Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-05-06
THE NEW TARIFF BILL.

The tariff bill as presented to the SEN
ate day before yesterday, bears little
semblance to the measure which left the
house of representatives. a short time
since. Even the time at which the meas
ure is to 70 into effect has been changed
from May 1, the date set by the lower
house, to July 1. Ia the many changes,
perhaps the retroactive clause, is to be
the most lamented. There is not the
slightest doubt of the constitutionality of
this provision, the exclusion of which
from the bill, will be detrimental to the
people.
Still the bill contains many good pro-
visions. The increase in the beer tax
will yield the government an enormous
additional revenue. The duty on tea is
fixed at 10 cents pound until January
l, 1900 after which date this article will
be admitted free of duty. Hides of cattle,
raw and uncured, whether dry, sailed or
picked, are made dutiable at one and a
half cents per pound. All kinds of coal
is made dutiable at rs cents per ton, with
proviso that the duty shall be go cents
per ton from any country that does not
impose higher rate of duty.
The beer rate has been increased from
81 barrel to $3.50, the same to remain
in effect until January l, 1900, after
which date, the 81 rate will be in force.
The entire house provision relating to
reciprocity was stricken from the bill, g
substitute for the same being made in q
provision to the effect that whenever the
country shall pay bounty upon the i'm.
portation of any article of merchandise
dutlable under the bill in question, then
upon the importation of such articles to
the United States, there shall be levied
an additional duty equal to the net
amount of such bounty. The house made
a provision for keeping IN force thu
Hawaiian reciprocity treaty. This also
was stricken out of the bill by the senate
and the effect will be to impose the same
duty on Hawaiian sugar, as is in vogue
with other countries.
The duty on lead ore Is increased from
l cent to l e cents per pound.
Substantial reductions were made or
the wooden schedule. Woods of the first
class we're reduced from II cents pound
to cents, while second class woods nov
paying ~ cents, will under the new bill
pay only 8 cents. The duty on woods o
the third class was raised. While the WOO
growers failed to secure all the changes
that they desired, it is understood that th'
rates es fixed are in the main satisfector,
to this industry or rather to a majorit,
of it's conservative and fair minded ex
ponents.
While it is believed that the bill as it lef
the house some days since, would have beer
more acceptable to the varied interest
of the country, to which 1t caters, than il
It's present form, still the measure will
probably be found generally acceptable
to the protection interests of the country
and it will go long way toward solv
ing the vexed question of securing AIDE
quate revenues for operating the ma
chinery of government. Its enforcement
will not bring prosperity to the couptr
in week or month, but it will prove
potent power in the improvement of ex
listing conditions, and the bringing abou
of better feeling in all those interest
whose harmonious working and blending
go to make for general prosperity.