New-York tribune., 1894-03-21
THE SENATE TARIFF BILL.

Rarely if ever, has great party, lntros'eu
with power and charged with responsibility
been obliged to report Tariff bill without
approval of majority of the committee which
framed it. After the report In the Senate yes
ter,lay. Senator Mcpherson stated that lie dis-
scntcd and should oppose the Income tax, ana
also the double form of duty on sugar The Dill
would not have been reported at all nad MS
opposition to that and other features Deeh
manly enough to prevent his assent But Sen
ator Voorhees,, with other members VINO fralheu
the bill, will probably tell the Senate That 'hey
are not satisfied, but have been forced 10 put
into the bill provisions which they consider dis
graceful. Not long ago Mr.. Voorhees, declared
that the sugar monopoly would get no ravor'
Other Senators have declared that duties on
iron ore and coal would make the bill base
betrayal of principles and pledges. Yet this
measure heartily detcstcd for one reason or
another by most of the Democrats. Is neverihe-
less put before the Senate as party measure
1t is strange, indeed, to have the fate of indus
tries stakcd upon a bill which intelligent men
of all parties regard with dctcstation.
The changes made by the Senate committee
are numerous. and Il great many or them are
in the nature of corrupt jobs or bribcs for votes
but few affect the revenue materially. Inc
imposition of the tax Of S42 100000, or 'J.''9
per cent. on sugar means a gift OF two-tenths
of a cent per pound. or about SS,OO0OOO to the
refining monopolv-.S of one cent in difference
between centrifugal at 9G degrees and refined
sugar in polarization, and 12J of one cent add
ton for sugar above 16 Dutch Standard III
color There is not much prctcnce Of respect
for the opinion Of honest or intelligent men in
such a contrvance but the Democratic COM
mittee appears to believe that its partisans are
too stupid to discover the bounty to the mo
nopoly Whether it would add as much as
$40 600 900 to the revenue is questionable, be-
cause the people will not buy as much sugar
costing 1913 cents as they have been buying
at a cost Of AZ cents. The addition OF S2O,0O,-
600 In theory to the tax on whskcy is also
Gift of many millions TO the Whiskey Trust,
which holds in warehouse more than a years
supply and can pocket as clear profit the 20
cents additional tax on all that 1t pleases 10
take out Of bond before the act goes into effect.
After it has realized its millions, and sold the
whiskey thus taken out, the increased revenue
of the Government will depend upon the ques-
ton whether the people buy rs much whiskey
at 81 80 per gallon as they bought at 81 II per
gallon.
The restoration Of some duties on agricultural
|
will nevertheless suffer immeasurably more
from the abrogaIion Of Reciprocity duties, under
which foreign markets have been found for
many millions worth of their products. The
average of duties in that schedule is still just
| one-third lower than the present duties. The
duty imposed on iron ore is too low for protec-
ton, and will only help monopoly in Cuban
! ore but operates most unjustly because The
duties on manufactured products of iron and
steel are retained on the whole as low as those
of the House bill. which made ore free, and
thin sheets are reduced from o 10 - of
! cent tinplatcs from - 10 cent. east pipe from
% to 22lo per cent crosscut saws and aluminium
from - to II per cent The duties on woollcnS
are reduced the whole S1.IOo.Op from The
House bill. the details having already been
given, and from about 40 10 - per cent. ON
silks the reduction from the House bill Is not
large, but more than sixth Of the present
duty is taken off On manufactures Of flax.
hemp and linen the reduction averages for III"
whole schedule third Of the present duties.
but to brbe the vote Of Senator Murphy higher
duties are placed on collars. cuffs. shirts ana
other clothing Of linen. In the glass schcdul"
I the reduction is from Jlia 10 81 per cent, and
Is so placed as to insure the destruction Of I'm
portant industries. The average on cotton
goods is reduced from - to :;Sia per cent. and
appears deliberately intended To crush Amcr-
can competition in the finer goods.
In the aggregate. the Tariff bill now reported
is quite as Objectionable as the Wilson BILL for
the addition of S41 100000 TO the estimated
revenue is wholly in sugar. Whether the tariff
will yield as much as $lGJ 90377l, as the com
mittce estimates. or many millions less, no one
can say with safety. for the prostration Of home
Industries must greatly affect the purchasing
power Of the people-no one can tell how much
| Ii is absurd to call this revenue tariff, CON
| trived as it is, expressly not TO yield revenue
enough so that the income and the whskey
tax may appear necessary No man In his
senses would call II a protective tariff. Not con-
sisent anywhere, it is more nearly consistent
in seeking TO destroy protection for home indus
tries than in any other aim After pledging IT.
self not to strike down home industries. the
Democratic party in this bill strikes down
many. Fawning upon the poor and pretending
10 seek their relief from burdens. 1t takes off
ut least $50 900 900 Of taxes paid almost wholly
by foreigners or by the well-to-do, and Imposes
Il like amount upon the laboring masses who
consume liquors and sugar.