The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-11-30

they pretend TO think it so. The
Chicago platform declared against the
doctrine OF protection and in favor of
tariff for revenue only, and the vii
son tariff bill is in letter and spirit
strictly IN accordance Herewith. II
gives the largest free list the country
has every had and in accordance with
the expressed wishes of hundreds of
manufacturers in that free list is
included much of the raw material
used by American manufactures.
Among them the following iron ore,
coal, pig tin, hemp, flax, jute, silver,
lead ore, copper wool, salt, crude
borax, binding twine, cotton ties, and
lumber not advanced in preparation
beyond saving. 1t cuts about every
protective item in the Mckinley law
down to a strictly revenue basis.
The new bill is in the main salts
factory to democrats, although there
arc some things on the free list that
some democratic members of the
House would have preferred seeing a
small duty retained upon. Prominent
among these are iron ore, lead ore
and coal, but the democrats on the
committee after carefully studying the
matter from every point of view con-
cluded that it would be undemocratic
to make fish Of one and flesh of the
other and they were accordingly put
on the free list. Those who'are best
Informed believe that the judgment of
the majority Of the Ways and Means
committee will be endorsed by the
majority of the House and that the
bill will be passed by that body sub
stantlaIly as 1t is today. The action
OF the Senate is not SO certain. The
opposition will be concentrated upon
the Senate, because of the sim demo.
cratic majority in that body.
There are several reasons why a
section providing for personal in
come tax was not attached to the bill.
In the first place there are quite
number of democrats who are op-
posed to personal income tax. But
probably the strongest reason of all
was the desire to know just how much
revenue 1t will be necessary to raise
by an income tax before deciding the
rate and method of that tax, know
ledge that could not be obtained un-
til the new tariff bill becomes a law.
Meanwhile the tax imposed by the
bill upon the net earnings of corpora
tons may prove satisfactory substi-
tute for more general income tax.
President Cleveland will not, am
informed on good authority, 90 into
the Hawaiian matter in his annual
message further than to say that it will
be fully treated in message later.
He prefers to wait until the episode is
closed before dealing with it in mess
age to Congress.
Secretary Lamonts annual report
was the first to be made public, those
of the other members of the cabinet,
with the exception of Secretary Car
Isle will follow during this week.
Secretary Carhsle's report will proba-
bly, go to Congress before it is pub
lished.
Why shouldn't the U. S. govern
ment print It's own postage stamps |?
Chief Johnson of the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing isn't the first
man who has asked that question, but
he has asked it in Il very practical
manner, by submitting figures to the
Post Master General showing how
much cheaper the Bureau OF Engrav-
ing and Printing could do the work
than any of the private parties who
have submitted bids for printing the
stamps during 1894. An unofficial
estimate is that the government could
save at least $a5,ooo year by print
ing its own postage stamps. There is
a doubt it seems as to whether the
Post Master General can under The
present laws give the contract to the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing,
and the matter is now being consider
ed and will in few days be decided.
Secretary He; bert thinks, notwlth-
standing the present depressed con
dition of government finances, that
| we should continue making addition
to our navy, and his annual report will
recommend the construction during
the next fiscal year Of one battle ship
and four torpedo cruisers, and there is
reason to believe that the recommen-
dation will be endorsed by the Presl-
dents message. Representative Cum
mngs, chairman Of the House Com
mttee on Naval Affairs, says there
will be no trouble in getting a bill
favorably reported from that commit
tee to carry out the Secretarys recon-
mendations, and that he hopes the
b will get through all right, but It is
plain to see that he has some doubts
about it. There is a number oidemo
Gratis in the House who will oppose
| (Nr raC