The times., 1897-03-23
THE TARIFF DEBATE OPENS
Continued from First Page.

the goods which increased foreign imports
had supplanted, hut also a market for
goods which the farmers and masses OF
the people were able to purchase in 1898,
but which they could not buy in 1886,
because of n loss of employment and nur-
chasing power.
''Bevond this ii has been demonstrated
that by placing wool on the free list to the
injury of the farmer and manufacturer,
we have not been thereby enabled to IN
crease our exports of manufactures Of
wool tas was claimed would he the casel,
and we have greatly increased the use of
shoddy by diminishing the purchasing
power OF the masses and thus competing
them to seek the cheapest cloths
IF il be claimed that this has reduced
the cost OF clothing to the people, the
reply is obvious that it has done SO only
in appearance. because in point of fact
the masses deprived OF work and wages
hy that has given foreign manufacturers
the making of SO large part of our goods,
have found it harder to buy their clothing
than they did before. -
Stating that the committee had profitel
by this experience in making wool free,
and restoring ii TO the dutiable list along
NlJH proper uuOtCS On NothSb
lures, Mr Dingley said:
This, il is believed will greatly aid the
woolgrower, stop the further depletion OF
our flocks, and presently regain what we
have lost in the past four years, and ultl-
mately result in the home production of
nearly all the clothing wool that we re-
quire. 1t will also greatly encourage the
wool manufacturing industries, winch
nave suffered SO severely under the tariff
of 1894. At the same time we viii ulti-
snately increase the revenues from duties
on wool and woolens not less than $50
GOO, 900 per annum.
"The duty on sugar has also been in
creased, both for purpose of revenue and
also To encourage the production of sugar
In the United States, and thereby give TO
our farmers new and much-needed crop.
We now pay foreign countries about SS4,-
600 900 for imported sugar. notwithstand-
ing the abnormally low price, and this sum
will soon be increased TO 500 600 600.
The success which has attended the grow
ing of sugar beets and the production Of
beet sugar in California and Nebraska in
the past five years. not TO mention the
progress in the production of cane sugar
in Louisiana has made the problem OF pro-
ducing our own sugar no longer doubtful,
and now that we must have the increased
revenue from sugar for the present, ia
vorable opportunity presents itself, giving
this boon to our agriculture.
He explaine1 then the difference in the
metho1 of laying the sugar duty and turned
TO the textile schedule:
can increase" he said, "haS been made
in the duty on flax and hemp, as well as
jute and manufactures thereof, to practi-
cally the same as that borne by cotton
goods, both increasing the revenue FOR the
time being and ultimately TO develop the
linen manufacture here. From the evi-
dence before the committee we are PER
suaded that the time has come for grad
ual development for both flax culture and
flax manufacture in this country, which
has been possible only to a limited extent
in coarse articles under prior low duties.
Specirncns of goods made from Minnesota
flax are exhibited, which seem to give
pursuance Of u new development in this
direction.
For the most part otherwise the increase
of duties i'll the pending bill to the figures
of the tariff OF 1890 have been in the
schedules or paragraphs covering Injuries
like tobacco, liquors, silks, laces, etc;
which being articles OF voluntary consump-
tion, are always regarded as objects which
Will bear the highest duties. The eXcep-
tions are the earthenware and glass sched-
ule. the agricultural schedule, on which
the duties have been placed the same as
in the act of $50, because no other rates
seemed TO be protective.
Mr. Dingley spoke at some length ON
the change of oil paintings and other like
articles from the free list and explained
how valuable fabrics had been brought in
by placing on them daubs denominated oil
paintings and admitted free as calculated
to have an educative force in enltivating
the aesthetic spirit Of the people. He
explained that paintings intended for eS-
free art galleries where the public
would receive the benefit of the culti-
walton Of taste and high ideals were ad
mitted free. but when a million dollars
worth would he placed i'll the private homes |
of the rich for individual enjoyment it |
was right that they should pay duty. |
He also said that elsewhere attention had |
been paid to the same distinction S that |
luxuries should pay the duties.
Ithad been pur posed. so far a S possible to |
avoid ad valorem duties, SO that the no
torious undervaluations might be avoided.
he declared that a comparison between
the ad vaiorem duties of the present law /
and the proposed specific duties was diff
cult. The actual average of rates of the
proposed bill are lower than in the tariff
In 1898 and somewhat higher than the
present tariff, though the average per
centum Of al valorem duty of the pending
bill appeared to be higher than the present
and the Mckinley tariff.
He concluded with statement that de
lay in the pa ssage of the bill after May l
would cause deduction from the estimated |
Increase of $50, 600. 900 for the first year
Of So 600 900. The second year would
show al increase of 100000, 900.
In conclusion. he said:
at must be obvious, from any point of
iew, that prompt action by the two houses
IF Congress is Indispensable to secure the
cvenue which the pending bill is intended
% yield. The eNigency is an unusual one
The people, without regard to party affilia-
ions, are asking for action. Business
waits cur final decision. With this great
question Of adequate revenue to carry on
he Government settled favorably by such
IN adjustment Of duties rs viii restore TO
,ur own people what has been surrendered
o others during the past four years, with
cstored confidence in the future, there is
eason to believe that gradually and surely
here will come back TO us the great pros
erity which we enjoyed in the decade prior
o 1898, and which the greatest of living
English satisticians so strikinGly eulo-
lied when he said, in 1892. that it would
e eimpossible to find in history any parallel
0 the progress of the United States in the
them last ten years