The National tribune., 1893-11-09
THE NEW TARIFF BILL,

THE NEW TARIFF BILL.
An outline of the new tariff bill prepared
by the subcommittee of the Committee on
Ways and Means has been given the public,
and it is in the highest degree unsatisfactory.
The first objection is that it Will shift a
large portion of the burden of taxation
from the shoulders of foreigners to those of
our own people.
| 1t is proposed TO raise the taxes on whisky,
tobacco, and beer, add an income tax, and
put iron ore, wool, lumber, silver and lead
ores, and some other raw materials on the
| free list.
While, as an independent proposition,
there would be an approval of the increase
of the taxes on whisky, beer and tobacco
and in the imposition of an income-tax to
meet deficiency in the revenue, such a
| proposition is an economic offcnse when it
| is proposed to give the foreigners the benefit
| of these taxes by relieving them of an equal
amount of duties which they have hitherto
paid into the Treasury.
1t is particularly bad at this time, when
all the Nations of Europe are engaged in
| sharp economic struggle with one another
and with us to gain advantages for them
selves in trade and revenue at the expense
of all competitors. 1t is very silly for us to
throw away good cards, in order to stock
our opponents hands. We had fine illus
tration of this folly few years ago when,
in response to demagogic clamor, we took
the duties off coffee for the benefit of Brazil
That country Immediately put on the duty
that we had taken off as an export duty, and
built a fine navy with the proceeds. Her
people used to speak of their naval vessels
as Coffee Ship No. IL" Coffee Ship No. ~
etc. We did not get pound of coffee any
cheaper, and We did not sell an additional
pound of merchandise to Brazil on account
of the abolition of the duty. We simply
lost several million dollars of revenue by
our own stupidity.
With silver mines closed or closing all
over the West, with millions of dollars in
vested in mines and machinery lying idle
and useless, and with hundreds of thousands
OF miners unemployed and starving, it seems
criminal to throw down the bars and admit
silver and load nros fraa of J,ty
Still more indefensible, if possible, is the
proposition to put wool On the free list. We
need not describe the condition of our agri-
cultural interests to-day, with wheat lower
than it has been for 30 years, in spite of the
shortness of the crop the world over.
Never have farmers found it so difficult to
make both ends meet. During the great
panic of 20 years ago the farmers were pros
porous, and did more than any other interest
to help US out of that Slough of Despond.
They had abundant crops, and got good
prices for them in the worlds markets.
Now they have to sell in those markets in
competition with the grain raised by the
paupers of Russia and India. So Injurious
is this competition that, in face of the fact
that the wheat crop of the world is more
than 100000 bushels less than it was
two years ago, the price of wheat in London
is so cents less per bushel than it was then
On top of this heavy blow TO the farmers
prosperity it is proposed to add free wool. The
wool clip Of this country this year was about
$50 100000 pounds. Last year the average
price of this was about II cents a pound.
This year, in the expectation of free wool,
it is less than eight cents Adding the de-
terioration of value of 100000 sheep in
the country, this means an absolute and
direct loss to the farmers of the country of
from $lo0000,Oo0 to Sl5OOOO,00O.
1t is really much more than this. The
value Of sheep to a farm is much more than
the worth Of the wool and carcasses. They
are invaluable in fertilizing a farm and
clearing it Of weeds and other undesirable
growths. If a farmer is given any profit at
all on his wool, he gets great deal of Incl
dental proft by the presence of sheep on his
farm. The whole country is impoverished
when he is compelled TO sacrifice his sheen.
as he is when he is brought into competition
with wool raised on the valueless lands of
Australia, South Africa, and South America.
This is but the BEGINNING of the objections
to the sO-called tariff REFORM which the
subcommittee has outlined. Further in
formation as to the details of this plan will
undoubtedly raise a storm ofsolid objections
to it, and the debate upon it when il comes
before Congress will be vigorous and inter
esting.
"OTHER CAUSES
I.