The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-16
The Author Tells What He
Expects to Do
Will Increase the Revenues
$SO,OOO.OOO First Year,
$1OO,OOO,OOO THE NEXT
Looks to Sugar and Wool for
the Bulk of 1t.
Reciprocity List is Extended to
Include Liquors.

Washington, March 16.-Chairman
Dingley of the ways and means COM
mittee in response to a request that he
furnish a synopsis of the new tariff bill
presented by him yesterday. makes the
following statement:
THE bill has two purposes. namely,
to raise additional revenue and to en-
courage the industries of the United
States.
ION the basis of importations for the
last fiscal year, the bill would increase
the revenue about SIP ZOO, 600, divided
among the several schedules roughly
as follows:
'A-Chemica1s, SO, SOC, 900.
"B-CrOckery and glassware, 81, 000,-
geo.
"C.-Metals 81 600 OOO
"D-Wood, 81, 75O, 600
"E-Sugar, $21, 75O, 900.
"F-TobaccO, $1,000, 000
"G-Agricultural, Sc 300, 900.
"H-LiQuorS, 81, 500, 600.
"I-Cottons, 81, 700, 900.
J-Jute, linen and hemp, 81, 800, 600.
"K-Wool, SIT, 500, 600
observation-disclosures of wool, $1,000, 000
'L-Silks, 81, 500, 600.
"M-Pulp and paper, $5s, 900.
"N-SundrieS, So 200, 900.
This estimate is on the supposition
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 woolens
more than twice as great in pounds as
in 1898, the committee assumes that the
excessive importation would be largely
reduced by the proposed bill, although
the fact that our domestic production
of wool has diminished eight million
pounds since 1898 will necessitate the
importation of much more wool now
than in the latter year.
Assuming that the importations of
wool will fall off at least One-third from
those of 1885, on account of anticipa-
xrr.f<1 1r1Nf
the increased revenue from this source
at $11, 600, 900. Anticipating also that
the imports of wOolenS will fall off
nearly so per cent from the enormous
imports of 1896, estimate the in
creased revenue from this source, I'M
der the proposed rates, at about $14,-
0O0,0 From sugar we estimate $780,
600, 900 additional revenues. Anticipat-
ing considerable falling off of imports
of Havana tobacco because of the war
in Cuba, we reduce the estimates of ad-
ditiOnal revenue to be derived from the
tobacco schedule to 81, 900 600. The re-
manning schedules would afford a rev.
enue of about 39k millions on the basis
of imports of 1896, but there would
probably be diminished imports at some
points, although the gradual restoration
Of business activity would offset this
by increasing the consumption of i'm
ported luxurieS. we reduce the estimate
these to $31OOO,0 900. These would
aggregate an additional revenue of $780,
600, 900 the first year.
"A further reduction of five or ten
millions for contingencies would leave
$40, 00o 600 to SIS, 000,O 600 as the probable
increased revenue from this bill the
first year, which would undoubtedly be
500, 100 the second year.
These estimates are below rather
enactment. Undoubtedly any delay
beyond the 1st of May in placing the
bill on the statute books will result in
a large loss of revenue.
hi ITanr Of &c II
by the transferring of wool, lumber,
crude opium, argols, paintings, statu-
airy, straw ornaments, straw mattingS,
burlaps and various other articles from
the free list of the present law to the
dutiable list; by increasing the duty on
woolens to compensate the manufac-
turer for the duty placed on wool; by
raising the duty on sugar about three
fourths of a cent per pound in order
to encourage the production of sugar
in this country, which, it is believed,
can be done, and thus give our farm
erS a new crop which we now import
mainly from abroad; by increasing the
duty on agricultural products affected
by Canadian competition, and in fine
cotton goods. some advanced manufac-
lures of iron and steel, manufactures
of jute, flax and hemp, in order to en-
courage these and other industries here,
and especially by increasing duties on
such luxurieS as liquors, tobacco, silks,
laces, etc
LAS a rule, the rates of duties pro-
posed are between the rates of the tariff
of 1890 and the tariff of 1891, in such
reduction of rates from the former law
preservation of the protective principle
being made feasible by changes in
conditions.
The iron and steel schedule is
changed very little from the SCHEDULE
in the tariff of 1894, the change being
entirely in the more advanced articles.
The same is true of the cotton schedule.
In the agricultural WOOL glass and
han no cob al DIR
of 1890 fully restored as a rule. and in a
few cases increased. with the view of
amply protecting and encouraging our
farming interests by every possible
is larger in proportion to the foreign
value than of manufactured articles.
yet it is thought desirable for the pub
lie and agricultural interests that we
should produce this prime necessity for
ourselves. The duty on carpet woods,
as we'll as upon many other articles,
is imposed mainly for revenue. The
irritation caused by a few woods here
tofore classed as carpet woods being
used for clothing purposes has been
remedied by transferring such woods to
the clothing wool classes, but the duty
on clothing wool has been restored to
the rate of the act of 1890.
In framing this new tariff the aim
has been to make the duties specific, or
at least partly specific, as far as posi-
BILE, 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 we'll
as of the administrators of the law and
of our own producers. The very general
substitution of specific duties even
where they are only the equivalent of
existing advalorems will of itself in
crease the revenue and strengthen the
protection afforded to our industries.
THE reciprocity provisions of the act
| of 1880 have not only been fully re-
| stored, but this policy has been extend
ed by adding to sugar. coffee and hides
as articles which to make reciprocal
agreements, such articles champagne,
| brandy wines artificial and mineral