The herald., 1894-04-30
tariff ooMPRoM1aE.
Secretary Carlisle Talks Absut tho Bfn
PendIEg lR the senate.


PendIsg lR the senate.
WASHINGTON, April %. - Secretary
Carlisle has authorized the following
statement in reply to an inquiry by an
Associated Press reporter, ss to whether
it was true he had taken part in confer
snces which it has been said were being
held for the purpose of agreeing upon
certain amendments to the pending
tariff bill:
Il have had no conference upon this
subject with any body, except the Dam
ocratic members of the senate commit
tee on finance, and therefore cannot
stale of my own personal knowledge
what has occurred in any of those con-
ferences that may have taken place. 1t is
true an effort is being made to agree
upon such changes in the pending bill
es will secure for it she united and active
support OF ell the Democrats in the SEN
ate. The indications now are that their
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. In fact,
regard most Of the changes now under
consideration as quite uEimportant.
while the remainder are not of such
character es substantially to affect the
merits of the bill as measure for the
reformation of the worst features of the
existing legislation upon this subject. l
do not think we ought to permit differ
ences OF opinion upon mere matters OF
detail, or in regard to small increase or
q -. 10
stands, prevent redemption of our
pledges to the people, and therefore |
am in favor of securing. If possible with
out any surrender OF principle and with
out abandoning any part of the Demo-
cratic policy of tariff reform. such mutual
concessions upon these points as will
consolidate our strength and pass the
measure at the earliest possible date. So
far as the proposed amendments relate
to duties upon important articles OF
rates suggested as the basis for adjust
ment are much lower than in the pres
6nt law, while there are only few in
stances in which they are higher than
in the bill reported by the senate COM
mittee.
"By far the most important single
aAbACAC QHOn q OnodRO VI 0AtJ 40
now proposed is sugar, raw and refined,
and 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 COM
mittee, are higher than the ad valorem
rates which it is now proposed to insert.
Whether this is correct or not depends
on the price of sugar in the foreign
maj rh atu frnn1 fn ord fhnro.
fore. it is not possible to make an exactly
accurate statement upon the eubject, but
/ am satisfed that the difference, if any,
between the specific rates heretofore
and the ad valorem rates now
under consideration. is 30 small as to be
of no material consequence either way.
At any rate, think differences of opinion
upon this question, which have always
been troublesome and vexatious, should
not be allowed to defeat the passage of
the tariff bill, and believe this is the
opinion of all intelligent and sincere ad-
vocRtes of revenue reform.
THE repeal of the Mckinley act and
the substitution of more equitable
maaaure ic OF vital hop
l'o.;.. Is a. oe~ntry, end the pec-
MA have a right 10 oApeC5 that all who
are really in favor of q reduction of
b3flH LhAhIlOu Will AAA0 buCh AodnOu-
able concessions to Others views az will
certainly accomplish these results. If
the country lie to await for tariff reform
until measure is devised which is en-
sirely acceptable in all its parts to every
senator and representative whose vote is
necessary to pass it, our promises will
never be kept"
'!Are any changes proposed in that
part of the bill which relates to the in
come tax ?" was asked.
at ia we'll known" said the secretary,
"that there has been from the begin
ming considerable opposition to the pro-
posed income tax, even among those
who have voted for and supported 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 aseertaining and col
leeting the tax. some OF which are al
legged to be arbitrary and inquisitoriRl.
In my opinion, many of these OBJ
iectionable provisions ought to be, and
can be, safely omitted from the bill,
and other changes can be made which
the advocates of the income tax can
consistently accept, and which will at
the same time remove the principal
objections of its opponents and secure
their support of the BILL"