The record-union., 1893-11-28
special to the REcoRp-UNIoN.

Ocratic tariff bill has been gwen out. us
provisions fulfill every expectation OF
those who predicted it would be meas
ure Of radical reform. In many respects
it is surprise even to the Democrats, as
1t is unprecedented in many provisions.
The free list is Of liberal scope and is
sufficient to satisfy the most radical advo-
cate OF reform, and the reputation OF the
principle of reciprocity is decisive and
emphatic. Thus the bill. in addition to
tariff reforms, will, if passed, necessitate
a readiustment of the treaties with South
American countries which enjoy practi-
cal or theoretical reciprocity with the
United States. The bounty on sugar, in
stead of being repealed at once, will be
repealed by easy gradations, and will not
reach full effect till after the close OF the
present century.
Chairman Wilson of the Committee on
Ways and Means has issued statement
in regard to the tariff bill, the gist OF
which is contained in the following intro
ductory paragraphs: The Democratic
mem bers of the committee have felt, as
no others could feel, the mOmentous re-
spOnsibility resting upon them, and the
magnitude, difficulty and delicacy of the
bill for nation of 10000, 900 Of people.
The bill they were called on to reform
is a vast labyrinthine system OF class
taxation, the elimination Of thirty years
control OF the taxing power of a few IN
terests, gathering into their train most of
the petty toll gathering. 1t was carefully
framed 20 prevent as long as possible
what its author calls ANY monkeyIng
with the tariff by which he meant any
=,c,4,71 71fatf' Of n
lessen the bounties which its benefciaries
were permitted to write therein in their
own words and their own figures.
1t transferred to the free list proper and
fruitful revenue articles where most of
the taxes paid by the people were re-
ceived by the Government, and greatly
increased the rates on those articles all or
most of the taxes on which were paid by
the people and went into private Golfers.
1t was bolstered about by many defenses,
chief among which are swept and
garnished Treasury and swollen and
colossal scale of permanent eXpendl-
lures. Such are the conditions that con-
fronted us at the outset OF our work.
The committee have welcomed inform
alton and counsel from every trustworthy
source. and while they do not expect
their bill to escape just criticism in all Of
its details, they do present it to the coun-
try as the result OF months OF patient,
anxious toll, and of the honest desire to
discharge their duty, purged of all taint
of local and personal fayoritism or preju-
dice. Its main features are two:
First-The adoption, wherever it seemed
practicable, of an ad valorem instead Of
specified duties.
Second--Freeing from taxes of those
great materials Of industry that lie at the
basis of production.
The statement continues by saying Spe-
ci1ic duties are Objectionable because they
can be used 10 conceal onerousIy large
and inequitable taxation and because they
lead more readily TO frauds, as the weigh
ers and counters at Custom houses are
cheaper and more easily corrupted labor
than those under the ad vaIorem system.
Moreover the ad valorem system has
worked well in practice and is essentially
fair.
It defends the large free list of raw ma
terials on the ground that the taxes on
production is doubly wrong, cumuiating
on consumers and hurting labor by mar
rowing the market. They are made free
for the further reason that no other coun-
try can supply them as cheaply as we
can: no competition can interfere with us
in them, and freedom from taxation must
immensely stimulate the production of
ores, coal, lumber, wool and other things
in certain parts Of the country. The thin
eUC6 OF AiQGTlCdu ildDuldCluI6S HAS ell
tered every country, and with free raw
materials there is no limit to the growth
of our foreign trade, with incalculable
advantage TO labor.
The statement continues by saying in
every great line of manufacture we can
produce enough for home consumption
IN six TO nine months and we can get rid
OF our surplus only by export: that trade
cannot be built up as long as raw materi-
L. Of
trusts to keep down production to the
great detriment of labor.
The statement then points out various
items of reduction in the schedule, in
cluding sulphuric acid to the free list,
because of its general use; castor oil from
s. to 50 cents per gallon; hnseed oil from
80 to I5 cents per gallon; pig lead from ,
cents to l cent per pound, thus reducing
the price of paints.
1t declares the increase of duty on
opium to SD per pound by the Mckinley
bill simply put the business into the
hands OF smugglers on the Pacific Coast.
The present bill puts it where, it is
thought, 1t can be collected. The duty on
common window glass is reduced more
than half which will stimulate home
production because it has been produced
under trust conditions. There is also a
marked reduction in plate glass.
In the tobacco schedule the rates were
sought which would bring the most reve-
nue.. The present tax of s. 70 per pound
on wraps and leaf has blotted out many
small establishments and impaired the
revenue. We make the rates 81 and 81 10
on wrapper leaf and 50 and 80 cents on
filler, unstemmed and stemmed; manu-
factures of tobacco, 10 cents: cigars are
reduced from 81 50 per pound and p per
cent. al Valorem TO s. per pound and %
per cent. 1t is believed this viii be the
most productive revenue rates,
Live animals, 20 per cent. Barley is re-
duced from 30 cents per bushel to 20 per
cent, or about l. cents.
I3readStufS, of which we are immense
exporters, are all free, except to countries
which put duties on our like products. in
which case it is 70 per cent; fresh yeoeta-
bles. fruits, eggs and like food products
are untaxed for the benefit of the work
inn people of the city; salt in bulk is free,
in package coverings dUtiable.
The tariff on spirits doubles the inter
nal revenue rates, with some slight re-
duction on still wines, malt liquors, GIN
(-er ale and like beverages in the interest
= ;ncraased revenue. For the same rea-
CON 1be duty on champagne is reduced to
g ner dozen quarts, against S. in the Nc
kinney bill.
substantial reductions are made in cot
ton manufactures, especially cheap cloths
and nrints. Hemp and flax are free,
drassed lines of hemp and fax cent and
IL cents respectively.
Tn the iron and steel schedule free ore.
~, account of the discovery of Bessemer
oras in the lake regions and foundry ores
in Alabama, viii give us supremacy in
this great line of manufacture. Pig iron