The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-06-02
THE TARIFF BILL.
Debate Of the Measure Is Com
menced in the Senate
senator AIdrich. of Rhode Island. fcx-
plains the Features of the Bill
Senator Vest. Of Missouri,
Replies.

mr.. President. the business OF the en-
tire country is In n state OF suspension
| awaiting the action OF the senate upon
| the bill under consideration. believe
| that the anxiety to secure action upon thi0
| important measure at the earliest possible
day is shared by every member OF the sem
ate. II Is my purpose TO keep the bill con-
tinuously before the senate. to the exclu-
sion OF all other legislative business, until
It is finally disposed OF, and I'm this ] shall
expect the hearty cooperation OF senator's
on both sides of the chamber. In the dis
cussion OF the bill the members OF the
majority committee will content them
selves with such brief explanations as
! may be found necessary OF the various
paragraphs as they are reached"
Proceeding to give the views OF the re-
publican majority OF the committee which
framed the BILL the senator said:
1.-The rates suggested by the committees
amendments 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
members reaffirm and emphasize their po-
stion as friends OF the protective policy.
Industrial conditions in this country. with
very few exceptions. do not demand re-
turn TO the rates imposed by the act or
1890. Without relinquishng one particle
of our devotion to the cause OF protec-
tion, we feel that we have a right TO ask
that the cause shall not be burdened by
the imposition OF duties which are UNI
necessary anu eACeSSlVe-
House Estimates Erroneous.
'The trainers of the house bill estimate
n total revenue from the bill OF $500 1885,
10 in normal years. This would be the
largest revenue received from customs du-
ties and an increase of S113.<79.793 over
the customs revenue or 1896 and or $40. 732, =
254 over that of 1893.
After giving In detail the house eFtima ties
Of revenue Senator Aldrch proceeded:
ut will be apparent from critical ex-
animation OF the provisions OF the house
bill that the estimate Of $4,000. 900 increase
OF revenue. II the bill should become a
law by the LIST OF July was excessive. To
indicate the grounds upon which this judg-
ment is based we may take the wool and
wooden schedule. from which 2i.OOO,OOO out
OF sc. 000. 900 increase is expected. The fact
IS we'll known that there have been I'M
usual importations OF wool In anticipation
Of the reimposition of a duty-enough, ac-
cording TO the trade reports. to supply all
the foreign wool needed by the domestic
manufacturers for more than a year. The
estimate of s14. 900 900 increase from wooden
goods is equally erroneous.
1.-The same condition exists In lesser de-
gree perhaps, with reference to other
schedules. Instead of an increased rev.
enue from tobacco. we may more safely
count upon a decrease in the first year;
the increase from sugar Will be much less
than the ways and means committees esti-
mate. owing to the fact that one quarter OF
the years supplies of raw sugar will prob
ably be imported before any new rates OF
duty can be applied TO them.
1.-THE secretary OF the treasury estimates
the expenditures for all purposes for the
fiscal year ending June 80. 1898. at $466. 1885,
O472S The finance committee estimates the
revenue TO be derived in the same fiscal
year from customs, II the provisions Of
this bill should be enacted into law. at
1892 IA. 600 This includes estimated
revenue from the temporary duty on tea
Of IS, O00, 600 The committee estimates the
receipts from internal revenue for the same
period at Sl70.700000. If we add to this
the treasury estimate for miscellaneous
receipts. $40. 600, 900. and the receipts on ac-
count OF the post office, 500. 227. 076, we have
a total estimated receipts for the fiscal
year 1898 of 1863. 67l. 076. or an estimated ex
cess OF receipts over expenditures for that
year of s2725.02S If the estimated revenue
from the duty on tea and the additional
internal revenue taxes should be omitted
from the committees estimates Of receipts,
there would be an estimated deficiency of
SO. 49, 600. instead OF a surplus Of s2.725.02S.
Must Prevent Deficiency.
''The committee believes II to be the
imperative duty OF congress TO provide
in the measure under consideration for
revenue which will certainly meet the re-
quirements of the government for the
next fiscal year. The adoption OF a revenue
bill which should fail in this purpose, and
which should create an additional de-
fciency In the immediate future, and which
would require further issue OF bonds TO
meet current expenditures. would certain
~ be fatal to the hopes OF future success
of any political party responsible for such
legislation.
assuming that the necessity for addi-
tional revenue exists. and OF this we believe
there can be no question, there is no eco
nomic reason. and certainly none that az
fects the public interests. why beer and
tobacco should not bear their share of al
holt nNVA
that the duty proposed on tea will not
prove a serious burden upon the consum-
ers OF that article"
The Hawaiian Treaty.
The senator then took up the Hawaiian
treaty and said: THE committee VIII also
prepare and present an amendment TO the
house provisions in regard to the Hawaiian
treaty The existing commercial treaty be-
tween the United States and the govern
ment OF these islands provides for the
free admission Of raw sugars. the product
Of the islands. into the United States IL
/ this treaty should remain In force II would
result in giving bounty TO the Hawaiian
sugar producers amounting to more than
IS. 900 per annum. 1t was not contem-
plated when the original treaty was made
or when II was extended. that any possible
advantage OF this kind could ever result
from Its terms to the people Of the Sand
witch islands The effect OF this bounty
would undoubtedly be to stimulate the
W
islands. While we cannot fairly abro-
gate a treaty OF this kind with friendly
country without notice. we believe that ne
gotiations should at once be entered into
looking to such a modification of the treaty
as will reduce the bounty to be paid Ha-
waiian sugar producers to a reasonable
gum. and the committee will present an
amendment looking In this direction at
an early day. There should be no difficulty
In securing through the treaty-making
power such notifications OF the treaty as
will be satisfactory TO both countries with
out injury to either. II certainly cannot
be expected that the United States will
continue for any length Of time to pay a
bonus OF 100000 or $4,000, 900 per annum
90 an inducement to any foreign country
"a trade with US. i assume there will be
no difficulty in securing proper modifica-
tons OF the treaty so that It will not be
necessary for the government OF the United
States TO give the one years notice of its
abrogation. as provided for by its terms
senator Aldrich Concludes.
In conclusion Senator Aldrich said THE
Industrial system OF the United States is
growing more and more complex every
year IL Is becoming more difficult every
year 20 satisfy, In tariff revision. con-
ficting claims of sections. or TO so ad-
Just rates as TO do no injustice TO any
OF the varied Interests OF this great coun-
try. The revision OF paragraphs and rates