The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-07


purpose OF keeping out the Bermuda
product. but this Is a mistake. for the
importations from Bermuda are only
made during certain short season and
besides are relatively so small az not
TO interfere materially with the Ameri-
can product. $780, tl
There have been few changes In the
duties on fish. In fruits and nuts the
rates are mainly those of the Mckinney
law. though there have been some ad-
vances, and some fruits. such as
olives. that were free on the Mckin-
ley list. must now pay good, stlff
duties. This was a concession TO the
fruit growers of the Pacific coast who
have gone into the raising OF these
fruits since the enactment of the Nc
Kinley law. There have also been adj
vances on dried fruits In the miscel-
laneous division the transferring of salt
from the free list under the Wilson
German law 10 the Mckinley rate is a
purely protective provision.
SPIRITS. COTTONS. LINENS.
Both revenue and protection are pro-
vded for I'm schedule III (spirits. wines.
etc). which. IL Is hoped. will contribute
81 1886, 900 20 the total income. IL is
often forgotten with reference to duties
under this schedule that, in order 10 al
ford protection at all. the rates must be
considerably i'm excess of the internal
revenue taxes on similar goods of do
nestle production. When this is re-
membered the duty OF $2.25 gallon on
brandies. whiskies, etc, does not seem
excessive from the protectionist's stand
point. while the rate of Sl.S0 a gallon
imposed by the Wilson German bill
seemed too small
Although there have been some reduc-
tiuns i'm schedule | (cottons and manu-
features thereoD. IL may be fairly
termed a protective schedule. since the
advances are more numerous than the
reductions. For certain reasons COM
binatlon ad valorem and specific duties
have been placed on certain cotton
goods, and for the especial benefit
chiefly OF the growers of sea island cot
ton duty was placed on the raw prod
uct by the senate, but this provision
was killed in conference. In the last ten
years the importations of cotton in the
United States. the natural home of that
product, have increased enormously,
and this has borne heavily on the plant
ers of North and South Carolina. whose
long fibered cotton suffers direct compe-
tition from the product OF Egypt and
Peru II may be said in passing that
none OF the Democratic senators from
Louisiana. Georgia or the Carolinas
voted in favor of this duty. 1t is expect
ed that the proceeds OF this schedule
will amount to S9,330,000.
Schedule J. which includes flax. hemp
and iute raw and manufactured, has
heen arranged so as TO yield a revenue
.gAH n. .f
'-d substantial protection. II is ex-
.cted that the revenue Will be pro-
need chiefly by importations of the fin
he'd product, while the duties on the
aw are sufficiently high to make II
worth while for growers to experiment
in the raising OF long fiber fax. the sue
cessful cultivation of which in this
country is yet a matter Of some doubt
II Is because OF a desire 10 encourage
| the growing of this grade of fax that
/ the old Mckinley rate of s. ton on haN
/ straw has been restored. Under the
Wilson German tariff flax straw was
! free. and almost all the items were ac-
cording to the ad valorem plan. Now
they are specific. with an occasional ac
yalorem addition. The much discussed
item of floor mating. on which duty
was finally placed. to the great DISCUS
of the Japanese. comes under thi!
| schedule.
WOOL AND SILKS.
Perhaps no greater difficulty was ex'
perienced by the tariff makers in the
whole course of their work than In pre-
parlng schedule X (wool and manufac'
lures Of WOOD, from which il Is expected
500. .o2s. 900 will be derived. There was 6
| hat ha
growing farmers and some of the manu-
facturers. the former claiming that raw
wool should be placed upon the dutiabl'
list and the latter fighting for its reten
ton on the free list where ii was placed
by the Wilson German tariff. AS every
one knows, the woolgrowers won. anC
raw wool importations must now pay &
duty of from 10 to IL cents a pound
There are. however, material differ
ences between the Mckinley and th'
Dineley tariff, and not even the framer'
OF the law are as yet prepared to sa!
whether the new rates are too high Of
too low The westerners, as a rule
championed the growers i'm the senate
division Of this schedule. In general /
may be said that they got what the,
wanted and that the schedule may b'
properly termed a protective one
though IL is certainly expected to pro
duce a large aggregate revenue. III
addition to the difficulties presented b,
the clashng of the various interests in
volved this schedule called for mucl
hard work i'm the arrangement of wha
are known as compensatory rates
Experts believe this schedule to be thor
oughly scientific and that II will be ex
ceedingly difficult TO defeat its purpose
by undervaluation. Ii Is predicted b!
Republicans that it will greatly increas
the number Of sheep i'm the United
States and lead to the establishment o
many new woolen mills. besides settinI
the wheels going in a large number o
old ones that have been idle of late.
The silk and silk goods schedule U.
was prepared with special reference
both 10 the production OF revenue, tn
L. n,al