New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-27
THE REVENUE BILL.

Mr.. Reed ana Otner kcpuOHcdn leiucTS III 'OH-
gress properly wait TO whether the presl-
dent Of the United States will ask for the in
creased revenue which the Government requires.
If he has the fidelity and uprightness to do so,
It is only fair that he should have the oppor-
tuntv before Congressman commit themselves
TO definite plans Or If he ncgccts or refuses,
IL is only just that his failure in duty should
appcar before all the world Meanwhile the
Republicans can raise all the revenue necessary
for public expenditures without waiting until
a general revision Of the tariff can be completed
and approved by the Executive. II they were
charged with full responsibility. the case would
be different 1t would be different If there were
not financial emergencies calling for speedy
action There might then be time, and 1t might
then be their duty. to reconstruct all parts or
the tariff to meet the best interests Of the coun-
try But the problem which will present itself
next week calls for quick and ri the same time
effective action.
1t is a great advantage that recent experience
demonstrates what provisions of the present tar
iR are sacrificing the most revenue and doing the
most HARM what parts OF the tariff of 1880
worked we'll and contributed most to public
prosperity. and what revenue was derived from
them. With this abundant light east by recent
experience Congress can with ease frame
measure to provide for all immediate necesSi-
ties 10 render any sale Of bonds unnecessary.
TO make the currency sound beyond perad-
venture, and TO stimulate greatly industries.
For instance, some such measure as the follow
ing might be passed
BE # enacted by the Senate and House Of Rep
resentatives OF the United States Of America in
Congress assembled that on and after January
l. 1896 there shall be levied, collected and paid
upon all articles imported from foreign coun-
tries and mentioned In Schedules G.. }, X and
|, OF the revenue act approved october l. 1871.
the duties imposed in those schedules also upon
earhenware both decorated ana q piS Shod the
b. Of said act; upon tinplates the duties named
in paragraph 12l. Schedule c, OF said act, and
upon gloves of all kinds the duties named in
paragraphs 3i3 to $50 inclusive, In Schedule ~ or
said act.
This would be very short bill. and probably
one upon which all Republicans could agree
without difficulty or delay. except that many
would desire to 20 much further and to revive
or add duties not here touched But considered
only as a temporary measure to meet existing
emergencies, it might readily serve with more
or less modification as basis of agreement.
1t revves first the agricultural schedule of 1890,
which embraced more careful duties for the
coast and the Northern border. than any preyl-
Gus law had contained, and these duties were
found highly important Next it rcyivcs the
schedule relating to flax and hemp and their
manufactures the schedule rs to silk goods, and
the schedule as 10 wool and woolens, besides
the special provisions relating to earthenware,
tinplates and gloves. In favor Of such Il tenn
porary measure it may be said, first, that the
Al. II .l Al . ts..tlI
revive worked thoroughly WELL yielded reye-
nue. OF $50, 49,, 322, powerfully aided most i'm
portant industries and had been Interpreted by
rulings OF the department and decisions OF the
courts SO tina. their force and meaning would
be readily understood both here and abroad.
Second, the provisions Of the present tariff
which would thus be repealed are those which
have done greatest harm to industries and In
yolyed greatest sacrifice OF revenue. The aboli-
ton OF duties on WOOL which yielded In 1892
81, 799, 0SG. and on buraps. which yielded In
that year $1,971 .652, took off nearly S10,0000OG
revenue. The reduction Of about a quarter in
duties on silk goods, and nearly rs much in
duties on linens, at n time when the revenue
was imperatvely needed, cut or without any
justification about S5,1J0,O0O more. The nom
inal reduction Of little over half the duties on
woollen goods, which yielded Ssh 293 COG in 1892,
actually sacrificed much more than half that
SUN. because the new ad valorem duties in this
department were peculiarly open TO defeat by
fraudulent undervaluatlons. The reduction Of
cent per pound on tinplates threw away about
S5.OO0,OO0. ana the reductions on earthenwarc
and gloves threw away about S225000O each
The injury done to great Industries by these
changes cannot be measured by experience thus
far because they have by no means felt the full
force Of the foreign competition which they Sl
have TO face when prices and wages here are
advanced by returning activity In business. 1t