The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-04-09
WASHINGTON LETTER
NEWMARKET BILL SATISFACTORY
TO THE FARMERS.

TO THE FARMERS.
Business Already Improving Under Nc
Kinley's Administration-Pro
Tariff Becoming Popular With AL
the Leading Political Parties.
GEORGE MELVILLE, Special Correspondent.
Washington, ID. C.-The new tariff
bill which the ways and means commit
tee has reported to the new congress il
proving satisfactory to the farming ant
manufacturing interests. No class o.
citizens have received more careful at
tentlon than the farmers in the worl
which the committee has performed il
framing this bill. This relates not
alone to the mere question of protection
to farm products, but the fostering ot
manufacturers which shall thus furnish
an increased home market, and provi-
sions for demanding reciprocity from
foreign nations, by which special adj.
vantages may be had for our farm pro-
ducts in foreign markets. The commit
tee has put good deal of work on the
wool schedule, and when they complet-
ed the bill they felt that they had got
ten 1t into more satisfactory shape than
they expected, and especially into a
shape which will be satisfactory to the
farmers generally and give them much
better protection than they had under
the Mckinley law. While the rates
upon the finer grades of wool are prac-
tieally those of the Mckinley law, those
relating to the coarser grades are ma
terially changed, and in way which
Will be very satisfactory to the wool
producers. Under the classifcations of
the Mckinley law large quantities Of
wool intended for use in manufacturing
cloths were imported under the head OF
carpet wools and paid carpet wool rates
OF duty. The new schedule and classi-
hcation which the committee has adopt
ed will, it is believed by the members
OF the committee, prevent this and re-
quire woods brought in for manufactur-
ing cloths to pay the proper rate while
those properly classified as carpet woods
will pay rates very little higher than
those named by the Mckinley law.
By this new classification, the com.
mlttee believes that it will give to the
wool growers very satisfactory rate OF
protection, and, at the same time, in
crease materially the revenue produced
from wool under the Mckinley law.
The fact that enormous quantities OF
wool used for manufacturing cloths
were brought in under the title of car
pet woods, reduced materially the reve-
nues which would have been realized
had they paid the rates of duty which
the law fixed for woods used in the
manufacture of cloths, blankets, etc.
While the rates are not those proposed
by the Wool Growers Association. the
Redistribution which prevents the
coarse woods being brought in at carpet
rates of duty, will prove in some degree
an offset for the failure to adopt the
rates requested by this association.
While the rates finally determined upon
are considerably below those named by
the Wool Growers Association and
Will to that extent perhaps be unsatis-
factory, there is reason to believe that
members of the association generally
did not expect to get as high rate of |
duty as asked, and that by reason of the
new classification they will be particu-
larly we'll satisfied with the work of the
The completion of the bill enables
the members of the committee to make
estimates of the increase of revenue
which the bill will produce. These
estimates range from $4,000, 900 to 75,-
100000 per annum increase over the
present law. Should these expectations
be met, the bill, when it becomes a law,
Will produce sufficient revenue to meet
he running expenses and add from five
20 seven millions per month to the
;reasury reserve. It is believed that if
his expectation is realized and COM
'ortable surplus constantly maintained
n the treasury, the danger of renewals
If demands for gold in exchange. for
,reenbacks and treasury notes will
apidly disappear. In general it may
'e said of the bill that the rates of the
law were made basis for the
present measure, the general plan being
o make no higher rates than those i'm
'osed by the Mckinley law, and to keep
'elow it in such cases as possible. This
las been done in large proportion of
he articles upon which rates have been
lamed. The number of articles taken
rom the free list and placed upon the
utiable list is not as large as had been
nticipated, but the committee feel con-
dent that the bill will prove satisfac-
ory revenue producer, and that the
ates of protection given by the com
1ittee will be generally accpetable to
he interests affected.
Bimeta1lic Conference viii Be Held.
1t is understood by those who are ]
amiliar with the details of Senator {
Volcott's trip and the plans which have 1
cen formulated by the president and
Tiers, in view of his report, that the
bimetallic conference may not ]
called until autumn. The president t
nd those who have advised him on
lis subject have concluded that the
lbject generally should be pretty thor s
lghly digested and plans formed be- 6
ire the delegates come together. They I
ave no doubt as to the practicability
bringing about an international con- s
renee, and they feel assured that the f
opposition is likely to be met with
uch greater cordiality than on former s
sessions. 1t is known that the British s
while it has no expectation
returning to bimetallism, in the COM
only accepted sense, is willing, in
ct anxious, to reopen the Indian s
ints, and may be willing to establish b
mint in London for the coming of p
pees for the Indian market, and in
ditiOn tn this make a natario1 in
ease in her silver currency and en-
some action on the part of 81
her nations. The German government 81