The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-04-30
oARLIsLE ON THE TARIFF.
He Favors Concessions in Order to AS
sure the Passage of the Bill.


sure the Passage of the Bill.
Washington, April 29-Secretary Car
Isle, before his departure for his brief
holiday trip to Fortress Monroe, was
asked whether the report was true that
he had been taking part in conferences in
regard to amendments to the tariff
bill. He replied: 'I have had no
conference upon this subject with
anybody except the democratic members
of the Senate committee on finance, and
therefore cannot state, of my own per-
sonal knowledge, what has occurred in
any other conferences that may have
taken place. 1t is true that an effort is
being made to agree upon such changes
in the pending bill as will secure for il
the united and active support of all
the democrats III the Senate The indi-
cations now are that this support can and
Will be secured without making radical
changes in the rates of duty, or material
alterations in the form or structure of the
tariff schedules as they were passed
by the House of Representatives. In
fact, l regard most of the changes now
under consideration as quite unimportant
while the remainder are not of such a
character as substantially to affect the
merits of the bill as a measure for the re-
formation of the worst features of exist
ing legislation upon this subject.
SHOULDN'T DEFEAT THE WHOLE BILL
81 do not think we ought to permit DIFF
ferences OF opinion upon mere matters Of
detail or in regard to small increases or
reductions of rates in the bill as 1t now
stands, to prevent the redemption of our
pledges TO the people, and, there
fore, l am in favor of securing
if possible, without any surrender
of principle and without abandoning any
part of the democratic policy of tariff re-
form, such mutual concessions upon these
points as will consolidate our strength
and pass the measure at the earliest pos
sible date. So far as the proposed amend
ments relate to duties on important
articles of consumption now subject to
duty, the rates suggested as a basis for
adjustment are all much lower than in
the present law, while there are only a
few instances in which they are higher
than in the bill reported by the Senate
committee.
THE SUGAR SCHEDULE.
"By far the most important single
article upon which a change of duty is
now proposed, is sugar, raw and refined,
ana it is strenuously contended by per-
sons interested in the production
of this article, that the specific
rates already in the bill,
as reported by the Senate committee are
higher than the ad yalorem rates which
it is now proposed to insert. Whether
this is correct or not, depends upon the
price of sugar in the foreign markets
from time to time, and therefore it is not
possible to make an exactly accurate state
ment upon the subject, but | am satisfied
that the difference, if any, between the
specific rates heretofore proposed and
the ad yalorem rate now under considera-
tion is so small as to be of no material
consequence either way. At any rate |
think that differences ofopinion upon this
question, which has always been trouble
some and vexatious, should not be allowed
to defeat the passage of the tariff bill
and believe this is the opinion Of all in
telllgent and sincere advocates of revenue
reform.
OF VITAL IMPORTANCE.
"The repeal of the Mckinley act and
the substitution of more just and
equitable measure in its place. are of
vital Importance to the prosperity of the
country, and the people have a right to
expect that all who are really in favor of
a reduction of tariff taxation will make
such reasona BILE concessions in each others
views as will certainly accomplish these
results. II the country is to wait for tariff
reform until measure is devised which
is entirely acceptable in all its parts to
every senator and representative whose
vote is necessary TO pass it, our promises
will never be kept"
THE INCOME TAX.
Replying to the question as to whether
any changes were proposed in that part
of the bill which relates to the income
tax, Mr. Carlisle said; 1T is well known
that there has been from the be-
ginning considerable objection to the
those who have voted for and sup
ported the bill with that feature in
it. Much of this opposition has been
based upon the provisions of the bill
which prescribe the methods of ascer-
tanning and collecting the tax, some of
which are alleged TO be arbitrary and
even inquisitorial In my opinion, many
of those Objectionable provisions ought to
be and can be safely omitted from the bill,
and other changes can be made, which
the advocates of an income tax can con-
sistently accept, and which will, at the
same time remove the principal objec-
tions of its opponents and secure their
support for the bill. This method
of securing revenue has never be-
fore been resOrted to by Ithe
government of the United States, except
in time Of war, when it was absolutely
necessary to utilize every means within
its reach, and there are many patriotic
citizens who are not satisfied that it's adop-
tion as permanent part of our system Is
justifiable 10 time of peace. when no great
emergency exists. This view of the sub
iect could be generally met, L think. by
limiting the operation of the law TO a
reasonable period, say five years,
so that its effect upOn the
country could be thoroughly tested,
leaving the people TO decide hereafter, in
the light of the experience thus acquired
whether it shall continue or expire by its
own terms. The power to repeal always
exists, and the power to enact can be
promptly exercised if the majority of peo-
pie approve the measure"
DOWN ON BREoKINRIDGE.
A Pamphlet Against His Return to