The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-05-26

last campaign that II the republican
party should be again intrusted with
power no extreme tariff Legislation
would follow.
1T was believed that In the changed
conditions of the country, a return To
the duties imposed by the act OF 1880
would not he necessary even from
protective standpoint.
1T was with these facts constantly
in view that the majority Of the finance
committee prepared the amendments
which they have submitted for your
consideration. Nothing could be more
conducive to the return and usiinte-
nance of real prosperity in this country
than the well grounded belief that there
were to be no violent changes m our
revenue policy for some years to come
The true friends OF protective policy
do not insist upon extreme rates nor
are they necessary to an equalization.
THE committee believes that N the
reductions they have suggested from
the rates imposed In the house bill they
have not gone In any instance below
the protective point and " the bill
should become law In the form pre-
sented by them every American Indus
try would be enabled to meet foreign
competition ON equal terms. The rates
suggested by the committees amend
ments are considerably below those
imposed by the house bill and In most
Instances below those contained In the
act of 1890.
In suggesting these reductions the
majority of the committee reafilrm and
emphasize their position as friends OF a
protective policy. The ultimate pur-
pose of this policy Is TO secure as far as
possible by wise and conservative leg
islation, the steady growth and devel-
opment OF all interests. 1ne bitter con-
test which is going on among the lead
ing nations Of the world for Industrial
supremacy has brought about improve
ments In methods and economies In
production TO an extent which was not
thought possible few years ago.
These new conditions must he taken
into account In considering the rates
TO be imposed.
Without relinquishing our devotion
to the cause OF protection. We feel We
have right to ask that the cause
shall not he burdened by the imp0si-
ton of duties which are unnecessary
and excessive. In the adjustment of
rates the committee has tried In every
instance to make them sufficiently pro-
tectlve to domestic interests without
being prohibitive.
mate a total revenue from the bill of
t26s. 1906. 10 In normal years. This would
be the largest revenue received from
customs duties and an increase of y1l3.-
419.193 over the customs revenue of
1885, and of $40, ,732.253 over that Of 1893.
THE report of the ways and means
committee OF the house recognizes the
fact that the anticipatory importations
will largely reduce the expected reve-
nues of the first fiscal year under the
new tariff, but after making allowance
Of the importations the report esti-
mates an increased income Of S16. .O0O, 900
for the year 1895"
II its enactment were delayed until
July I. the report added that si5. .00O. 600
additional would easily he lost TO the,
| public treasury.
After giving in detail the house esti-
mates of revenue. Senator Aldrich went
on 10 quote facts and figures to show
that the estimates were based upon err
roneous conclusions. lie held that the
immense importations of wool In an
ticipation of the new law had made II
impossible that the wool schedule
would produce revenue for year at
least. In this connection he held that
unless duty was levied upon tea and
the proposed increase Of the internal
taxes was made there would be de-
ficit instead of surplus for the next
| fiscal year.
Continuing. he said: THE adoption
OF revenue bill which should fail in its
purpose and which would create an ad-
ditional deficiency in the immediate fu-
ture and which would require a further
issue OF bonds to meet current expendi-
lures. would certainly he fatal to the
hopes of the future success of any
| at.tx gtl a.. L.,
islatiOn. In selecting the sources for
additional revenue the committee de-
cided to increase temporarily the tax
on articles Of voluntary use rather than
| to assess additional duties which might
prove imperative upon articles of ne
cessity or upon those which which enter
into our manufactured products. as
suming that the necessity for addition
al revenue exists, and of this we believe
there can be no question. There Is no
| economic reason. and certainly none
that affects the public interests, why
beer and tobacco should not bear their
share of additional taxation. The COM
mittee believes the duty proposed on
tea will not prove serious burden up
on the consumers OF that article.
| Nothing In the theory of protection
interferes with the imposition of fur
ther internal revenue taxes by protec-
| tlonistS whenever such a course Is
found desirable for revenue purposes.
In the future, Il Is almost certain that
we shall he Obliged to depend more and
more on taxes of this nature for neces-
| sary revenue. In the years TO come we
must expect decrease rather than an
Increase In the customs revenue 10 he
derived under the principal schedules
of the tariff.
With duties adequately protective
upon manufactures of cotton, wool,
silk and fax. we may expect con-
stantly diminishing revenue from the
importations OF these products. II the
rates imposed by this bill ON sugar
should be found 10 lead to the rapid de-
velopment of the beet sugar Industry in
the United States. we may expect large
reductions year by year from the con-
templated revenue from sugar. Some
OF the most sanguine advocates of the
| policy OF encouraging beet sugar pro-
duction in this country believe we
shall within 10 years produce all our
sugar.
1T Is safe to assume that numerous
objectors will always be found to any
plan for increased taxation. In this
particular case the committee is only
strenuous that wise public policy re-
quires that our revenues should at all
times be equal to our expenditures and
that the people will not be satisfied
with any revenue measure that does
not provide adequate income for this
purpose
In the sugar schedule r. we have sug-