The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-03-18
He Gives Points on the New
Tariff Measure.
HOW IT WILL PRODUCE REVENUE.
On the basis of Last Years Importstions
II Would Increase the Governments
Income About s11e. 200, ,ooo-Delny Be-
yond May 1 Would Decrease It.


1.-THE bill has two purposes, namely
to raise additional revenue and to en-
courage the industries of the United
States.
ION the basis of the importations for
the last fiscal year the bill would in
crease the revenue about $l12,0 200, 900,
divided among the several schedules
roughly as follows:
A, chemicals, So, 500,0 ,0O0 B, crockery
and glassware, 100000; o, metals,
81, ,000,0 900; d, wood, $l,750,0 900; E,
sugar, $21, ,75O, 900; f. tobacco, $7.0O0,-
900; G, agricultural, $6,300,000; H, Ii
quors, 81 800, 900; 1, cottons, 81, 700, 900 /;
], jute, linen and hemp, 81, 800, 900; K,
wool, $l7, 100000 do, manufactures Of
wool, $27 200, 900; l., silks. 81 l,500,0 900 ;
Nj, pulp and paper, $58,000; N, sun
dries, So, 200, 900.
"This estimate is on the supposition
that the imports of each class of goods
would be the same next fiscal year as
in the fiscal year ended last June. But
as the imports of wool were three time S
as great and those of woolen good S
more than twice as great in pounds as
in 1893, the committee assume that the
excessive importation would be largely
reduced by the proposed bill, although
the fact that our domestic production
of wool has diminished 5000, 900
pounds since 1898 will necessitate the
importation of much more wool now
than in the latter year. Assuming that
the importations of wool will fall off
at least one. third from those of 1896,
on account of anticipatory imports to
avoid duties we place the increased
revenue from this source at $11 ,000, ,000
Anticipating also that the imports of
woolens will fall off nearly 90 per cent
from this source under the proposed
rates at about $4,000, 900. From sugar
we estimate $40, 900, 900 additional reve-
nue..
Anticipating considerable falling
off of imports of Havana tobacco, be.
cause of the revolution in Cuba, we re.
duce the estimates of additional rev.
enue to be derived from the tobacco
schedule to a, 4,0O0,000 The remaining
schedules would afford a revenue of
about S39, 100000 on the basis of the
imports of 1896, but as there would
probably be diminished imports at some
points, although the gradual restora-
ton of business activity would offset
this by increasing the consumption of
imported luXuries, we reduce the esti-
mate on these to $3l 100000 These
woul1 aggregate an additional revenue
of $50 900 900 the first year.
"A further reduction of $4,000, 900 or
SO, 0,000,0 600 for contingencies would
leave $40, OOO, 900 to $50, ,OOO,O as the
probable increased revenue from this
bill the first year, which would un-
doubtedly rise to 800, 100000 the sec.
ond year.
"These estimates are below rather
than above the probable result, unless
a considerable delay in the enactment
of the bill should greatly enlarge the
opportunity for imports of articles on
which duties are to be raised-particu-
Iarly wool and wOolens-for speculative
purposes. Undoubtedly any delay be-
yond the first of May in placing the bill
on the statute book would result in a
large loss of revenue.
"This increase of revenue is secured
| by transferring wool, lumber crude
| opium, argols, paintings and statuary,
straw ornaments, straw mattings, bur-
laps and various other articles from the
free list of the present law to the dutia
BILE list by increasing the duty on
|
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 farmers q
new crop which we now import mainly
from abroad by increasing the duty on
| agricultural products affected by Can
adian competition, and ON fine cotton
goods, some advanced manufactures of
iron and steel, manufactures of jute,
| flax and hemp in order to encourage
these and other industries here, and es-
pecially, by increasing duties on such
luxuries as liquors, tobacco, silks and
laces, etc.
"As rule, the rates of duties pro-
posed are between the rates of the
tariff of 1890 and the tariff of 1894,
such reduction of rates from the for
mer law, preservation of the protective
principle being made feasible by
changed conditions.
"The iron and steel schedule is
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 sched-
ule. 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 in.
creased, with the view of amply pro.
tecting and encouraging our farming
interests at every possible point. While
the duty on clothing wool is larger in
proportion to the foreign value than on
manufactured articles, yet it is thought
desirable for the public interest and for
our agriculture that we should produce
this prime necessity for ourselves. The
duty on carpet WOO >, 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 fol
clothing purposes, has been remedieC
by transferring such woods to the cloth
ing wool classes, but the duty on cloth
ing wool has been restored to the rat,
OF the act OF 1890.
"In framing this new tariff the ain
has been to make the duties specific, o.
at least partly specific, as far as pOssibl,
to protect the revenue and also to pro
tect our own industries. This has beeI
done in response to the wishes of tn,
better class of importers, as we'll as Of
the administrators of the law and o
our own producers. The yerv genera
buDobibupioh Va olNSlllO hutlbof SNNi
where they are only the equivalent o
existing ad valorems will of itself in
crease the revenue and strengthen tin
protection afforded to our industries.
"The reciprocity provisions of the ac
of 1890 have not only been fully re
stored. but this policy has been ex
tended by adding to sugar, tea, colfe
and hides as articles on which TO max
reciprocal agreements, such articles a