The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-24

Apollinaris is the chief export of this
kind from Germany, and the spring from
which it comes is owned in England. The
Carlsbad and Hunyadi waters are from
Austria, and are valuable for medicinal
purposes, but the increase in their export
| is not matter of consequence to the
people of that empire.
Does anybody suppose that the MEM
| bers of the committee on Ways and
| Means are so simple as to expect any
government to offer concessions for our
merchandise because we are willing to
| admit asses skins, or that the Secretary
of State should be expected to recover
the market that has been lost for millions
| of barrels of our flour in the sugar-grow-
| ing countries by offering to reduce the
| tariff on that product per cent! The
| original arrangements with Cuba, Puerto
| Rico and other tropical countries pro-
| vided for the admission of sugar free,
and our government will have to admit
| it again if those arrangements are re-
newed.
There is no use of asking a foreign
| government to make treaty of reclpro-
city unless we offer something it wants,
something's that will be for it's advantage,
or is demanded by the interests of its
people, and there is not a government
ON earth that would not laugh at every
item proposed in Mr.. Dingley's bill. 1t
is one of the advantages and benefits
of reciprocity that by it's application the
people of the United States may receive
articles that they need at low rates of
duty. If customs concessions are to be
made at all, they must be such as well
benefit both parties to the agreement.
Even Mr.. Dingley himself could not with
a sober face explain what advantages the
people of the United States would enjoy
in having the duty on argols or crude tar
tar reduced from ~ to 1 cent pound,
or the duty on chickIe from 9 to Z cents
per pound; or the duty ON mineral
waters" and "imitatio of natural wa
tiers and artificial mineral waters in
green or colored glass bottles of not more
than one pint from % to p cents a
dozen.
Mr. Dingley is probably surprised be-
cause the 70,000,0 900 of people composing
this enlightened nation do not imme-
diately get up and call him blessed be-
cause he offers to admit champagnes lin
bottles of not over a quart at Sc dozen"
and "laces of silk, or of which silk is
the component ma terial of chief value, at
So per cent, ad valorem." There was
never more absurd legislative PROPOSE
ton offered in the United States or else
where on earth, than the reciprocity sec
ton of the tariff bill. But it is the
natural result of the policy of the COM
mittee. Most of the members have no
knowledge of the subject, and they have
persistently declined to receive infOrma
ton.
This remarkable provision has one re-
deeming feature, however. 1t is said
that no effort is made in the world with
out some good result, and that no force
is ever lost. The reciprocity section has
contributed a great deal to the amusement
of the diplomatic corps, and with that its
usefulness is ended.
If Mr.. Blaine were living he would
probably smash another hat upon Mr..
Dingley's table, as he did in the commit
tee-room of the Senate when the tariff
law of 1890 was under consideration.
A close examination of the tariff bill,
however, shows that high duties have not
been placed upon everything. The peo-
pie of the United States can at least i'm
port arsenic and prussic acid free. They
are also permitted to bring in all acorns
they wish, dry or undried, but if they
are ground they will have to pay duty,
There is no tax on moss agates or aliza-
rim, either natural or artificial or I'M
manufactured amber of ambergris, and
there will be great rejoicing to discover
napththazarin is free. Annatto, rocou,
and ashes are exempt from duty, also the
balm of gilead and beeswaX. Stuffed
birds may be admitted without duty if
they are not suitable for millinery orna-
ments, and there is no embargo on catgut
or books for the use of the Library of
Congress.