The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-03-16

h-WO Ool, HlanuIaclufeS OL... ZtUUVuuV L-Silks .............. ........ 1,5Oo00O L-Pulp and paper........... 5S000 N-Sundries ......... ,........ 6,200.000
 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 wooden goods more than twice as great in pounds as in 1893, the committee as sume that their excessive importation would be largely reduced by the pro posed bill, although the fact that our domestic production of wool has diinin- ished eight million pounds since 1893 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 1896, on account of an- ticipatory imports to avoid duties we place the increased revenue from this source at $11,000,000.
 Anticipating also that the imports of woolers will fall off nearly 50 per cent. from the enormous imports of 1896, we estimate the increased revenue from this source. under the proposed rates, at about $14,000, GOO. From sugar we estimate $20,000000 additional revenue. Anticipating a considerable falling off of imports of Havana tobacco, because of the revolution in Cuba, we reduce the estimates of additional revenue to be derived from the tobacco schedule to $4,000, 000 The remaining schedules would afford q revenue of about $39, 800 GOO on the basis of imports of 1896, but as there would probably be dimin- ished imports at some points, although the gradual restoration of business ac- tivity may offset this by increasing the consumption of imported luxuries we reduce the estimates on these to $31,- 0CO, 00O These would aggregate an ad- ditional revenue of $S,00000O the first year A further reduction of five to ten millions for contingencies would leave $7O, 00O 900 to $75,000000 as the probable increased revenue from this bill the first year. which would undoubtedly rise to $l00,000000 the second year.
 These estimates are below rather than above the probable result, unless a considerable delay in the enactment of the bill should greatly enlarge the opportunity for imports of articles on which duties are to be raised--particu- larly wool and Woolens-for speculative purposes. Undoubtedly any delay be- yond the first of May in placing the bill on the statute book would result in large loss of revenue. This increase of revenue is secured by transf rring wool, lumber crude opium, argols, paintings and statuary, straw ornaments, straw mattings, burlaps and various other ar ticles from the free list of the present law to the dutiable list; by increasing the duty on Woolens to compensate the manufacturer for the duty placed on wools; by raising the duty on sugar about three-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 farmers a new crop which we now i'm port mainly from abroad; by increasing the duty on agricultural products af- fected by Canadian competition and on fire cotton goods, some advanced man. ufactures of iron and steel, manufact- ures of jute, flax and hemp, in order to encourage these and other industries here. and especially by increasing du- ties on such luXuries as liquors, tobac- co, silks and faces, etc.
 As rule the rates of duties proposed are between the rates of the tariff of 1890 and the tariff of 1894, such reduc- tion of rates from the former law, preserving the protective principle be- ing made feasible by changed condi- tions.
 The iron and steel schedule is chang cd very little from that schedule in the tariff Of 1S9t, the change being entirely in the more advanced articles. The same is true of the cotton schedule. In the agricultural. 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 our farming interests at every proper point
 While the duty on clothing wool is