Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-06
THURSDAY. MAY 6, 1897.
THE SENATE TARIFF BILL.

: 1t is impracticable as yet to make an
= Intelligent comparison between the Ding
lev bill and the substitute therefor-for
that is what it largely amounts. to-that
was reported by the Senate COMMITTEES on
Finance Tuesday. Moreover, discussion
of the Senate measure must in the nature
of things be to great extent academic
seeing that the bill will again so TO the
= House, and there is no telling what
schedule compromises will be made before
a final agreement between the two houses
shall have been reached. It-seems to be
generally conceded that some of the more
important amendments to the original
measure constitute an admission, as we
said yesterday, tbat many of the Dingley
rates are prohibitory, and consequently
not revenue-p producing, and there Is
diversity of opinion as to whether ia- its
all-'round bearing the substitute is as
much of campaign debt-paying con-
tract as was the House bill. That IS TO
say. there is a diversity of opinion as to
whether. in the concessions. they were
forced to make TO the western interests,
as represented by Senator Jones, ct I'd
omne genus, the senatorial revampers OF
the bill did not trim too closely the IN
terests of the manufacturers of the New
England and the Middle States. who fur
nished most of the sinews of war in the
last campaign.
on the one hand we are told that the
representatives of these States, and es-
pecially the representatives of the New
England States, will fight the concessions
made to the West. On the other hand, II
Is said that the Democrats believe the
Senate bill TO be probably the most adroit-
RECONSTRUCTED measure for the benefit of
the manufacturers that has ever been
framed, and, therefore, the worst for the
consumers. The Washington correspond
ent OF the Baltimore Sun says, touching
that point, that in the general manipula-
ton of the schedules, the completion of
the scheme of bargain and sale by which
sufficient votes are thought TO have been
secured for the bill TO insure its passage,
the Republican members of the Finance
Committee have not for moment lost
sight of the interest OF the manufac-
turers. Citing the wool schedule as an
illustration, the same correspondent says
that in that schedule where the Senate
committee have increased the duty upon
low-grade raw wool for the purpose OF
satisfying the western growers, they have
reduced rates upon the higher grades OF
wool for the benefit of the manufacturers.
Also, that in few instances, as in that
of hides, the interest of the western pro-
Queer and the eastern manufacturer have
come into direct conflict, and the latter
have suffered, but these instances are
rare, and It is anticipated that the manu-
facturer will have little 10 complain Of.
Yet whether the manufacturing interest
that bargained to put the Republican
party into power, and kept that bargain,
have anything TO complain of at the
hands of the Senate committee or not. 1t
must not be forgotten that there is big
gap between the bill and the statute book.
These interests stu have before them
some time in which 10 work Congress.
But to come down 10 certainties There
Is no question that the differences between
the House and the Senate measures ana
the consequent long time 1t will take TO
harmonic them will protract business
unrest Until the tariff Is settled many
business interests must be more or less
at sea. TO bring the matter very near
home the interest In Virginia most d.
rectIy affected by the Senate bill IS the
tobacco manufacturing interest. The bill
provides for raising the internal-rovenue-
tax on smoking and plug tobaccos 80 per
cent. and on cigarettes 100 per cent.
Whether. this provision shall stand or
not, there is likely TO be Il considerable
period OF uncertainty before the manu-
facturers, az has always been the case
when the question OF change of the to-
baceo tax has been up. That uncertainty
means dull trade. especially with the
smaller manufacturers. Should the pro-
vision become law, the increase viii en-
tall great expense upon the manufac-
fIrcrs by pecessitating changes in shapes
and other machinery. The additional tax
will. OF course. come oct OF the consumers
- the end. and viii be. so far as plug
and smoking tobaccos are concerned. an
= 6ddifional tax Oh necessities TO the mass
4 =. Edicts 81 kings and others against the
- q he weed. and claims that Il u q