The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-03-23
| FOR TARIFF REFORM.
Methods Proposed by the New
York Reform Club.
An AID TO SECRETARY CARLISLE

Yhe Head of the Treasury VIII Use the
Report In Formulating a Tariff Meas
uro-naw Material to be Admitted Free
aud All Duties Ad valorem.
NEW York. March 23.-A special COM
mittee Of tho Reform club Of this city,
consisting of E. EIlery Anderson, Charles
B. Fairchild, Thomas G. Shearman, David
A. Wells, John Dewitt Warner and Ever
tett p. Wheeler, has completed draft OF
D bill which, when perfected, will be urged
npon congress as substitute for the pres
snt tariff laws and q fulfillment of the
pledges under which the Democracy has OBJ
kained control of the national government.
This special committee was appointed
Immediately after the election of Mr..
Cleveland. Its report, which is the pro-
Duct of much labor assisted by competent
expert knowledge, has been submitted to
the regular tariff reform committee of the
club for suggestions and criticisms.
After such further consideration and
amendment as may be deemed advisable,
the bill, drawn in accordance with the
recommendations of the report, will he
presented to Secretary rlisle for his in
formation and assistance in the work of
formulating a measure which shall consti-
tute the administration scheme for re-
forming the tariff.
The general principles upon which the
proposed tariff has been framed are in the
main as TO llows:
Crude material to be used in the process
Of manufacture are in general made free
Of duty.
In taxing other articles the general OBJ
feet has been to Ak such rates as would
produce the largest amount of revenue in
Q series of years consistent with the large
fmportations.
The purpose of obtaining the largest
revenue has, however, been limited by
consideration Of the welfare and necessi-
ties of the people at large, and especially
the poorer classes.
The purpose OF obtaining revenue for
the government having been made in good
faith the sole reason for levying any of
these duties it has not been thought neces-
eary and hardly proper to reduce rates
merely for the purpose of avoiding some
Incidental protection to domestic producers.
All duties have been made strictly ad
yalorem, except some of those which have
been levied as compensatory for internal
revenue taxes upon similar articles pro-
duced at home.
In order to secure the honest administra-
tion of an ad valorem tariff 1t is essential
that the rates of duty upon the great mass
Of articles should be kept at very moderate
figures. Upon articles of immense value
and small bulk it is absolutely necessary
to impose very low duties, because other.
Etse they will be smuggled by wholesale
knd no revenue viii be obtained. Upon
other articles experience has shown that
duties cannot be raised above 25 per cent
without Offering dangerous incentives tc
fraud
Silk Is classed as luxury but silk rib
Sons are practically necessity of life to
the vast majority of women, and duty OF
0per cent. is proposed Marble may be
considered a luxury, and therefore we put
higher duty upon that than upon ordi
pary stone. As to liquors and tobacco
the duties upon them should be made In
view to obtaining the greatest possible
amount of revenue without any concern in
80 doing as to whether we give or with.
hold protection to the domestic producer
The duties upon woolens and worsted
manufactures OF every description, leather
gloves and all other gloves, except of silk
are placed in the 25 per cent. schedule
Tin plates not to be taxed more than 2t
per cent and perhaps not more than Il
per cent. Manufactures of wood in the
p1ost finished forms are placed in the 20 pei
cent schedule as also buttons, except Of
metal or glass. Most provisions are made
FREQ Of duty, but some which partake in &
mild degree of the nature OF luxuries, art
put in the 20 per cent. schedule, Will,
breadstuffs are mostly made free. Pota
toes are left subject to duty of loper cent
The committee expresses the belief that
the proposed measures would yield an i'm
| mediate revenue of at least S120, ,000, 600