The new North-west., 1897-03-19
THE NEW TARIFF BILL
CHAIRMAN DINGLEY SAYS TT WILL
INCREASE THE REVENUE.
Wool and Lumber Are Transferred
From the Free List Back to
the DUtfabIe List.

Washington, March 15.-Chairman Ding
ley of the ways and means committee, Il
response to d request that he furnish
synopsis of the new tariff bill presented
by him today made the following state
ment:
THE bill has two purposes, namely, Il
raise additional revenue and to encour
age the industries of the United States
On the basis of importations for the las
fiscal year, the bill would increase the
revenues about $112, 900, divided among
the several schedules roughly as follows
Chemicals So, 500 000; crockery and glass
ware, $i,00o,o00; metals, $l,00O,000; wood
$1,T50000 sugar $Y, ,750, 0G0; tobacco, $1,000,
600; AGRICULTURAL $6,300,000; liquors, 81,
S00000 cotton $1,7O0,0O0; jute, linen anG
hemp, $7,S00,000; woods, $17,50oo00; manu-
factures of woods, $27, ,G00, 600; silks 81 000,-
900; pulp and paper, $5S, 900; sundries, $5,-
1000 900.
Basis Of the Estimates.
This estimate is on the suppostion
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 imports of wool were three times
as great, and those of wool manufac-
lures more than twice as great in
pounds as in 1888 the committee assume
that the excessive Importation would be
largely reduced by the proposed bill, al
though the fact that our domestic pro-
duction of wool has diminished 10000
pounds since 1888, will necessitate the inn
portatiOn 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 anticipatory imports to avoid duties,
we place the increased revenue from this
source at S11,000000. Anticipating also
that the imports of woolens will fall off
nearly so per cent from the enormous
imports of 1886, we estimate the increased
revenue from this source under the pro-
posed rates at about $l4 600. From
sugar we estimate $20,000000 additional
revenues. Anticipating a considerable
falling off in imports of Havana tobacco,
because of the revolution in Cuba, we
reduce the estimates of additional rev.
enue to be derived from the tobacco
schedule to $4060,000. The remaining
schedules would afford a revenue Of
about thrty-nine and half millions on
the basis of imports of 1886, but as there
would be probably diminished imports at
some points, although a gradual restora
tion of business activity would offset this
by increasing the consumption of i'm
ported luNuries, we reduce the estimates
on these to $31O00,000. These would ag
gregate an additional revenue of SS0000,
900 the first year.
lions for contingencies would leave $7O,-
100000 to S75,OCO000 as the probable in
creased revenue from this bill the first
year, which would undoubtedly rise to
$100,00G, 900 the second year.
I'm these estimates we are below rather
than above the probable result, unless a
considerable delay in the enactment of the
bill should greatly enlarge the importa-
tion of articles on which duties are to be
raised, particularly wool and Woolens, for
speculative purposes. Undoubtedly any
delay beyond the 1st OF May in placing the
bill on the statute book would result in
large loss of revenue. ..m
How Secured.
This increase of revenue is secured by
the transferring of WOOL lumber, crude
opium, paintings, statuary, straw orna-
ments, straw mattings, burlaps and yari-
Gus other articles from the free list of the
present law to the dutiable list, by in
creasins the duty on woolens to compen
safe the manufacturer 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 farmers a
new crop, which we now import mainly
from abroad, by increasing the duty on
agricultural products affected by Cana
dian competition, and on some fine cotton
goods some advanced manufactures of
iron and Steel manufactures of jute, flax
and hemp, in order to encourage these and
other industries here: and especially by
increasing the duties on such luXuries as
liquors, tobacco silks, laces, etc. AS a
rule, the rates of duties proposed are be-
tween the rates of the tariff of 1896 and
the tariff of 1894 in such reduction CT
rates from t3fa former law the preserva-
tion of the protective principle being made
feasible by changed conditions.
1.-THE iron and steel schedule is changed
very little from the schedule in the tariff
of 1894, the changing being entirely of
more advanced articles. The same is true
of the cotton schedule. In the agricult-
ural, wool, glass and earthenware sched-
ules alone are the duties of the act of 1890
fully restored rule, and in few eases
increased with q view of amply protect
ing and encouraging our farming inter
ests by every possible point. While the
duty on clothing wool is larger in propor-
ton to foreign value than on manufact-
ured articles, it is thought desirable for
the public interest and for agriculture
that we should produce this prime neces-
sty for ourselves. The duty on carpet
woods, we'll as upon many other art1-
cles, is imposed mainly for revenue THE
irritation caused by a few woods hereto
fore classed as carpet woods being Used
for clothing has been renleded by trans
class, but the duty on clothing wool has
been restored to the rate of the act of 1890
Specific Duties.
I'm framing this new tariff, an effort is
made to pe specific, or at least partly sne-
citic, as far possible, to protect the
revenue and also to protect our own in
dustrieS. This has been done in response
to the wishes of the better classes of inn
porters as well as of the administrators
of the law and of our own producers. The
very general substitution of specific
schedules, where they are only equivalent
to the existing ad valorems, will Increase
the revenue and strengthen and protect
our industries.
1.-The reciprocity provisions of the act CT
1890 have not only been fully restored, but
this policy has been extended by adding
sugar, tea, coffee and hides as articles on
which to make reciprocal agreements on
such articles as champagne, brandy,
wines, artificial and natural mineral wa
ters, chicke, afgots and silk laces. In ad-
dition 10 these articles, the reciprocity
provision is strengthened by providing for
reduction of duties to countries giving US
similar concessions.
'.The bill, as a whole, has the unani
nous support of the republican members
of the ways and means committee, and 1t
will receive the support of republicans as
we'll as others who believe that the reVe-
nue. should be at least equal to the eS-
penditures, with Il small surplus added,
and we entertain a conviction that IN de-
riving such revenue it is a wise policy to
encourage home production and manu-
factures, and provide employment at sood
wages for the Wage-earner, whose pur-