Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-12-12
CONGRESS- CONVENEs.


only with the appropriation and other
bills of minor importance. Owing to
existing conditions it is expected that
Congress will at once plunge into the
consideration Of the currency and
tariff question. The Dingley Bill was
before the last Congress and short
time ago. il was thought it would
easily become law, but has now been
abandoned by its author who Is re-
ported to be working up new tariff
scheme. Thus il appears that the en-
tire work OF this and the extra session
which Mr.. Mckinley will likely call
Immediately after his inauguration.
will consist of work on tariff only.
On the question Of a revision OF the
tariff and what il would mean the
Philadelphia Record has the following
Ia say
with their mouths constantly filled
with phrases about the necessity for
more protection" TO American indus
try, the tarifi-mongers are extremely
shy of matters OF detail. When asked
TO what extent they propose 10 carry
the work u: tariff revision they resort
TO vague generaliiies or TO misrepre-
sentation OF the existing revenue law.
The Dingley bill gets over the diff
Guilty by simply adding ID per cent.
to the existing rates Of productive
duties. without the least regard to
present conditions. Hit or miss, up
goes the rate > per cent. horizontally,
no matter whether the duty is already
too high and merely serves to foster
Trust. or whether ii would increase
or diminish the revenue.
This slovenIy and inquitous method
of revising the tariff was encouraged
and applauded a year ago, when the
most false impressions were propaga-
ted concerning the present law, and
when il was believed that almost any
change would be for the better. But
the public mind has been disabused on
this subject and hence the Dingley
bill has few friends, while there is
growing demand To let the tariff alone
so that the business of the country
may enjoy respite from agitation.
A brief review will show how little
need there is for general upsetting of
the tariff, aud how false are the Pro.
tectionist claims on the subject In the
law imports are grouped alphabetically
under the following schedules a.
chemicals. oils aud paints ; b. earthen-
ware aud glassware c. metals ID,
wood and its manufactures T., sugar
+. tobacco; G., agricultural products
ii, wines and liquors |. cotton man
ufactures J, manufactures of fax,
hemp and jute; X, wool and its man
ulactures f, silk goods; NJ, paper
aud books: n. sundries.
Beginning with chemicals, most of
these imports, consisting OF raw ma.
terials of manufacturing and for use
in agriculture, are on the free list OF
the present tariff, as in the Mckinley
tariff; and there is no demand for
change in this respect.
That the average duties of 81 per
cent. ON both earthenware and glass
ware are amply protective is seen by
the fact that both of these imports
have declined under the present tariff,
in spite Of the dismal predictions to
the contrary. Most Of the foreign
pottery that comes into the country
consists of works of art and of taste.
The duties on earthenware and glass
ware, aided 10y the cost of freight, are
not so low as to prevent the manufac-
turers from organizing Trusts without
fear OF foreign competition. 1t was
competitor at home, and not from
abroad, which dissolved the Trust OF
the manufacturers Of sanitary pottery
IN Trenton and other cities.
OF the great basic metal industries il
was admitted that the present tariff
made little change IN the duties for
their protection" Leading manu-
iacturers have expressed the desire
that the duties on iron and steel
should be lei alone, although some of
them have manifested generous
solicitule for Il revival of duties on
wool. When the imports of iron and
steel have fallen TO very low figure,
and are still declining. and when
American exports OF iron and steel
are enormously increasing. il is absurd
to talk OF more protection" for these
products.
Since lumber was made free there
has been little or no increase in IFS
importation but there has been
considerable increase in the exports of
American furniture and other manu-.
features Of wood.
1t is not probable that the Republi-
cans have any desire to restore sugar
TO the free list, or TO make any i'm
poriant change Of the existing revenue
duty ON sugar.
An increase of the existing duties
on wheat. corn and other agricultural
products would not be Of any benefit
TO the farmers, nor would il delude