New-York tribune., 1895-12-29
TARIFF AMENDMENTS.

Probably no one has supposed that the 1arih
I'm ,,ssad nv the House would be adopted by
the Senate without any alteration IL scirceH
ever happens that the Judgment or tue 'ehie
occorls in every detail with the judgment Oh tue
House The Republicans have not maJo'i'!
in the Senate. If they are able to pass 'he ph
with the assistance Of two or three other sell
atos il is still certain that one or two senators
could defeat the measure if amendments Dy
thcm deemed absolutely essential should not DE
odoptcd Hence there is no sign of hostility 10
tbo measure rs n whole in the Offering OF amend
nents which harmonize with its main purpose
and arc calcul1ted to make il more consistent
mr. more beneficial Senator Burrows, OF Mlchi-
gan. has proposed one which is OF importance
II imDoscs until August l. 1895 duties equiva-
lnnt to so per cent of the duties in the act OF
1870 upon all the articles placed on the lree iis'
bv the act Of 1894 which are not made dufiabie
in the House bill. These include about hfteeh
items of chemicals and paints; iron ore COTTON
ties. copper and it's manufactures; ten arue's
Of the agricultural schedule, among them esSS'
fresh fish and salt; lemonade soda ana other
similar waters: flax, hemp and tWine' 1ea'iieIS'
paintincs. statuary, and, If imported from
country which imposes unjust or unreasohaDie
duties upon United States products. coffee goat
skins and hides
This would have the effect Of restoring To me
reycnue-yielding list some important articles
which the tariff Of 1894 made free, ana 1t IS
obvious that 4 measure designed TO raise aue-
ouate revenue should include many OF these III
the ,luiiablc list. If the Senate adheres stricu!
10 the principle upon which the House Dill WAS
framed-namely. 10 provide adequate revenue
without attempting AT this time general re-
vision for the purpose of protection most oi TIE
articles placed upon the free list by the act vi
1884 should be made to yield revenue Inc
Uouse bill restores to the dutiable list wool ana
humber and the measure would be more CON
sistent and would yield larger revenue If the
others should be added also. The revenue III
1893 from the articles above mentioned was: In
class A. SG6O54: in Class H. SO; in Class {,
s12S S6j7: in Class c. S4s4 3GG; in Class II, S5S9I;
in Glass j, S2O7. .4S6; and in Class y, Sl.loolS9;
in all S2O4o744 Mr.. Burrows's amendment
would collect only 60 per cent of the duties in
force in 1897. but the importations might be
enough greater with the lower rates to make the
revenue from these articles about large AS
il was in that year.
II +. not to be supposed that other changes
enIanger the passage of the bill or 20 defeat It's
main object which is Ia provide sufficient reNe-
me and thus tO prevent borrowing ana impair
ment Of public credit. II there Is reason to be-
lieye that the measure can pass WIN llls OF
that modification, but cannot without II. sen
ators will undoubtedly consider 1t their duty 10
secure the relief for the country and the Treas
ury if they can. The bill would doubtless be
more worthy Of the party responsible for II II
discrimination could be made in the horizontal
advance of - per cent. emitting some aruceS
ON which the higher duties would not yield
larger revenue, or would only benefit objection
able combinations The great objection 10 such
discrimination is that it would involve much
discussion and delay at a time when the Treas
ury needs speedy relief. and might perhaps en-
danger the bill rs whole. Senators would be
entirely justified IT, for that reason. they should
decide not To attempt rcctfcation Of the meas
ure in its details.