The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-20


those who produce them in our own
country The enlargements OF markets
for our products in other countries, the
increase In the internal commerce. and
the carrying trade Of our own country
will insure a growing home market FOR
all these things that will quickly outstrip
anything they could have under the pro-
tective system"
In adjusting duties upon what
may be called the finished products,
we have tried TO impose such rates as
will not destroy or distress any Of our
home Industries on the one hand. nor
on the other secure to them an oppressive
monopoly OF the home market.
The Dutiabis List.
1T is neither necessary nor practicable
In this report to specify the particular
reduction We have made upon the long
list OF articles that still remain in the
dutiabie list. The tables which have been
prepared for use OF members Of the House
give fun and minute information as 20
these changes. A few only Of the most
important need be here enumerated. In
the earthenware schedule we have made
substantial reductions, stl leaving rates
as high as were deemed necessary In the
tariff. In common window glass, where
close combinations have kept up the
prices TO consumers under scale of duties
averaging more than 100 per cent. we
have made a reduction Of about one-half
In the iron and steel schedule, begin
ming with free ore. and a duty Of q IL
per cent. on pig iron, we have reported
a scale Of duties considerably below those
OF the existing law, graduated according
to the degree of manufacture. which
should bring benefit 10 the consumer
without calling for any halt in the inn
perial progres9 Of that great industry In
our country. The duty upon steel rails
should be put at p per centum, which,
according 10 the reports Of our depart
ment OF labor, quite compensates for all
difference in the cost OF production IN
this country and abroad"
Upon tin-plate the duty has been gauged
with reference 90 the revenue IL Will bring
into the Teasury and the difference be-
tween this duty and that upon the black
plate has been lessened with a view to
discourage what may not unjustly be
called the bogus industry Of making
American tin-plate by the mere dipping
in this country Of the imported black
plate"
Duties on Sugar and Tobacco.
"In the sugar schedule we should have
preferred TO wipe out at a single legisla-
tive stroke the existing bounty system.
We believe It TO be contrary TO the spirit
Of our institution, and cannot conceive
Of any circumstance under which we should
have advocated or approved its introduc-
tion into other laws. We have found II
existing there as we ind IL virtually eX
isting in every other schedule Of the
tariff. and dealing with il in this more
open and offensive form as we have dealt
with other schedules where large property
interests-ate at stake, We have reported
A provision for IT'S repeal by such stages
as shall gradually obiterate il from our
laws while permitting those who nave
invested large means under the expecta-
ti0n Of its continuance reasonable time
i'm which they may prepare to take theiI
stand with the other industries OF the
country.
Duties upon imported tobacco leat sul'a-
ble for cigar wrappers. which were enor-
mously advanced by the act OF 1880, have
been placed at such figures as, atter
careful investigation, were deemed likely
10 produce most revenues to the Treasury
but this object has alone decided the
rates: their amount Is so high that no
domestic producer need claim that there
is not abundant protection and 10 spare
for his product IN them
Reiiei for the Farmers.
"To the farmers Of the country we have
given untaxed agricultural implements
and binding twne and untaNed cotton
ties. for the additional reason In the
latter case that cotton Is the largest
export crop of the country, sold abroad
I'm competition with the cheap labor OF
India, and OF Egypt; believing that 1t
was sufficient for the private tax gatherer
IN follow the farmer i'm the markets OF
his own country and not TO pursue him
into all the markets OF the world. AS
cotton bagglng can be used but once, we
have Thought it but just 10 extend the
drawback system 20 such baSBlhB made
NJ fute butts when used upon our eN-
ported cotton. a privilege whlch the
exporter Of wheat can already no" en-
ioy. coupled with the further advantage
that the same bags may be used lot
successive expectation OF grain ,
"Taking the importations or la5Z'
the latest which were accessible 10 |
the committee when its tables were pre-
pared. the new rates would operate
reduction Of nearly one-third or the
duties collected under the tariff; but this |
great reduction in taxes actually palo
no the government is no measure of the |
tightening OF burden TO the taxpayers |
~ tho country That reduction may be |
estimated at several times hiOie '""' '"e
reduction Of taxes.
'It may be said that we are not JUS
,f6ed iu making so large reduction IN |
revenue az a time when government re-
ccipts and expenditures can no longer pe
baisnced and when some new sources OF |
temnorary revenue must be sought Tor.
we have been compelled 10 retain some |
articles upon the dutable list, ana 10
leave some duties higher than We desite' |
because Of the present necessities OF the
Treasury but we have not felt that any |
rf
deter US from carrying out, as iallhluiiy
and as effectually as we could the ~
s.ructions given by the American people |
,vben this Congress was put In power
"Our own experience and that OF other /
countries has shown that decrease OF /
,srley duties Immediately operates such |
an enlargement Of commerce. OF produc- /
tion and consumption so rapidly as 20 /
make ND any apparent loss OF revenue
threatened by those reductions
The reports are that most important |
change in the bill proposed from the pres
ent law will be found in the general sub
sutution Of ad valorem Tor specihc du-
ties.
An argument follows TO show the ad-
visibility Of this change. and the report |
continues:
Tho Reciprocity Policy.
at IS the purpose OF the present bin 10 |
repeal I'm toto section OF the tariff act /
OF October 1. 1890. commonly but most |
enormously called its reciprocity prow-
sion. That act placed sugar, nolasses.
coffee. tea, and hides on the free list,
but authorized the President. should he |
be satisfied that the government OF any |
other country producing such articles /
imposed duties upon the agricultural or /
other products OF the United States. |
which he might deem reciprocaily unequal
and unreasonable. TO suspend the proU- |
sior uudar which these articles were ad- /