The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-03-18
TARIFF BILL READY.
Committeeman Hope to Raise $50, 0o0, 900
to SEQ, 900, 900 Additional.

The new tariff bill made public Monday
by the ways and a committee, embodies
the results Of hard work by the members
ever since the meeting Of the last session Of
Congress in December. 1t Is intended to
raise from $50, 900. 900 10 $50, 600, 600 more
revenue under the bill than is provided by
existing law under similar business condi-
tons. Duties have been advanced for the
double purpose OF protection and revenue.
Another important rule which has govern
ed the committee is the substition OF specific
duties wherever possible for those based
upon value. Such duties have been restored
upon nearly all Of the chemical schedules.
many articles OF iron and steel. upon sugar,
upon agricultural products, and upon many
sundries.
II is In textiles, however, that the greatest
care has been taken in transforming ad
valorem into specific duties. The cotton
schedule was made specific In form, with the
exception Of some general provisions when
the present law was framed. The duty per
yard was based upon the number OF threads
to n yard, thereby permitting an increase Of
rates upon the finer goods. A similar sys-
TEN OF classification is applied in the new
tariff to manufacturers Of FAX and silk. The
duties upon silk are to be based upon the
~ VI pun III III - bhfNh
weight OF fabric, the rates being higher ac-
cording to the proportion of silk without
adulturation or admiXture IL larger.
The duties on wooden goods are Mt prese mt
compound in character, and some OF them
will have TO be left so. The committee has
done much figuring, however, with a view
TO substituting specific rates, IN has been
able to do so in n number Of cases. The
textile schedules of the bill are not likely to
be subjected to great changes In the senate,
except perhaps In the case Of woolens, where
a bitter contest Is raging between wool grow
ers and wooden manufacture
The committee cndeavored, where II was
in accord with their views Of protection, to
keep below the Mckinley rates, and in every
case avoid going above them. They have
been obliged to disregard this rule in u few
cases. but many of the schedules, like iron
and steel, where Mckinley rates are no
longer needed. can be cited as evidence that
they have adopted a moderate scheme OF du-
ties. They have put back the full Mckinley
rates on Agricultural products, because they
have felt that thu. farmer was entitled to all
that 1t was possible to do for him by protec-
tive duties.
Tho Mckinley rates have been preserved
also upon tobacco, wines and silks, because
they are considered essentially Injuries.
There has been an increase upon filler to-
bacco. in order to make the difference less
wide between hller and wrapper and the
temptation to fraud less serious. The bill.
rs a whole. represents what the committee
regard as a scientific scheme for the protec-
tion and development Of American indus.
tries and the maintenance Of a supporting
treasury.
The Republican members for several days
have been considering how best they could
change the duty on woolens and pottery
from nd valorem to specific. SO as to make
the bill consistent throughout. At the finaI
meeting specific rates were fixed on some o
the principal manufacturer OF wool. In
some cases this change Of basis was found
not to be- practicable. but 1t was made IL
every instance wherever possible.