Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-03-15
4 Bill Of Inconsistsnc iss.
New York Tribune.)

Two important and some minor industries
have been treated in such an unreasonable
and contradictory fashion by the Senate
tariff makers that it seems difficult A. first
t, account for their course. The wooden
manufacture Jared worse in the House than
any other. but the Senate has gone even
further and taken off about seventh Of
the duties which remained. Its purpose
seemed to be, first, to satisfy some power
full foreign interest by suppressing al
thoroughly as possible the domestic compe'
tition, and, second, to secure cheaper goods
Of kind directly purchased by most of the
people, in the hope that their gains in the
cost of wooden clothing may reconcile them
to loss in wages and in the number Of
hands employed. The further reduction,
moreover, was probably expected to insure
larger importations and thus larger revenue.
But it may be doubted whether the expect
ed cheapening of clothing will be realized,
particularly of the grades commonly worn
by the working people. On the other hand,
the reduction in the cost of the finer wooden
cloths may be as great a. was expected, and
vet will give little benefit except to those
who care not for the difference 10 cost.
On the other hand, the great iron and
steel industry suffered heavy reduction in
the House, but the Senate has slightly ad.
vanced many of the duties in this claes
The cut is still savage enough, and it may
be doubted whether the slight advance Of
duties will keep q single establishment in
operation which would have closed under
the bill as it passed the House, and yet it il
evidence of an intention to discriminate in
favor of some iron. makers. Part Of
the manufacture, including some estab.
lishments which are especially exposed to
difficulty. il located in southern states. The
personal influence Of owners and of sena-
tors who are acquainted with or dependent
upon the manufacturers was evidently fell
in the committee room. The imposition Of
a 81 per cent duty on Juragua iron ore
against % l-2 or 25 per cent duties on ply
iron and the ruder products. might relative
~ help Southern by hurting Northern works
Nobody can give a respectable reason fol
favoring the foreign manufacturers of costly
rather than the manufacturers of the
cheaper gloves except that they are veal by
or have Influential connections here. No
body can explsin why the duty on collar.
and cuffs should be much higher than the
duties on other ready made clothing, OF
on other linen goods, except that it wal
hoped to appease senator by duty
which is after all inadequate for the de-
fence of the industry. Changes of that sort
Disclose ignorance, and at the same time a
willingness to barter off principle and pub.
lie welfare for votes, but do no real good
Thus the duties on window-glass are moi
high enough now to prevent foreigners
from taking possession of large put Of
the American market, but reduction Of
the duties about one-half, as propos I'd BY
the committee, would slaughter the industry
a. effectually a. greater reduction.
This objection runs against the entire ILL
Where so per cent. duty is necessary ia
preserve an industry in this country re-
due ion to 40 per cent. Is quite As unwise
and cruel as q reduction to 80 per cent. I'M
less the difference in revenue 10 an alvan
tage. and the lower duty IL generally more
apt to yield the larger revenue. Az tbs
Senate had an enormous deficit t,
meet, part Of the changes made wert
doubtless prompted by the desire to en-
courage larger importations. and thus I,
get more revenue. But there are many
others that are utterly inconsistent viii
such principle. They look a. il the fra
mers of the tariff had acted with no highe
object than to court the favor Of particula
manufactuI ers or senators.