The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-07-02

II. & i = = = j.
tect American. young women from for
esgn fortune hunters may have to be
enacted.
HOW THE PNOTECTIONISr PRO
POSE TO RAISE REVENUE.
Throughout the Presidential campaign
The Republicans sought to impress the
people with the belief that, IL they were
again entrusted to power, no extreme
tariff legislation would follow. At the
time the Democratic press. with a slight
exception, resisted such Il proposition
and warned the country what it might
expect If the Republican party was per
mitted to get control Of the Govern
ment and how well these predictions
have been verified, at least in their re-
latfons to the tariff, need not be re-
hearsed here. Senator Aldrich, one of
the principal protectionists in the ccun-
try. in a speech on the question in the
Senate on May 25th last, had this to say:
TT was. believe, thoroughly I'M
derstood throughout the country in
the last political campaign that, If
the Republican party should be
again entrusted with power, no ex-
IRENE tariff legislation would fol-
low. It was believed that in the
changed conditions Of the country a
return to the duties imposed by the
Act Of 1890 would not he necessary
even from a protective standpoint
Nothing could be more conducive
to the return and maintenance Of
roal prosperity in this country than
the Well-grounded belief that there
were to be no violent changes in
our revenue policy for some years to
come"
despite all this, what do they now
propose. in order to raise revenue, not
for the expenses Of the Government,
but for the enrichment OF the clan ?
It is not necessary to go through the
catalogue Of rates, the following from
the minority report of the Senate FL
nance Committee In the Dingley tariff
bill is deemed sufficient:
I'D. There are 202 classes of arti-
cles on which the proposed duty
amounts to between SO and Is per
cent ad valorem-
"(2) There are 81 classes OF articles
ON which the proposed duty amounts
TO between rs and 100 per cent. ad
valorem.
Among these articles are plate
glass. wooden cloth valued over so
cents per pound, dress goods, knit
wearing apparel. leaf tobacco sugar,
carpets, silks, velvets.
"(3). There are 90 classes Of ar
ticles In the Dingley bill as amended
by the Senate bill reported to the
Senate. May 4, 1897, on which the
proposed duty amounts to over 100
per cent. ad valoreIn.
Among these articles are common
window glass. lot to 100 per cent;
pocket knives, Ill per cent: tobacco,
1O5 to 23S per cent; rice, 100 per cent;
salt In bulk. ia per cent; wooden
cloth. valued not over 80 cents per
pound, 1923 per cent; blankets, 125
per cent; flnnnels. 102 to 119 per
cent: shawls, I'll per cent; wooden
hats, 1T to 203 per cent, and felts,
10t to 224 per cent"
This they do not consider extreme
tariff legislation, but ny what other
names it can be called Is hard to say
Besides the foregoing. the absurdlty of
pose Of providing revenue" is shown
by the fact that the duty collected dur
ing. the fiscal year 1896 on each Of 80
Glasses OF articles taxed under the pro-
posed bills was less than 5000, or, on the
average, $G3.S8.
One might suppose that. after such q
practical demonstration Of the useless
ness Of these provisions for any pur-
pose of raising revenue. the rates upon
these articles would be lowered if any
pretence is to be kept up that the pur-
pose of levyng q tariff is primarily. at
least. to supply the Government with
the means to pay It's expenses. But 1t is
shown that very few of the changes
made in these items by the trainers Of
the new bill are in the direction OF lower
duties In most cases the old rates are
retained or higher ones substituted AS
this course is hardly likely to result IN
an increase Of importations or of reve-
nue., the inevitable conclusion is that
the motive of the makers OF these sche-
dulles was not to benefit the Govern
nent. but TO enrich individuals at the
expense OF the public.
Whatever may be the final shape in
which the pending bill becomes law,
the inconsistencies and absurdities Of the
Dingley bill will always remain monu-
ment to the selfishness and insincerity
OF the protectionist interests.
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