The times., 1897-03-16

G-Agricultaral ............... 6,3OD,0Ot
| H-Liquors ...-................ 1,S00,00C
LOTIONS s...................... 1,700, ,o0C
! J-Jute, linen and henp...... 7.s00. 900
| h-Wooi OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. II 800 ,0oo
K-Manufactures or wools.... 27 600, ,000
| L-Silks Observation-Disclosures. 1 800 ,ooO
M-Prlp and paper ..... $4,000
N-Sdn-trtcs OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. u 200 900
This statement is on the supposftion
| 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, and those OF woolen goods more
than twice as great. in pounds, as in S93,
/ the committee assume that their excessive
importation would be largely reduced
! by the proposed bill, although the fact that
our domestic production OF wool has di-
| minished S,o0o,00o pounds since 1893,
more wool now than in the latter year.
Assuming that the iinportations OF wool
! will fail off at least Onc-third from those
| or 1896. on account OF anticipatory i'm
| ports to avoid duties, we place the in
| creased revenues from this source at
| $lI 600 900. Anticipating also that the
| %
10 Der cent from the enormous imports OF
1896 we estimate the Increased revenue
| from this source under the proposed rates
at about s14,000,00e. From sugar we
estimate $40. 900 900 additional revenue.
Anticipating considerable failing Off
OF imports Of Havana tobacco, because
Of the revolution in Cuba, we reduce the
estimates or additional revenue to be
derived from the tobacco schedule to S4,-
600 900.
The remaining schedules would afford
q revenue of about S39, 500 600 on the
basis of the imports OF 1896, but as there
would probably be diminished exports at
some points, although the gradual restora-
ton of business activity would offset this
hy increasing the consumption OF imported
luxuries. we reduce the estimates on these
to S31 900 600. These would aggregate
an additional revenue OF $50, 900 600, the
first year. A further reduction OF So,-
0Oo, 600 or $4,000, 900 for contingencies,
would leave S70, 900 900 TO S75,0OO,OOO
as the probable increased revenue from
this bill, the first year, which would I'M
douhtedly rise TO 500, 900 900, the second
year.
These estimates are below rather than
above the probable result, unless con
siderable delay in the enactment OF the blll
should greatly enlarge the opportunity for
imports Of articles on which duties are 10
be raised-partiCularly woods and woolens
for speculative purposes. Undoubtedlyany
delay beyond the st OF May in placing
the bill on the statute book would result
in large loss OF revenue. This increased or
rc-enue i : secured by transferring wool,
lumber, crude opium, argol, paintings ana
statuary, straw ornaments. straw matungs,
burlaps and various other articles from the
free list of the present law to the dutlable
list; 10y increasing the duty on woolens
to compensate the manufacturer for the
duty placed on wool; by raising tile duty
on sugar about tlree-fourths OF cent per
pound in order to encourage the production
Of sugar in this country, which, It is be
lieved. can be done, and thus give our farm
ers new crop, which we now import main
" from abroad; by increasing the duty on
agricultural products affected lay Canadian
competitiOn, and on fine cotton goods,
some advanced manufactures of iron and
steel. manufactures of jute, flax and hemp,
in order to encourage these Industries and
other industries here, and especially by In
creasinc duties on such luxuries as liquors,
tobacco, silks. laces, etc.
"As rule the rates Of duties proposed
are between the rates of the tariff Of
1890 and the tariff OF 1894, such reduc-
ton of rates from the former law, presery-
ing the protective principle, being made
fasible by changed conditions.
1.-The iron and steel schedule is changed
very little from that schedule III the tariff
1904 cbauOp bpiufr entirely in the
more advanced articles. The same is true
of the cotton schedule. In the agricul-
tural wool and glass, and earthenware
schedules alone are the duties of the act
of 1890 fully restored as a rule, and in a
few cases increased, with the view OF
amply protecting and Encouraging ourfarm-
ing interests ateyery possible point. "hiie
the duty on clothing wool is larger in pro-
portion to the foreign value than on manu-
factured articles, yet it is thought de-
sirable for the public interest and FOR our
agriculture that we should produce this
prime necessity for ourselves.
The duty ON carpet WOODS. as well US
upon many other articles, isimposed mainly
for revenue. The irritation caused by the
use OF a FEW woods heretofore classed as
carpet woels, being used for clothing pur-
poses, has been renedied by transferring
such woods to the clothing wool classes,
but the duty on clothing woods has been
restored to the rate of the act OF $50
IN framing this new tariff the aim has
been to make the duties specific, or at
least partly specific, so far as possible, TO
protect the revenue and also to protect
our own industries. This has been done
in response to the wishes of the better
class of importers, as well as of the adj
ministrators of the law aud of our own
producers The very general substitution
of specific duties, even where they are
only the equivalent of existing ad valorefns,
will, of itself. increase the revenue and
strengthen the protection afforded TO our
industries.
The reciprocity provision of the act
OF 500 have not only been fully restored.
but this policy has been extended by
adding to sugar, tea, coffee, and hides
as articles on which to make reciprocal
agreements, such articles as champagne,
brandy, wines, artificial and natural min
eral waters, chicle, argols, and silk laces
In adding these articles the reciprocity
provision is strengthened greatly by pro-
yiding for q reduction of duties on them
to countries giving us similar concessions
The bill, as whole, has the unanimous
support of the Republican members of the
Ways and Means Committee, and will, it
is hoped, receive the support, not only
Of Republicans, but of others who believe
that revenue should be at least equal
to expenditures, with a small surplus added,
and who are patriotic enough to enter
tain the conviction that in adjusting duties
TO secure such revenue, 1t is wise policy