The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-16
II Was Presented in the
House Yesterday.
Synopsis of Various Provis-
ions of the Measure. /.
BY II Government Reserve Will Be
Increased $112,000,OO0.

\
niittee. in response to request that he
uinish synopsis OF the new tariff bill
| presented by him, makes the following
statement:
1.-THE bill has two purposes. namely.
! to raise additional revenue and TO en-
| courage the industries OF the United
| States.
| "On the basis of the importations for
| the last fiscal year the bin would in
crease the revenue about Sll2,00o,0 900, di-
| vided among the several schedules
roughly as follows:
'A-Chemicals, s., ,50O. 900: B--Crockery
and glassware. $4,000.000: C-Metals,
| $4,000, ,000; p-Wood, 1000, 900: E--Sugar
! s2l, $50 900: F-Tobacco $1,000, 900; c.
Agricultural $4,000. 900; H-Liquors,
| $500, 900; Lotions. 81 100, 900: J-Jute,
linen and hemp. s1,soO.00o; K--wool,
| 81 800. 900: do. manufac rers of WOOL
| So. 900 900: Le-Silks. 81, - 900; M--Pulp
and paper, $5s. 900: N-Sundries, s6, 200 900.
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 were three
times as great in pounds as in 1898, the
committee assumes that the excessive
Importation would be largely reduced
by the proposed BILL although the fact
that our domestic production of wool has
diminished 100000 pounds since 1898
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
- ii. 49,. 4
ports to avoid duties. we place the in
creased revenue from this source at
$11 900, 900. .ft
Anticipating also that the imports Of
woolens will fall off nearly so per cent
from the enormous imports of 1896, we
estimate the increased revenue from this
source under the proposed rates at about
sl4, 900, 900. From sugar we estimate
S20,000,000. additional revenue. Antici-
pating a considerable falling off OF i'm
ports of Havana tobacco because of the
revolution in Cuba we reduce the esti-
mates OF additional revenue to be de-
rived from the tobacco schedule TO
$4,000 900. The remaining schedules
would afford a revenue OF about $40, 500,-
600 on the basis OF the imports of 1896,
but as there would probably be dimin-
ished imports at some points although
the gradual restoration of business &C
tivity would Offset this by increasing the
consumption OF imported luxuries, we
reduce the estimates on those to $31, ,000,-
600. These would aggregate an addi-
tional revenue OF $50 000, 900 the first year
"A further reduction of IS, 600 900 or
$40, 900, 900 for contingencies would leave
s100o0000 to SIS, 600, 900 as the probable
increased revenue from this bill the first
year. which would undoubtedly rise to
800 900, 900 the second year.
These estimates are below. rather
than above, the probable result unless
considerable delay In the enactment
OF the bill should greatly hurt the op-
portunity for imports of articles on
which duties are to be raised-particu-
larly wool and woolens-for speculative
purposes. Undoubtedly any delay be-
yond May in placing the bill on the
statute books would result in a large
loss OF revenue.
This increase of revenue Is secured
by transferring wool, lumber, crude
opium, argcls, paintings and statuary,
straw ornaments, straw mattings. bur-
laps, and various other articles from the
free list Of the present law to the duti-
able list; by increasing the duty on WOOL
the duty placed on wool; by raising the
duty on sugar about y of cent per
pound I'm order to encourage the produc-
ton OF sugar in this country, which IL is
believed can he done and thus give our
farmers a new crop. which we now inn
port mainly from abroad: by increasing
the duty on agricultural products af-
fected by Canadian competition and on
fine cotton goods, some advanced manu-
factures OF iron and steel, manufac-
lures OF Jute. flax and hemp, in order to
encourage these and other industries
here, and especially by increasing duties
on such luxuries as liquors, tobacco, silks
and laces, ETC.
'As rule the rates Of duties proposed
are between the rates Of the tariff of 1890
and the tariff OF 1894 such reduction of
rates from the former law. preservative
OF the protective principle, being made
feasible by changed conditions.
'The iron and steel schedule is changed
very little from that schedule In the tariff
of 1894. the change being entirely i'm the
more advanced articles. The same Is
true OF the cottons schedule. In the
agricultural. wool and glass and earth
enware schedules alone are the duties
OF the act OF 1890 fully restored as n rule.
and IN a few cases increased with the
view OF amply protecting and encourage
ing our farming interests at every pos
sible point. While the duty on clothing
wool Is larger in proportion to the foreign
value than on manufactured articles.
yet IL IL thought desirable for the public
interest and for our agriculture that we
should produce this prime necessity for
ourselves The duty on carpet wools. as
well as upon many other articles. Is i'm
posed mainly for revenue. The circula-
tion caused by the use OF n few wools
heretofore classed as carpet woods being
used for clothing purposes has been
rernedied by transferring such wools 10
the clothing wool classes. but the duty
on clothing wool has been restored to the
rate OF the act Of 1890
''In frrming this new tariff the aim
has been 20 make the duties specific. or
at least partly specific. as far as possible.
20 protect the revenue and also 20 pro-
tect our own industries. This has been