Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1894-01-04

the war tariff. In common win
dow-glass, where close mbinations
have kept up the prices to consum-
ers under a scale CT duties averaging
more than 100 per cent. we have
made 8 reduction of about one-half.
GLASS.
Upon the larger sizes OF plate
glass. where the duties were even
higher, we have made "a reduction
of about one-third. In the iron
and steel schedule beginning with
free ore and a duty of 22l per cent.
on pig iron, we have reported a
scale of duties considerably below
those of the existing law graduated
according TO the degree Of manu-
facture, which should bring benefit
to the consumer, without calling
for any halt in the imperial pro-
gress of that great industry in our
country.
The duty upon steel rails has
been put at % per cent, which ac-
cording to the reports of our depart
ment of labor. quite compensates
for all difference in the cost of pro-
duction in this country and abroad.
There seems to be an authentic re-
port that the pool of American rail
makers, which under the shelter of
the present duty of sl3.44 per ton
has kept up prices to the American
consumer far beyond the cost OF
production and legitimate profits.
has been rcorganized to continue the
regulation of their prices above the
proper market rates.
As all shippers and especially
American farmers are vitality inter-
ested in cheapening the cost of
transportation, rates of duty upon
steel rails should be adjusted so as
to protect them from monopoly
prices and monopoly combinations.
TIN PLATE.
Upon tin-plate the duty has been
gagged with reference to the reve-
nue. it will bring into the Treasury,
aud the difference between this
duty and that upon the black plate
has been lessened with u view to
discourage what may not unjustly
be called the bogus industry OF
making American tin-plate By the
mere dipping in this country of the
imported black plate. In the sugar
schedule We should have preferred
to wipe out at single legislative
stroke the existing bounty system.
We believe it to be contrary to
the spirit of our institutions. and
can conceive of no circumstances
under which we should have alvo-
Gated or approved its introduction
into our laws. We have found it
existing there. as We find it virtual
ly existing in every other schedule
of the tariff, and dealing with it in
the more open and offensive forms,
as We have dealt with other sched-
ules where large property interests
are at stake, we have reported a
provision for its repeal by such
stages AS shall gradually obliterate
it from our laws while permitting
those who have invested large
means under the expectation of its
continuance, reasonable time in
which they may prepare to take
their stand with the other indus
tries of this country.
Duties upon imported tobacco
leaf suitable for cigar wrappers,
which were so enormously advanced
by the act of 1890. have been placed
at such figures as. after careful in
vestigation, were likely to produce
most revenues to the treasury. but
this object has not alone decided
the rates. Their amounts is so
high that no domestic producer
need claim that there is not abund-
ant protection and to spare, for
his product in them.
OF the staple agricultural pro-
ducts, including meats aud pro-
visions, We are such large exporters
and must continue to BE- such large
exporters. that any duties upon
them are useless for protection and
fruitless for revenue, and generally
can be imposed for tie purpose Of
deluding. farmers into the belief
that they are. receiving some cen
sideration and benefit under the
tariff. although the prices of their
products are fixed in the world s
market in composition with like
products. produced by the cheapest
labor of the world.
For tho nrndncars nf nur graaf