New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-03
CHANGES IN PROGRESS.

Not the intent Of The Tribune but the types.
caused the statement that most Of the tarii1
amendments proposed by the Senate committee
seemed iniudicious. when ii was the purpose 10
commend most Of those proposed since the Dill
was reported as apparently judcious. Some
arc not vet clearly explained. but it is stated re-
gardlng the withdrawal Of the earthenware
amendments that the committee became satls-
fed that partially specific duties were imprac-
ticab|e. and the schedule was completed on
Tuesday. leaving the rates on earthen and china
ware as they stood in the House bill. Most OF
the changes made by the Senate committee
since It's bill was reported seem to have been
in the direction of closer agreement with the
rates Of the House or the Mckinley act but In
a number Of instances rates have been adopt
ed by the Senate higher than those Of the act OF
1890. In every such vote the Republicans have
been aided by several other Senators. so that
the minority for the higher rates has usually
been ten or twelve.
There is no sense in the common objection
that a particular duty must be ntoerabe be-
cause in ad valorem rate It is higher than that
OF the act of 1890. Where stress is laid on the
ad valorem rate the object is usually to deceive
the public. foreign article which was worth
81 has by invention or by the state Of foreign
markets come TO be worth no more than 80
cents. for instance, so that the duty Of 40 cents
in 1890 would now be at the rate Of 30 per cent.
and yet 1t is exactly the same duty, affords to
the American producer not a jot more protection,
involves to the consumer not a jot more pos
sible tax than when it was formerly 40 per
cent Blu, In other cases duties which are actu-
glly higher than those of 1890 are deliberately
proposed because the advancing industry Of the
country now makes 1t possible and wise to pro-
tect, whereas formerly no other than revenue
duty was desirable. Thus while rates are low
cred on many other articles much below those
OF 1890. because in the Judgment Of the COM
mittee or the Senate production has been firmly
established here. rates are at the same time
raised on other products of the same manufact-
ure which could not be produced here seven
years ago.
The Democrats who imagine that these op-
posing changes are In principle contradictory.
the one abandoning protection and the other in
yolying protection run mad" are ignorant OF
the policy and principles which they assall. The
duty Of 90 cents per pound in 1890. by which
the tinplate manufacture was permanently capt
ured from Great Britain. has ceased to be neces-
sary. and the lower duty Of Is cents now pro
posed by the House or Ia by the Senate COM
mitfee is recommended In the belief that the
Industry now needs no other protection. But
the advance Of rates on some OF the finer prod
ucts of manufacture such as the more costly
pocket knives. has exactly the same object
which the Mckinley duty on tnpates had. and
denotes belief that industry Is rendy for fur.
Their advance. Changes of the same nature in
each direction are proposed in many other in
dustries: lower duties on cottons not exceeding
100 threads to the inch, but new and higher
duties on cOttons exceeding 800: lower duties on
v'ndow-glass. but higher on the more costly
tnds OF plate glass. Each reduction Of duty
n.arks a conquest achieved; each advance new
conquest undertaken.
Such IL the meaning Of protective duties when
adjusted by competent men after 4 lapse OF