Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-03-16
THENEW TARIFFBILL.
MIR. DINGLEY DISCUSSES ITS REV
ENUE RAISING CAPACITY.
SUGAR BEARS A HEAVY BURDEN.
INCREASE OF S2O.0OO.OOO 4 YEAR IN
REVENUE EXPECTED FROM 1T.
Wool and Manufactures of WoOls Ex-
pected 10 Yield an Incrense OF
S.5.OOo.O0O-TOtal Expected
increase for the First
Year. STo.O0O,0O0.


washington March l5-Chairman Ding
ley, of the ways and means committee, IN
response 10 Il request that lie furnish Il
svnopsis OF the new tariff bill presented
by him to-day, makes the following state
mcnt:
The bill has two purposes, namely, to
raise additional revenue. and to encour-
age the industries of the United States.
.On the basis of the importations for the
last fiscal year the bill would increase
the revenue about sll2,000,0O0 divided among
the several schedules, roughly, as follows:
A-Chemicals, S3.J00090; B-Crockery and
glassware, Si.0O0,O0O: C-Metals. 100000;
D-Wood. sl.7Je. 900; E-SuSar, SCI, 40, 600; F.
Tobacco. 100000; G-Agricultural, $500
coo; H-Ltquors, s1,seO 900; Lotions, 81, &C.,,
go; J-Jute, linen and hemp, $.,s0o,04O; k
Wool. 81, 0a0: manufactures of WOODS.
s2I.OO00O.; I.-Silks. sl.5O000o; M-Pulp and
paper. $5S, GO; N-Sundres. 81, ,200.061.
This estimate is on the supposition that
the imports of each class of goods would
be the same the next fiscal year as in the
fiscal year ended last June. But as the
imports of wool We're three times great
and those of wool manufactures
more than twice as great in pounds
that the excessive importation would be
largely reduced by the proposed bill. al
though the fact that our domestic produc-
tion of wool has diminished S0O0,GO0 pounds
since 1893. will necessitate the importation
of much more wool now than in the latter
year. Assuming that the importations of
wool will fall off at least one-third from
those of 1895. on account of anticipatory
imports to avoid duties, We place the in
creased revenue from this source at Sll,-
600 900. Anticipating also that the imports
of wooens will fall off nearly 20 per cent
from the enormous imports of lb96. We esti-
mate the increased revenue from this
source under the proposed rates at about
81. 100000. From sugar, We estimate $50, 0O0,-
600 additional revenues. Anticipating con-
siderable falling off of imports of Havana
tobacco because of the revolution in Cuba,
We reduce the estimates of additional rev.
cnue to be derived from the tobacco sched-
ule to S4,0O0.00O. The remaining schedules
would afford 4 revenue of about $50. 800, 600
on the basis of the imports of 1896 but as
there would probably be diminished imports
at some points, although the gradual res
toration OF business activity would offset
this by increasing the consumption of i'm
ported luXuries, we reduce the estimates
on these to s31.000,0O0. These would aggre-
gate an additional revenue of $50 600 0Oo the
first year.
"a further reduction of s5.0O0,OOO or sl0,-
0g)001 for contingencies would leave S16.-
| 1.00e to sI5.00O.0O0 as the probable IN
creased revenue from this bill the first
year, which would undoubtedly rise to
S10i 100000 the second year.
These estimates are below. rather than
! above, the probable result, unless IL con-
siderable delay in the enactment of the bill
should greatly enlarge the opportunity for
imports of articles on which duties are to
be raised-particularly wool and woolens-
for speculative purposes. Undoubtedly any
delay beyond May ] in placing the bill on
the statute book would result in large
loss of revenue.
This increase of revenue is secured by
transferring wool, lumber, crude opium,
nanIents, straw mattings burlaps and vari-
GUS other articles from the free list of the
present law to the dutiable list; by in
| safe the manufacturer for the duty placed
on wool; by raising the duty on sugar
about q of a cent per pound IN order to
encourage the production of sugar in this
country, which, ii is believed. can be done,
ana thus give our farmers a new crop.
which we now import mainly from abroad !:
by increasing the duty on agricultural prod
| ucts affected by Canadian competition, and
| factures cf iron and steel. manufactures
OF iute. fax and hemp. in order to encour-
age these and other industries here, and
especially by increasing duties on such
"As a rule. the rates of duties proposed
and the tariff of 1884, such reduction of
rates from the former law. while still pre-
seTgnS th pT
THE iron and steel schedule is changed
very little from the schedule in TIE tariff
more advanced articles. The same is. true
| of the cotton schedule. In the agricuit-
ural wool. glass and earthenware schedules
lTt tha lrtria nft tDa lRfO Of
| restored as a rule, and in few cases in
| creased. with the view of amply protect
by eHery er possibie pan3 3u WhiIe the duty on
| clothing wool is larger in proportion TO the
| foreign value than on manufactured arti-
! cleS yet it is thought desirable for the pub
| liz interest and for our agriculture. that
we should produce this prime necessity
| for ourselves. The duty on carpet WOODS
as we'll as upon many other articles. Is I'M
posed mainly for revenue. The irritation
caused by a few woods heretofore classed
as carpet woods being used for clothing
! purposes has been remedied by transferring
/ such woods to the clothing wool classes,
\ but the duty on clothing wool has been re-
| stored to the rate of the act of 1870.
| I'm framing this new tariff. the aim has
| been to make the duties SPECIFIC; or at least
| partly specific, as far as possible 10 pro-
| tect the revenue. and also to protect our
| own industries. This has been done IN re-
| Sponse TO the wishes of the better class oi
importers. as we'll as of the administrators @
| of the law and of our own producers: the
| very general substitution of specihc duties
| even where they are only the equivalent OF
| existing ad valorems. will, of itself. in
crease the revenue and strengthen the pro-
| lection afforded to our Industries
! The reciprocity provisions of the act oi
| 1870 have not only been fully restored. but
this policy has been extended by adding &c
| sugar tea. coffee and hides as articles OF
which TO make reciprocal agreements. such
| articles as champagne. brandy. wines. ar
! tifcial and natural mineral waters. Chickle
| argols and silk iaces. In adding these arti-
| cles the reciprocity provision is strength
ened greatly by providing for a reduction
| of duties to countries giving us similar con
| cessions.
The bill as q whole has the unanimous
| support of the Republican members of th'
| WAYS and means committee. and will. it i:
| hoped receive the support not only of Re
! publicaus but OF others who believe tha
| revenue should be at least equal to eXDend
itures with small surplus added. and wht
| are patriotic enough 10 entertain the con
! viction that. in adjusting duties TO secure
| such revenue, 1t is wise policy TO en-
courage home production and manufact
ures and thus provide employment at gooC
wages for the wage-earrers of our People
upon whose purchasing power depends th'
market for our products.