Morning journal and courier., 1893-11-11
CHANGES IN THE TARIFF.

The Democratic Bnl VIII be Given
 to the PabAc in About Two Weeks
 -The Wool schedule Will be Modi-
 fied-Duty on Tin Plate Will be Re-
 duced and Block Tin VIII Proba-
 bly be Made Free Of Duty-Income
 Tax Will be Imposed.
 WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-Ten days or 6
 fortnight will probably see the new demo-
 cratic tariff bill given to the public. The
 democratic members of the ways and means
 committee have not yet made their final
 revision of many of the schedules, bat
 number of them are decided upon for all practical purposes and will not be changed except in minor details. The policy of a revenue tariff will be pretty closely ad- hered to in desling with raw materials and partially manufactured goods, and consid- erable cuts will be made on finished pro- ducts. The democratic members decided at the outset that they would accept the declaration of the Chicago platform re- gardipg the legislation of the last congress as their rule of action.
 That platform declared that the party 'fndorse the efforts made by the democrats of the present congress to modify Its most oppressive features in the direction of free raw materials and cheaper manufactured goods that enter into general consumption" There are reasons for saying, therefore, that the democratic members under this provi- sion will embody iH the bill substantially all the "pony" tariff bills which passed the house in the Fifty-second congress-pro- viding for free wool and reduced duties on woolen goods, free silver ores, reduced du- ties on tin plate, free cotton and free tin.
 The wool schedule may be slightly modi-
 fled in the definition of goods, but it is be- ieved that the duties will remain substsn- tially the same, the maximum being 70 per cent, and the sd vslorem rates below that figure being generally reduced per cent. The provision regarding silver lead ores. will be substantially that enacted by the Fifty-second congress-that lead ore shall tn which the value of the silver Is greater than that of the lead shall be considered silver ores and exempt from duty.
 The duty on tin plate is likely to be re- duced 2.2 cents to cent per pound fer the present, with perhaps a reduction after few years to the free list. The bills which passed the house in the last congress re- garding cotton bsgging and binding twine made both absolutely free of duty, but there has been some opposition to those provisions on the ground that they were not in harmony with other parts of the tariff and a moderate duty may be retained. Block tin will probably be made free of duty as was unanimously voted by the ways and means committee in the last con- gress at the demand of the tin plate msnu lecturers.
 The chinswsre schedule will probably be reduced 10 per cent, on the existing rates of 60 per cent. and 50 per cent. The Mckinley bill restored the duty on cover lpgs, which are large element in the cost of chinswsre and practically made the in- crease in duty much greater than the ap- parent change in the advslorem rate. The silk interests may not suffer much of @ cut and the duties may be left at 50 per cent as under existing laws. They are claimed to be purely revenue duties and the duties on raw silk will probably be abandoned.
 The iron schedule will, 1t is believed, give the committee good deal of trouble because of the conflict of interests be- tween the New England members, who 1esire free iron ores and free coal, and the from northern Alabama and east 'rn Tennessee, who desire the retention of he duty.
 The threatened deficit in the revenue will be met by an income tax, If some of he democratic members of the honse who Ire urging the proposition are to be be- ieved. The pressure has been strong to impose a moderate tsx on incomes above r, 300 in preference to putting duties back ,n tea, coffee and sugar. Mir. Tom Johnson of Ohio has protested very earn 'stly against restoring the sugar duty and las had the support of other western mem ,ers in preferring 8 moderate income tsx o a renewal of the customs duties on the ,ece ssaries of life. The exact rate of the ncome tax has not been determined, but 1t will apply to all incomes above the amount named, with certain allowances for house :ent and for losses through fire or other ,auses. It is calculated that an immense revenue can be derived from very small tax upon the incomes earned by pro- ;essional and business men throughout the country and this will equaliHs the dispro portionate burden imposed upon the poor oy some of the tariff duties.
 The adoption of the income tax will practically settle the question of increases n the internal revenue taxes on whisky, peer and tobacco. It is possible that a very small increase will be made on whisky but the rates on tobacco are likely to be he'd