New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-16

ceives the Tariff bill proposed by MIR. Dingley,
which Is now published The veteran VINO VIII
fill the position Of leader in the House. wh'ch
Major Mckinley filled In 1890. explains It's pro
visions and purposes with his usual ciearicss anu
brevIty. In the first year of It's operation 1t VIII
Weld from S70.OOO,OOO to S75OOOOOo additional
revenue. he estimates. which Will not only slfle
the deficit but provide for at least beginning
of debt reduction. instead of debt creation. This
estimate. as respects the first year. necessarily
depends IN some measure upon the promptness
with which Congress acts. If months are wasted
in talk. or in coquetting with men who represent
yreot monopolies, or in struggles for individual
rather than National benefit every one knows
that those months will be used to anticipate
duties by quick and large imports, and thus to de-
prive the Government of part OF the revenue
which the measure Itself, If promptly passed.
would secure.
The measure shows that the spirit OF conserv-
atism and moderation has prevailed wherever
there was not found clear reason for going be-
yond the duties now in force. Thus in the two
schedules affecting the two great iron and cotton
industries, Mr. Dingley states that the present
duties are very little changed, and only in the
more advanced products The rapid comparison
as yet possible shows that in many para
graphs the present duties on chemicals are not
advanced On the other hand. in the glass and
earthenware schedule duties are advanced. per-
haps no more than Democratic Senators them
selves in 1894 promised to advance Them when
convinced of their fatal error. In these, and the
agricultural and wool schedules alone, Mr.. Ding
A. l,,t;o cNPf ha Of Of
"restored. as a rule. and in few cases increased
with the view Of amply protecting and encour
"aging our farming interests at every possible
point" The transfer Of important kinds OF for
eign wool from the carpet to the clothing sched-
ulc, because they have come TO be used in place
of clothing WOOL should remove one material oD-
lection which wool-growers have raised, and IN
other provisions also the proposed tariff VIII give
them better protection than was secured ny 'hat
of 1890, under which they were able greatly 10
increase their annual yield and the number OF
their flocks.
The most important feature Of the new meas
ure is its general substitution Of specific instead
of Handwriting ad valorem duties. No other
change could be Of greater importance to the
revenue and as Chairman Dingley states, 1t IS
also change which has been most urgently de-
sired by the better class Of importers. SO many
of them have been nearly driven out or thelr
own business by the frauds which they were not
ready to perpetrate. but which the ACT OF 1911
made 1t the chief business of horde or socalled
importers to cOntrive. that the change Will De 10
them a blessing far Outweighing any disadvan-
tage resulting from mere increase of duties. 10
the Treasury this change alone probably means
more than the average annual deficit OF fifty mill
ions. To the American producers it means all
the difference between genuine protection ana
wholesale prostraton Of manufactures by false
oaths and unrestricted imports.
Chairman Dlngley shows that a large increase
Of revenues is sought by transferring lumber
opium, argols, art works. straw goods, buriaps
and some other articles from the free TO the dut-
able list, by increasing duties on farm products
now affected by Canadian competition. and on
such Injuries as liquors. tobacco silks and laces,
and especially by increasing the duty on raw
sugar in the belief that its production in this
country can now be successfully encouraged. He
EXPLAINS with care the conflicting Influences
which will tend TO affect the estimates. but con-
cludes that a net increase OF S70,0OO,000 or more
would be realized if the bill should be passed
len schedule should increase the revenue $4,000
600 even with decrease Of half in the enormous
imports of 1896, and the added duty on sugar
500 600 900. The agricultural schedule is expect
ed 10 weld S6.3OO,O00 more revenue, the linen
and lutte S7,SOOOOO, and each Of the metals, TO-
bacco and earthen and glass schedules S4,Oooooo
more. while from 81 100000 to 100000 each Is
expected from the liquors. lumber cotton and
silk schedules More minute examination than is
yet possible may disclose reason for doubt as to
details but the proved ability and the experience
of the Republican members of the committee en-
title their unanimous judgment TO much CON
fdence.
The first half day Of the new era has indeed
yielded good results. Such message as that OF
President Mckinley. and such Tariff bill as mas
been offered to meet its recommendations, Will or
themselves do much 10 strengthen pubic conn
/ dence 10 give industries life and hope, ana 10
bring nearer the restoration of prosperity.