Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-12-20
THE TARIFF BILL.

THE TARIFF BILL.
Iajoriry Report Presented to the
House-Protection Recognized ms n
Right in Some Cases-It Is the Pur.
pose to Repeal In Toto tho Reel.
procity Provision.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-The majority re-
ort of the ways and means committee on
be tariff bill, written by Chairman Wilson
nd approved by all the democratic mem
'ers of the committee, was presented to
he house to-day. The greater portion of
he report deals with lot of generslities
If no consequences and finally comes down
20 the subject of free raw materials. On |
his subject 1t says:
We have believed that the first step to- |
ward reform of the tariff should be re- |
lease of taxes on the materials of industry.
There osn be no substantial and beneficial
upon the necessary clothing and
other comforts of the American people,
nor any substantial and beneficial enlarge
ment of the field of American labor as long
as we tax materials and processes of pro-
duction. Every tax upon the pro-
Queer falls with increased force on
the consumer. Every tax on the pro-
ducer in this country is protection
to his competitors in all other ooun-
tries and so nerrows his market as TO
limit the number and lessen the wages of
those to whom he can give employment.
Every cheapening in the cost or enlarge
ment of the supply of his raw materials,
while primarily inuring to the benefit of
INF T.
free competition Immediately, and passes
entirely to the consumer, who very soon
gets even more benefit out of 1t than such
reductions aeem to carry, because with the
rapid widening of his market the manufac-
turer is able to sell at a smaller profit. 1t
is, therefore, very narrow and short
sighted view which supposes that we re-
lease the duties on iron ore and coal and
wool and other like articles for the benefit
of those who manufacture our iron, steel,
wooden and other fabrics.
The placing of wool upon the free list
has justified very substantial reduction
of the duties on wooden goods.
The long exclusion of our wooden manu-
features from two-thirds of the wool of the
world has prevented this great industry
dependence it might otherwise have
reached, and, recognizing the duties which
we would place at present upon competing
foreign fabrics must be somewhat higher
than permanent schedule ought to be,
we have provided for this gradual de-
crease.
With free carpet wool we have believed
that this industry might well stand the re-
duction reached in the bill without i'm
perilling the vigorous growth and prosper
GUS existence.
Taking the importations of 1892, the lat
est which were accessible to the committee
when Its tables were prepared, the new
rates would operate reduction of nearly
one-third of the duties collected under the
tariff, but this great reduction in taxes ao-
tuslly paid to the government Is no meas
ure of the tightening of the burden to the
taxpayers of the country.
1t may be said that We were not justified
in making so large reduction in revenue
at a time when government receipts and
expenditures can no longer be balanced,
and when some new sources Of temporary
revenue must be sought for. We have been
compelled to retain some articles on the
dutiable list and to leave some duties
higher than we desire because of the pres
emit necessities of the treasury, but we have
not felt that any temporary shrinkage OF
revenues should deter US from carrying on
as faithfully and as effectively as we could
the instructions given by this American
people when this congress was put int(
power.
We are legislating for the great Million
of consumers beyond them, and for tn,
| scores of thousands of laborers to whom
they may thus give steady and well pait
| employment. 1t is no less q narrow AND
| short sighted view that supposes that a re
| moval of the tariff duties on such neces
ssries of industries will infict any real los
| upon them who produce them in our owl
| country. The enlargement of markets TO
| our products in other countries, the in
| crease in the internal commerce and In tn
| carrying trade of our own country viii
insure a growing home market for al
these things that will quickly outstrip any
thing they could have had under the pro
| tective system.
Continuing, the report ssys: ANY articl
1 of manufacture which can sustain the com
petition of like foreign articles in othe
markets can defy such composition in tn
home market, and is not protected by tn
duty, but by its own intrinsic superio
chespness and quality. The only effect o
| duty on such articles Ia to enable thos
who make them to charge higher prices t
the citizens of their own country than the
charge to foreigners, and this has been nc
toriously the case with both copper an
many agricultural implements.
In adjusting duties upon what may
called the finished products, we have trie
to impose such rates as will not destroy O
distress any of our home industries on til
one hand nor on the other secure them q
oppressive monopoly of the home marke
For this rule we have the recognized ar
thority both of well known and leadin
tariff reformers and of those who In day
past were considered moderate protet
tionists.
In conclusion the report says: A mos
important change in the bill proposed froy
the present law will be found in the ger
eral substitution of ad valorem for speci6
duties. This must always be the charae
teristic of revenue tariff levied upon
large range of articles, especially whe
they include the plain neoessaries of life
A duty which taxes according to kind
pound, weight. measure or the like with
out regard to quality, always oppresse
the less wealthy consumer and lghtsns tn
just burdens of his richer felloW-citizer
Such inequalities as we have mentioned Il
the wooden schedule, and many still crosse
ones that might easily be cited, could onI
be hidden in the specific duties and woult
never appear in tariff that assessed 1t
exaetions according to the real value O
the article taxed. The justice of the a,
valorem system is often admitted by thos
who still contend that it has such inheren
difficulties of Standardization and so easil
lends itself to fraud and differentiation a
to be unjust to the government, the homes
importer and the home producer. A read,
and sufficient answer to this may be fount
In the fact that in no tariff ever adopted /,
| this country has there not been q yer,
large introduction of ad valorem duties
and that especially as to goods whose valu
was most difacult of ascertaining. Witt
the improved administration of our Gus
toms under the laws recently adopted ant
to be made more perfect by this bill, Their
need be no fear that the extension of thi
just and open system will lead to any o
the wrongs and abu-es anticipated.
| It ia the purpose of the present bill tx
repeal in toto section 3 of the tariff act Of
October 1, 1890, commonly but most or
roneously called Its reciprocity provision
That act placed sugar, molsssss, coffee
tea and hides on the free list, but author
lied the president, should he be satisfied
that the government of any country pro
ducing such articles imposed duties upo,
the agricultural or other products o.
the United States which he Nigh
deem reciprocally unequal and unreas
enable to suspend the provision undo.
| which these articles were admitted int,
this country free. This section has bee,
brought to an appreciable advantage t.
American exporters, is not in intention OF
effect provision for reciprocity, but fo
retaliation. 1t inflicts penalties upon tn,
American people by making them pay
| higher prices for these articles, If the fis.
| cal necessities of other nations compe
| them to levy duties upon the products OF
| the United States, which in the opinion o.