The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-05

>ptTtfs->pecfhcD Duties substituted
for Ad tnIorem.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 4-The daily ses-
sious of the Republican members of the
ways and means committee. which have
been IN progress FOR about Two weeks.
have brought the tariff bill. whieh is 10
oe laid before the next congress, 10 a
sage where the character of the measure
can be somewhat gsuged, and waere GER
tain OF the most important schedules are
definitely fixed. In their conference up 70
this week the tariff makers have dea4t
largely with the general characteristics of
the schedules which they have had under
consideration and devoted themselves 10
sitting the great masses % the aguIeS, let
ters and petitions presented 70 them.
-Four schedules have now been fairy com
pleted. the chemical. agricultural. wines
and spirits, the earthen and glassware
schedules.
Today's meeting was the most important
OF the series, fer Il resulted in the franz
ing OF the agricultural schedule which
was made a re-enactment OF the Mchin-
ley law With few changes, except on unin-
portant products. The most important
step ln connection with this schedule was
the establishments OF the rates of $ q head
on cattle more than one year cid. and OF Zs
per cent. ad valorem on cattle valued az
more than SO a head. The Mckinley rates
on other live stock. including the rate OF
s. on cattle OF one year or less. are re-
stored. The Wilson rates were % per
cent. al vaiorem on live stock. and while
the new duty OF s. on cattle does not
reach The Mckinley figure o. SO on cattle
more than one year old, II IS expec ted that
with the ad valorem, more valuable
rrfF
Mexican cattle. II IS against Mexican
stock that the increase Is particularly de-
sired on the representation OF Western
cattlemen that their business has been
ruined by the importations from Mexico
under the Wilson law. which amounted 70
more than 10000 head
Much interest centered upon barley
which the committee puts back 10 the No
kinley duty OF 50 cents a bushel because
the farmers contended that the Wilson
tariff had turned over the market into
the hands OF the Canadians while the
malsters who have been using Canadian
barley have made a hard fight against
any increase. The Mckinley rates have
been restored on fruits and berries. main
~ for the benefit OF the fruit growers Of
the Pacific coast. TIE fruit exchanges Of
rates below the Mckinley bill and above
the Wilson rates, but they dii not sue
ceed in having their schedule adopted.
Among the products OF the agricultural
schedule which are returned TO the Nc
kinney rates are hreadstuffs and rice.
dairy products. potatoes and starch. cas-
TOR beans and faxseed. meats and meat
products and poultry, vegetables and salt.
The demand Of the farmers for the Nc
KInley rates Of 81 a ton on hay. instead OF
the Wilson rate OF s., vas granted. Chic
ory Is placed at l cent a pound In accord
auce with the requests of the gr0wers in
the central states who believe that they
can capture the home market with pro-
lection. Rates on oranges have not been
fixed yet. bat the committee has decided
TO change the classification and make the
rates higher than those OF the Mckinley
bin for the benefit OF the California in
terests.
In the chemical schedule the Wilson rates
will be retained. The Wilson duties on
scans and on sodas and kindrei chemicals
which are raw materials Of soap are LEFT
unchanged. The present rates on OILS.
including castor oil. also VIII he retained.
except were changes are made necessary
bv the restoration Of duties on the raw ma
terfals which enter into them. as in case
of unseed oils There viii be bus slight
changes IN the rates or paints ana dye
s.uffs and their constituent elements Ihe
duties on borate OF lime VIII be cents per
mound. on refined borax cents. boTacic
acid 8 cents. which are compromises be-
tween the Mckinley and the Wilson rates
The duties on lead ores Is placed e
cent pound or pig lead, cents on "hl'e
lead and 2is cents on acetates
The committee has decided 10 retain the
Wilson rates on wines and spirits through
out the wine and spirit schedules THIS
schedule az the Wilson act was generally
higher in its rates than in the Mckinney
rate
The committee has devoted some time
to the manufacturers Of iron and steel.
and % the cotton manufactures bat has
not perfected these schedules In the cot
ton schedule there VIII be- few changes
from the present law. except In rates On
fnery yarns and the most costly fabrics.
The changes In the !Ton and stecl scnec-
Me viii be limited % A few speclalties.
ike cotton ties. on wEicu Mckinley duties
will he re-establishe4. on tin plate. which
has not been settled. ard some forms o.
tube steel and surgical Instruments.
No other schedule has given tGe COM
rairtee so much trouble a. the one whieh
Includes earths. cartheDware ana glass
ware. IL has been claimed by al t1e pot
terry and glass interests that the Wilson
Jaw has proved destructive 10 their in
te-ests. and that no system o. ad valorem
levisa could protect them Accordingly
the items Of the schedule 20 such specific
duties - VIII be equal 90 the duties q
the 81 ekinIey law. most o. which were
~ vaIorem. On account Of The dscora-
tfys features of such wares, wh4ch often
are the chief cement ln their value, IL ls
particularly difficult 10 ADJUST a satls-
factory specific rate
Plate glass has been arranged as follows.
Under Is oy = inches. E cents pe- square
foot trreseut rate 8 ce1's}. above Is sy 4
and not exceeding - tv o.. i eerrs lcressnt
rate -. above = ~ . aod not exceeding
= ay o. tae present rae % 21a cents. al
above - oy S. t1e prsse0r rate of IS cents.
I.ssraer wlIi oe r3e nsxs schedule Waic1
viii engage t5e committee atte1ti1n.
Tarougnoat IRE HprA tae policy q es.ao-
.f-rluE spectec rates wherever t. was
found possible 10 substitute t1em for ad
.sl1reru nas been - 9lswea. Tae interests
az farmers Il IS starss. have been par-5cu-
tsr.v deserved - fixing 3ac.es for she pg--
nose 5f pro-ect}or- On tae o.aer band. n
ne Increase on n4nl1ac;lred goods. most
q them Rave been tn eiSa@E grades @
s-eoas ana thess whsc1 are considered