The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-08-05
,alorem, and those costing less than

ad valorem, and those costing less than
SOC were admitted under the old rate of
So per cent. The same duties were i'm
posed on similar division of cotton
goods. Iron was subject to duty of 75c
per ton. Steel in various stages of manu-
facture was admitted under duty of
from &c to 3 1-4c per pound. Specific
duties were in very many instances re-
duced. In short, the idea followed by
the supporters of this bill was to raise
the duties ON articles that needed pro-
lection and to reduce the duties on all
others.
For seven years this act remained in
force, during which period President
Cleveland advised from time to time re-
duction in the tariff rates. The Republi-
can victory of 1883 placed Benjamin Har
rison in the presidential chair, and in
1890 the Republicans had working ma
jority in both branches of Congress. Ac-
cordingly that party resolved to give pro-
lection more vigorous application. This
was done by the enactment of the SOL call
ed Mckinley bill. Almost all duties were
increased. Clothing and combing wool
were raised from Zoe to lie and 12c a
pound; carpet wool, according to quality,
was subject to duty of 80 and so per
cent. ad valorem. Cheap cotton goods
We're subject to lower rate of duty, but
the better classes OF cotton were admitted
under duties ranging from }5 to so per
cent. The duty on linen goods went up
to so and so per cent. The rates on iron
and steel were not materially changed, as
they were still prohibitory. Agricultural
produce was subject to higher rates. Raw
sugar, however, was admitted free of
duty, and a bounty was paid to domestic
sugar producers at the rate of &c pound,
the former duty. In fine, the Mckinley
bill was a fair presentation Of a high pro-
tective tariff.
The contest of 1892 resulted in the cleo
ton Of Democratic President and Con
gress. One of the first matters to receive
the attention of Congress convened in
extra session was the tariff. Mr.. Wilson,
then chairman of the ways and means
committee, drafted a bill embodying, so
far as he dared, the principles of the
Democratic party. After much engineer
ing in the House by Mr.. Wilson and in
the Senate by Senator German, it became
law by the expiration of the ten days
time limit. The salient feature was its
near approach to free trade. One hun
bred and six articles subject to duty un-
der the Mckinley act We're admitted free.
This list included copper, both ore and
pig; Irvine, cotton bagging, wool, lumber
and works of art. Wooden yarns and
cloths were reduced from Is to 100 per
cent. of the former rate. Silk manufac-
lures, some iron and wool, and raw lead,
with over 100 other articles, were reduced
by from so to - per cent. Three hun
dred and sixty-seven articles were reduc-
ed by from % to so per cent. This list
included many agricultural products and
some iron, tin and wooden manufactured
goods. Two hundred and thirty eight
articles were reduced by less than % per
cent, including steel manufactures and
cigars cigar wrappers and cigarettes.
One hundred and twenty eight articles
were left unchanged, including eight that
were on the free list. The tax on spirits
was raised from 81 to 81. TO-
And now comes the Dingley bill with a
proposed return to the protective tariff
system. 1t is the nineteenth important
tariff bill in the history of the United
States. Looking back it is seen that the
greatest prosperity Of the country has
been during the existence of moderately
high protective tariff under a Republican
administration-in other words, under
similar circumstances to those existing at
the present time. st. Louis Globe Demo-