Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-12-30
THE WAYS AND MEANS BILL
Majority Report Of the Committee
Gwen Out.
Reduction of the Taxes on the Materials Of
Manufactures the First step--Tom
Reed Has kick-Congres-
sionai Proceedings.

thorough debate ever given by any
people to their fiscal policy have delib-
erately and rightly decided that the ex-
listing tariff is wrong in principle and
grievously unjust in operation. Such
Is the opening paragraph OF the
majority report submitted by the
democratic members of the ways
and means committee. The report was
written by Chair-.an Wilson. 1t was
laid by him before his democratic asso-
ciates last night and received their cor
dial approval.
The report says: I'VE have believed
that the first step toward u reform OF
the tariff should be reduction OF
taxes on the materials of industry.
There can be no substantial and bene-
fetal reduction upon the necessary
clothing and other comforts OF the
American people nor any substantial
and beneficial enlargement of the field
of American labor 80 long as we tax
materials and processes of produc'
tion, Every Tx upon the producer
falls with increased force on the con-
sumner Every tax on the producer In
this country is q protection TO his com
petitors in all other countries and so
narrows his market rs to limit the
number and lessen the wages OF those
TO whom he can give employment
Every cheapcning Of the cost or
enlargement Of the supply OF his
raw materials, while primarily
inuring 10 the benefit OF the
manufacturer himself, posses, I'M
der free competition, Immediately
and entirely 10 the consumer, who very
soon gets even more benefit out OF II
than such reductions seem 10 carry,
because with the rapid widening OF his
market the manufacturer is able to sell
at a smaller profit. IL Is therefore
very narrow and short sighted view
which supposes that IL we release
the duties on iron ore and
coal and wool and other like articles
for the benefit OF those who manutac-
ture our iron, steel, woolen and other
fabrics we are not legislating for the
great millions of consumers beyond
them and the scores of thousands OF
laborers to whom they may thus give
steady and well paid employment. 1t
is no less q narrow and short sighted
view that supposes that removal OF
the tariff duties on such necessaries of
industry will intiict any real loss upon
those who produce them in our own
country. The enlargement OF markets
for our products in other countries, the
increase in the internal commerce and
in the carrying trade of our own
country. will insure growing
market for all these things that will
quickly outstrip anything they could
have under the protective system.
Iron and coal are the basis of moi.
ern industry. The abundance and
cheapness OF their supply offers us in
many lines OF production the maDufac.
turing supremacy of the world. While
the mines OF other countries are be-
coming exhausted and the cost OF min
ing in consequence is increasing we are
constantly discovering and developing
new sources of supply. The discov.
cry of the immense beds of bes.
semer ores in the lake region and OF
foundry ores In several OF the southern
states. their convenience for transporta.
ton and for the assemblage OF mate
rails the use OF the steam shovel in
mining-all these have SO cheapened
the cost of producing pig iron and
steel as 10 take away all possibility and
danger Of foreign competition in
almost every part OF the country"
The report continues with an argu.
ment in support of tariff for revenue
only, at the same time dencuncing the
existing tariff as an extreme system OF
class legislation, having no lawful or
constitutional exercise. The argument
is lengthy and exhaustive, dealing with
the various phases of tariff legislation
from 1916 and its effect upon
the welfare of the nation and
the. industries involved. A reduction
of about one-third is made upon the
larger sizes of plate glass. Iron ore is
free and duty of 92t per cent put on
pig iron In the remainder of the iron
and steel schedule substantial reduc-
tions are made. Steel rails are put at
IS per cent, a rate calculated to protect
the farmers from monopoly prices. The
duty on tin plate is materially les
sencd
The repeal of the sugar bounty is
provided Tor by gradual obliteration
which shall not injure the industry nor
bc a source of loss OF money at present
invested The rates on tobacco.are left
so high that ample protection is AT.
forded.
Agriculture! implements are given to
the farmer free; also binding twine and
cotton, too.
The tax on spurious liquors is put at
double the .7.erna! revenue tax on the
same.
The Gotten, flax. hemp and jute
schedules reductions have been in ac-
cordance with the general scheme OF
the bill, but these are not 0elicved TO
be OF such marked character as to
call for ans special explanation. The
placing OF wool upon the free list has
justified very substantial re.
duction of the duties on
wooden goods. The carpet man.
ufac,urers have such full control OF
the home market that they will not
suffer from free carpets and wool. The
average rate of duties levied under the
existing law upon the dutiablo goods
imported III lso2 was 4s.1i per cent.
Had the duties proposed la the present
bill been levied upon that years
importation Of dutiable goods the
average rate including those trans.
ferred &C the free list would have been
30 81 pc, cent, but SO many of the rates
OF the present law are really prohibi-
tory that il is impossible to say what
its real ratio Of taxation Is, yet IL is safe
to affirm that il is much higher than
any import tables will disclose.
A most important change in the bill
proposed from the present law will be
found in the general substitution OF ad
valorem for specific duties. II Is the
purpose Of the present bill to repeal In
toto section OF the tariff act of Octo-
ber /. 1890, commonly called its rcci'