The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-06
COL. LESTER ON THE TARIFF.
TIE NEW MEASURE THE MOST Ex-
IRENE EVER PRESENTED.

.ects the Manufactures but Leaves
tbe Farmer Out - Retaliation
rather Than Reciprocity - The
nice Men Surprised by the Revis-
ton of the Tariff on Rice.
In the opinion of Congressman Rufus E.
Tester. who is. spending several days at
80 home in this city, the tariff bill now
before the United States Senate, and
O,bich win uuquestionably be passed by
che republicans, BODIES nothing but mis-
chief
The measure was reported to the Senate
aav before yesterday, and will be taken up
next Tuesday. 1t is in many respects diff
ferent from the original Dingley BILL but
is nevertheless the most extreme tariff
measure that has ever been brought up
for the consideration of congress.
q notice that there is a step towards
retaliation in the bill as reported to the
Senate" said Col. Lester to a Morning
News reporter yesterday, which is far
from the spirit of reciprocity desired by
some and hoped for in the outset. Take
for instance, the clause inserted in lieu
of the House provision relating to reci-
procity That clause reads as follows:
That whenever any country, dependency
or colony shall pay or bestow, directly or
indirectly, any bounty or grant upon the
expectation of any article or merchandise
from such country dependency, or colony,
and such article or merchandise is dutiable
under the provisions of this act. then upon
the importation of any such article or mer-
the same shall be imported directly from
the country of production or otherwise.
and whether such article or merchandise
is imported in the same condition as when
exported from the country of production
or has been changed in condition by man
ufacture or otherwise, there shall be lev
led and paid in all such cases, in addition
to the duties otherwise imposed by this
act, an additional duty equal to the net
amount of such bounty or grant, however
the same be paid or bestowed The net
amount of all such bounties or grants
shall be from time to time ascertained de-
termined and declared by the Secretary Of
4 the Treasury, who shall make all needful
a regulations for the Identification of such
articles and merchandise and for the as
sessment and collection of such additional
duties
'This can mean but one thing" re-
sumed Col Lester, land that is that this
country shall, under these directions, levy
an additional tariff on all importations
from countries which have paid a bounty
on those products, and this additional
tariff shall be sufficient to make up for
the bounty. For instance, take the case
of sugar imported into this country from
abroad. We get a great deal of our sugar
from Germany, where they manufacture
sugar from beets, to a vast extent. There
is more sugar made in the world from
beets than there is from sugar cane. and
most of this, I believe is made in Ger
many. Now, suppose Germany pays a
bounty of cents per pound on all sugar
shipped from that country to this. Sup
pose we have regular duty of 2 cents
per pound on that sugar, as an import
tarlH. You can easily see that the man.
ufacturer in Germany comes clear of our
tariff because his own government makes
1t good with the bounty of cents Der
pound, Which he gets on the expectation
out of his country Now, then, the clause
l have just quoted from the new tariff
Dill steps in and says the United States
IN such cases will not be satisfied with
the original cents per pound tariff,
which has been made good by the bounty
pad by the German government in the
case pointed out, but will go further and
levy an additional tax of cents per pound
10 cover the bounty. This is not reciproc-
NY 1t Is retaliation. 1t is intended for
the protection of the sugar manufactur-
as OF this country, perhaps, more than
lr any other class of manufacturers, as
hat is all 1 see in the bill referring TO
me former bounty this country allowed
me sugar manufacturers of Louisiana
VI course, 1t does not apply to sugar alone,
!or IL does not specify any special product.
1t is put in general terms, and applies to
any lmportations from countries upon
when bounty is granted by those coun-
mes. 1t is step in advance of all
Iormer tariff for protection"
Col. Lester was asked if he did not
MINK the tariff bill now before the Sem
ue Is calculated to raise prices on most
Of the necessaries of life
Inc erect of this extreme measure"
ne replied, will be at first to make prices
iall very low-so low that it will bring
uination' to many of the merchants. who
Will rush to foreign markets and over
\ Stock their stores before the high tariff
lakes effect. There has already been a
great rush in this direction. Merchants
III TINS country, hoping to lay in a vast
supply OF goods before the high tariff
strikes them, have bought in some in,
stances more than they will be able to
carry They have done this in order 10
nank the heavy tariff they will have to
pay in bringing these goods across the
waters under the threatened tariff bill
Ihey will in many instances find that
,hey have undertaken too much and will
nave to throw their goods upon the mar
ket. This will bring about wondrousiy
low prices at first, and will mean ruina.
uon to many of the merchants who I'M
uertook to carry more goods than they
would nave done under normal conditions
Of trade
BUT when this crash is over. then prices
VIII be high. The tariff bill is the most
extreme measure ever brought before con-
gress for consideration along the line of
protective tariff. 1t is far worse than the
ola Mckinley bin. Under the Wilson bill
when is In vogue At present this country
Is collecting just now more revenue than
Is necessary from the tariff, because. as
nave said there is a great rush on the
part OF traders to bring in foreign goods
before the tran Is made any higher. After
an II Is the amount Of importations that
we must look 70 for the settlement OF iris
question II the tariff is moderate the
amount Of importations will be greater
IMAM II the tariff Is extortionate, trade
VIII De more healthful and prices be lower
On account of the incraa cod f,,,,art,.t....