The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-04-07
PROTECTION AND REVENUE.
Important and Valuable Features Of
the DingIey Tariff Bill.

the DingIey Tariff Bill.
The startling deficiency of revenue
under the Cleveland administration is
well known to the people, but is no
less serious because il has become IA
miliar. A steady and continuous de-
fciency in revenue for four years of
peace, amounting in the aggregate to
more than .$203,0O0,000, cannot be
viewed with equanimity. To meet this
deficiency money has been borrowed,
and the people are paying interest.
Bonds amounting to more than $262,-
100000 have been sold, but of the pro-
ceeds 5000, 900 have gone TO sup
ply an insufliciency of revenue.
Under the first year of the Mckin-
ley law the customs revenue was $l75,-
100000, and under the second year $685.
100000. The customs revenue for the
fiscal year that will close June 30 has
been estimated at $40, 100000. The an
nual revenue from duties on imports
has declined more than 500, 100000 since
1898.
1t is not surprising that the presi-
dent convolIed congress to revise the
tariff to secure an increase OF revenue.
This revision, to use the language of
the committee, will also "better pro-
tect the many industries which have so
seriously suffered the past three years
from unequal foreign competition, and
from the consequent loss of purchasing
power of the masses of the people, upon
which the demand for products and the
prosperity of every citizen depend"
Important reservations to the dutia-
ole list from the free list are wool and
lumber. The committee says:
"By placing wool on the free list and re-
ducng the duties on manufactures of wool
the treasury lost s21 100000 OF revenue, our
farmers lost a market for $1,000 900 pounds
of wool which they raised In 1892 in eX
cess of what they raised in 1867, as we'll
as nearly ten cents per pound in price, in
volving a loss to them of nearly $50 000, 600
per annum already on this one product.
and our manufacturers and their working
men lost market not only for the goods,
which Increased foreign imports had sup
planted, but also a market for goods
which the farmers and masses of people
were able to purchase in 1888 but which
they could not buy in 1896, because of a
loss Of employment and purchasing
power"
Flocks of sheep have diminished more
than one-fourth since 1892. The wool
manufacturing industry has been
greatly crippled by the existing tariff.
The sugar duty has been increased.
This is both for revenue and protec-
ton. The sugar crop has become i'm
portaDt among the productions of this
country. Besides the cane sugar raised.
beet sugar is produced in % states o.
the union.
An important and valuable feature Of
the bill is the substitution of specific
for adj valorem duties. The latter are
not only uncertain, but realise tempta-
tions to fraud.
The committee congratulates the
country on the provisions for reestab-
fishing and charging reciprocal rela-
tons with other countries. This is in
line with the policy of the republican
party rs ably advocated by Blaine and
illustrated by Harrison.
On the basis of the imports of the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1896, the new
tariff bill if enacted will bring an an
nual revenue of $260, 000, 900, an increase
of 1000. 900 over the Wilson law. The
largest items of increase are on sugar,
wool and manufactures of wool.
Prompt passage of the bill is desira-
BILE. Every weeks delay will mean
loss of from 81 100000 to S2,OOO,OOO in
revenue, as anticipatory importation
will be large.
The Dingley tariff bill carries out the
policy Of the republican party, as eX-
pressed in the party platform and APP
proved by the nation. ard throws out
the policy of "perfidy and dishonor,"
with its results of deficient revenues
and financial disgrace.--Troy Times.