una,
tho assertion was made in order TO forestalI
criticism on account of the failure or refusai Oh
the majority to avail itself OF the opportunity
10 obtain some concessions in favor or American
producers and exporters on account OF Ihe du
mission into the United States free OF duty Vi
wool iron ore, coal, SAT- iuiiioei anu o' ~
called raw materials a., -, -
When Mr. Wilson had presented lne Dill anu
tho accomDanving report to the House, ne
rnoved thai II be printed and referred to the
Committee Of the Whole on the State OF the
Union - 49,, ,,,o~,t,,
osLad for time to file the views Of the minority
"Within what time will they be hied' MT. VIII
son asked. A., ,,o, ,o
within two days, think" Mr.. burrows re-
II shall ask the House." said Mr.. Wilson, TO
proceed to the consideration or ths Dill at 'he
earliest practicable moment
What IS the proposition? MT heeu queIleu.
'That the minority shall prevent us report
within two days" he was INFORMED py the
II do not think" said Mr.. Reed. that we
should be so limited as TO time.
THAT was the suggestion or the seh'eihah
from Michigan" the Speaker remarked. ,o,s,,,
81 suggest" said Mr.. Reed. that the minority
have leave in general to file its views we eX-
pcct to file them within that time. , a..
IT understand" said Mr.. Wilson. tnat ,he
minority shall file it's report within two days.
II presume there will be no objection 10 our
having any proper time TO file 1t in, MT. heeo
persisted u,u.o,
Does the gentleman insist upon that MI
Reed asked.
ET.TNTS