The times., 1897-05-05
The Amended Tariff Bill Now
Ready For Debate.
SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES
The Bill as Reported Is Practically
New One-Most of the Rates
Have Been Reduced and the Re-
troactive Clause Stricken From
the Measure.


they met their Democratic associates in
the committee room, that they would be
able TO accomplish this desirable result
The minority had the bill just enc hour
and half, during which time they hastily
locked over it ard declared their opposi-
ton TO it, in toto.
"If you have the votes you might rs
well report the bill, said Senator Jones
OF Arkansas.
The roll was called and the Republicans,
aided by Jones of Nevada, voted TO report
the BILL which Mr. Aldrich did Immediately
upon the assembling Of the Senate, giving
notice that ii would lie on the table until
May Is, when the debate would begin.
With few exceptions there is a general
reduction in the rates, the committee be-
lieving that for the purposes Of raising
revenue the rates should beiower than those
fixed IN the Eouse hil. With the excep-
ton of a duty on hides, few increases Iii
the chemical schedule, notably in borax,
a readjustnlcnt of the pottery schedule,
which viii bring more revenue there,
slight increase in the duty on marble and
its manufactures, in lead ore. fruits, and
some minor items the rates of the Ding
ley bill have been reduced. In few IN
stances they remain unchanged.
A tax has been put upon tea at the rate
of 10 cents a pound. In the internal reve-
nue. features of the bin the beer tax has
been Increased TO 81 "A a barrel. Under
existing 10 ws the tax Is 81 barrel, with
6 per cent rebate on stamps. This rebate
has been disaliowed, so that the net i'll
crease is 90 cents tarrel. The tax on
manufactured tobacco has been increased
from 6 10 cents pound.
No statement has been prepared by the
committee showing what the bill is tx
pected 20 do, but one will be Forthcoming
during the next ten days, the experts who
have been with the committee now being
at work on that task. In the opening
speech, Senator Aldrich, who will be in
charge of the bill, Will submit an elaborate
statement, showing exactly what the bill
is expected TO do and how it is to be
done.
Senator Jones, Democrat, thinks there
viii be about six weeks debate on the bill.
Senators differ IN their opinions, but the
prevailing idea is that the bill may be
enacted into law by July /. 1t will be
the Republican policy, after few set
speeches TO let the Democrats do the talk
ing.
Senator Allison said last evening that
the committee had gone carefully over
the whole bill, and that it would pro-
duce sufficient revenue. Just why 1T was
necessary TO increase the internal revenue
features he did not say. The duty OF 10
cents a pound on tea is expected to bring
in $40 600, 600, and the increased beer
tax, S17,0o0,000 The tax on tea in
1870, the last year of its operation, was
3 cents a pound. Last year we imported
90, 340, 600 pounds of tea, and the duty
therefrom is easily figured. The revenue
from the raise on manufactured tobacco
VIII be considerable.
1t appears that the tax on tea was asked
for by the importers, and they advanced
the argument that a better grade OF that
article under the tax, would be imported,
with no additional cost to the consumer.
They claim that tea Is little, if any, cheaper
because of the removal of the former tax,
as the price has gone do WI in this country
only in proportion TO its decline IN the
markets of the world. Under an Scent
duty in England, the consumption Of this
product has increased. In Russia the TAX
on tea is As cents pound. In their
representations To the committee the inn
porters claimed that the duty on teas in
other countries drove the inferior article
to the United States.
The action of the committee in striking
out the retroactive section will reduce much
of the opposition that has been aimed at
the bill 1t will be insisted upon in the
Senate and not yielded in conference. 1t
is supposed the House will give way, as
its adoption was intended solely TO frighten
importers.
The elimination of all reference 10 tie
Hawaiian treaty is not considered signifi-
can't, as that matter will come up IN the
Senate for adjustment.
What amount of revenue from customs
duties the bill will yield is problematical.
much depending upon the supposed revival
In business.
The heaviest importations in the history
OF the country were those of 1890, which
came in under the act of 1888, made par
ticularly heavy by reason of the approach
ing enforcement of the Mckinley law,
which went into effect in october Of that
calendar year. During the year named
the duties from imports amounted to $685.,
soc, 900, of which $55,000.000 came from
sugar alone, much higher rate of duty
being levied on sugar then than in the
present bill The receipts from internal
revenue aggregated LIZ, ZOO, 200 and the
total receipts from all sources were $46i,-
00o,000 IL this total must be included
$61 200, 900 from postal receipts, while
the expenses Of the postal service aggre-
gated $69,00o,00O. Thus il is seen that
in that flood tide year the receipts were
$36, ZOO, 600 less than the average seX
peDditures OF the Government today.
The rates in the bill before the Senate
are considerably lower than those in the
Mckinley act and in order to meet the
deficit, based upon the receipts of 1890,
the committee, it would seem, is relying
entirely upon the beer and tea tax.
The duty on sugar cannot be counted on
to do what it did in 1890, because the rate
in the present hill win yield at least $10,-
OOO, 600 less than it did in 1890. For
these reasons, it is claimed, that the bill,
as a revenue producing measure, will not
be a success 1t cannot, according to
experts, bring in the $500 ,00G,0 900 Of ex-
pcnditurcs which, for several years, has
marked the outlay of the Government.
Tie sugar schedule, it is claimed, gives
the trusta little the bestofit, the ad valorem
on the lower grades affording the refin3rs
an opportunity to bring IN sugars much
more advantageously than if that duty
was purely specific. The schedule in fun
is as follows:
The Sugar Schedule.
Sugars not above number sixteen, Dutch
standard in color, tank bottoms, sirups of
oane i,ica n nj of f,ppf mice rnela;ia con-