Omaha daily bee., 1894-02-13

no MAKE n A REVENUE BILL.

Az the Wilson bill stands IL contem-
plates a deficit in the revenues. This the
supporters OF the measure do not pretend
to deny, though they profess to believe that
after the proposed law shall have been in
operation for Il time, how long n time they
do not venture to say, II will produce more
revenue from customs than has been OBJ
tained under the present law. In order to
do this either the consuming capacity OF the
country would have to be largely Increased
or there would have to be a considerable re-
duction in the amount OF domestic-made
goods. No rational person expects an In
crease Of consumption when the wage earn
ers In nil departments receive reduced in
comes, 30 that those who talk about larger
revenue from customs under the tariff policy
represented by the Wilson bill as 1t passed
the house must believe, II they do not talk
at random, that American industries viii be
forced to ylold to foreign competition. There
In no othor explanation OF their position.
II appears that the democrats of the SEN
ate finance committee do not accept the
theory that tho government may In time
derive tho customs revenue II needs from the
operation of the Wilson bill and they pro-
pose, Il Ia stated upon what seems to DO
good authority. to mako sure OF Its being n
revenue measure. In order to do this some
things must be taken from the free list.
where the ways and means committee put
Thorn, and made dutIabie. Thus II In 10
garded ns probable that iron ore. coal and
wool will continue to pay duty. though OF n
lower amount than those articles now pay,
A. a, nIan ataial Tint thn aapntA In lIlfaIv In
place a duty on raw sugar, perhaps retaining
the present duty on refined. A duty Of
half a cent u pound on raw sugar as well
aa ON refined II Is stimated would yield n
fiscal revenue Of SEQ, 600. 900 a year without
Increasing the cost of sugar TO consumers,
A duty OF one cont would yield a revenue OF
$t0,0 600, 900 to the treasury. AFFORD some pro-
lection TO domestic producers and do away
with all excuse for an income tax. Al the
same time II 10 urged that a uniform duty
on imports OF sugar, whether OF one cent or
half u cent. would completely break the power
OF the trust. 1t Is understood. also. to BIO the
intention of the democrats OF tho senate
finance committee to Increase some OF the
duties In tho Wilson bill, These promises
Indicate that the bill Will be modified In n
huilbor OIL Important respects, anu VINO tho
prediction OF IA democratic senator some
time ago that whom tho measure camo from
tho senate its author would not be able to
recognize Il may not be fully true, thore Is
reason to expect. II present reports have
any substantial foundation, that It will DO
very materially changed. This Is q pros
poet which those who are concerned for the
interests OF the treasury viii regard with
satisfaction, but II must be viewed with any
thing but oomplacency by the house demo-
Gratis who voted for the Wilson bill. 1t
involves a serious reflection upon tho wisdom
and Judgment OF the trainers and supporters
OF that measure In the house. However.
no consideration OF this ind ought to inter
fere with the senate making the new tarin
law one for revenue instead OF for a deacit,
and the chairman OF tho senate nance COM
mlttee has very plainly said that this Is
what the democrats OF the senate expect
10 do.
II does not appear likely that the bill