The citizen., 1897-03-26


The bill has two purposes, namely, to
raise additional revenue and to encour-
age the industries of the United States.
On the basis of the importatons for
the last fiscal year the bill would in
crease,the revenues about SIP, 100000,
divided among the several schedules as
follows:
A-Chemicals, $3,50O,0OO.
B-Crockery and glassware, $4,OO0,-
600.
C-Metals, $4,OOO.OOO.
D-Wood, 81, 100000
E-Sugar, $5l, $50 600.
F-Tobacco, $7,000,000.
G Agricultural, S6. 100000
H-Liquors, $l,S00.000.
I-CotIons, 81 100000.
J-Jute, linens and hemp, $780, 900.
K-Wool, $l7, 500, 900; do. Manufac-
turers of wool, $27 100000.
L-Silks, $l,5O0,000.
M-Pulp aud paper, S5S, GOO.
N-Sundries, $6, 100000.
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 woolen
goods more than twice as great in
pounds as in 1898, the committee as
sumo that their excessive importation
would be largely reduced by the pro-
posed bill, although the fact that our
domestic production of wool has dimin-
ished 100000 pounds since 1893 will
necessitate the importation of much
more wool now than in the latter year.
Assuming that the InportatiOns of
wool will fall off one-third from those
of 1896, on account of the anticipatory
imports 10 avoid duties, We place the
increased revenue from this source at
$l1 100000.
Anticipating also that the imports of
wollens will fall off nearly 80 per cent.
from the enormous imports of 1896, we
estimate the increased revenue from
this source under the proposed rates at
about $l4,000,000. From sugar we estl-
mate $4,000, 600 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 81, 100000.
The remaining schedules would af-
ford revenue of about S39, SOC. 600 on
the kasis of the imports of 1896, but as
there would probably be diminished
imports at some points, although the
gradual restoration of business activity
would offset this by increasing the con-
sumption of imported luXuries, we re-
duce the estimates OH these TO $3l ,0O0,-
00O These would aggregate All addi-
tional revenue of $4,000, 900 the first
year.
A further reduction of five or ten
millions for contingencies would leave
$40, 100000 to SIS, 100000 as the prob
able increased revenue from this bill
the first year, which would undoubt-
edly rise to $l00,00O,00O the second
year.
Low ESTIMATES.
These estimates are below rather than
above the probable results, unless con
siderable delay in the enactment of the
bill should greatly enlarge the oppor-
tunity for imports of articles on which
duties are to be raised-particularly
wool and woolens-for speculative pur-
poses. Undoubtedly any delay beyond
the lst of May in placing the bill on
the statute books would result in "a
large loss of revenue.
This increase of revenue is secured
by transferring wool, lumber, crude
opium, argols, paintings aud statuary,
straw ornaments, straw mattlngs, bur-
laps, and various other articles from
the free list of the present law to the
dutiable list by increasing the duty or
WoOlens TO compensate the manufac-
turer for the duty placed on wool; 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 believed
can be done, and thus give our farm
ers new crop which we now import
mainly from abroad; by increasing the
duty ON agricultural products affected
by Canadian competition and Oh fine
cotton goods, some advanced manufac-
turers of iron and steel. manufactures
of jute, flax and hemp, in order to en-
| courage these and other industries
here, and especially by increasing du-
tees on such luxuries as liquors, tobac-
co, silks and laces, ETC.
posed are between the rates of the tar
iff of 1890 and the tariff of 1894, such
reduction of rates of the former law,
preservation of the protective principle
being made feasible by changed condi-
tions.
IRON AND STEEL.
The iron and steel schedule changed
very little from that 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 and glass and
earthenware schedules alone are the
duties of the act of 1890 fully restored
as rule, and in few cases increased,
with the view of amply protecting and
encouraging our farming interests at
every possible point While the duty
on clothing, wool is larger in proper
ton to the foreign value than on man.
ufactured articles, yet it is thought de-
sirable for the public interest and for
our agriculture that we should produce
this prime necessity for ourselves. The
duty on carpet woods, as well as upon
many other articles, is imposed mainly
for revenue. The irritation caused by
the use of few woods heretofore
classed as carpet woods, being used for
clothing purposes, has been remedied
by transferring such woods to the cloth
ing wool classes, but the duty on cloth
ing 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,
| OF Go