Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-25
VILnIsGTos. TRURsDAF. ma Tcii rs.



Before it is fairly launched in the |
House of Representatives, the Dingley |
Tariff bill is meeting with a storm of
objections, como of which come from
sources that will make 1t difficult to
overcome them. Here is one from that
ardent and heretofore consistent ajvo-
cate OF tariff protection, the Philadel-
phia Ledger:
Considerations OF protection and
revenue have induced the committee
on ways and means 10 materially to-
crease the duties in the proposed Ding
lev tariff over those of the existing law,
but no necessity exists for the tax of
25 per cent on paintings and statuary.
American artists and art institutions
are opposed to the tax, which they re-
gard as direct blow at education. The
importation of works of art actually
benefits the American artist, since il
promotes love for art, and stimulates
The gathering together OF grand collec-
tons, which have an immenge educa-
ticnal value. Every valuable picture
or piece OF statuary which comes to
the United States ia an inducement TO
the American student TO study in the
great American cities, and furnishes
opportunity for education which is
denied to the largo number OF young
men and young women of artistic taste
who have not the means TO prosecute
their studies abroad. The univcrsitios
and colleges are unanimous in opposing
this barbarous tax, which serves no
useful purpose whatever.
The Dingley bill contains other pro-
III oa g. H. Ia.
cational institutions of the land. The
president and nearly all the members of
the faculties of Yale University have
united in a petition to the House Of
Representatives protesting against the
proposed removal frum the free list of
books. philosophical apparatus, &c. spec
tally imported for the use of colleges,
public libraries and other Incorporated
institutions. As the petitioners assert,
the proposed action would be at yari-
nnce with the uniform policy OF the
government in the past. Books for
such use have been admitted free under
every Tariff act from 1889 to 1884, as
have philosophical apparatus under
every tariff except that passed in 1864,
TO provide means for carrying ON the
war. The government is paying about
q, GOO, 600 a year in annuitieB to col
leges for agriculture and the mechanic
arts, established in the several States
under the land grants OF 1862. The
Dingley bill proposes to reverse this
policy TO the extent of taxing books,
apparatus. &c. which must be imported,
because they are OF special character,
and do not enter into competition with
Americao products. Many of the valu-
able bookH in our public libraries, par.
ticularly those of q technical character,
IRE necessarily imported, and 10 tax
these would be wanton blow at our
educational interests.
The Ledger also opposes the proposed
tax on antiquities, which would seri.
ously impair the work of making col
lections for or great museums, and
declares that the spectacle of "tht
mummies OF the kings of Egypt yield
ing an import tax 10 protect an Ameri
can INDUSTRY which does not exist
would be sight for gods and men. u
II hopes that the Senate-believinl
that the House will rush the measure
through without consideration - will
relieve the interests of art and educa
tion from the unjust burdens thu
sought 70 be imposed upon them.
But these onerous import dutiea OF
works Of art and education, which tn
protectionist Ledger so justly complain
of. arc not whit more unjust or on
pressive than some of tho other take
imposed by the DiDgley bill. The ia
on wool is an outrage upon tho Who'll
people, for the profit of few sheer
raisers. In fact, the entire bill 10 bu
hugo system of taxation to DO impose
severely upon ths many for tho benef
of the few. 1t is not a revenue pre-
Queer. 1t will be more likely to reduc
than to increase the amount of reyenu
now being raised.
Fortunately, there are indication
that the Dingley bill will have har
road to travel. Whom protection pauel
like the Philadelphia Ledger oppose /
friends must be- scarce indeed. An
the longer it is pending tho more III
popular it will become. Let us boz
that in the end it will be knocked o,
altogether.
Reciprocity in tariffs, such as ia pr
posed by the Dipgley bill, In not