The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-02-11
THE NEW TARIFF MEASURE
MOST OF THE IMPORTANT
TARIFFS ARE FINED By
THE COMMITTEE.
CHANGE IN THE CATTLE SCHEDULE.
Five Dollars Per Head on Cattle Over /
Year Old Many OF the Mckinley
Bill Rates Restored in the
New Bill.

Washington, FEB. I.-Ihc department
sessions Of the republican ways and
means committee members of the house
nave brought the new tariff bill into such
"a shape that il can be brought before
r1e house ut almost any time and most
II the important tariffs are fixed. The
sessions for weeks have dealt with gen.
eral characteristics Of the bill which the
members have had under consideration
and devoted themselves to sitting the
great masses of figures. letters and Opin-
ions presented TO them. -Four schedules
have now been fairly complctcd-agri
cultural, chemical, wines and spirits and
,farthcn and glassware schedules. All of
rhc rates which have been decided upon
ihc subject 10 change before the commit
zee finishes the BILL but most of them will
PROBABLY remain as they have been fixed
n the hrst draft Of the bin Today's
meeting was the most important of the
SERIES for il resulted in the framing OF
the agricultural schedule. which was
made n rc-cnactmcnt of the Mckinley
law with few changes except on unim
pOrtant products.
Ht most UlDOTIuUt SlcIi III fOuHtttlOn
with this schedule was the ,sta blishmcnt
III rates Of 80 a head on cattle more than
one year old, and Of - per cent ad va
f0rem on cattle valued at more than so
a head. The Mckinley rates on other
live stock, including the rate on cattle
of year old or less Of 81 per head. are
restored. The Wilson rates were 10 per
cent ad valorcm on live stock. and while
the new duty of 50 on cattle does not
reach the Mckinley figures of so on
cattle of more than ] year old, il is OK
-pcctcd that the ad valOrcm on more
valuable grades will probably be- equal to
the old rate on Mexican cattle. The in
crease is particularly directed on the
representation of western cattle men that
their business Is being ruined by the inn
portation Of cattle under the Wilson law.
which amounted 10 more than 100000
head.
Much interest conferred on barley. which
she committee put back TO 30 cents a
bushcl. because ,hc farmers commended
that the Wilson tariff had turned the
market over To the hands Of the Cana
-,iians. while the masters who dealt in
Canadian barley have made hard fight
against an increase in rates.
The Mckinley rates are restored on
fruits and berries, mcinly for the benefit
of fruit growers on the Pacific coast. The
fruit exchanges of the country had pre-
parcd schedule of the rates below the
Mckinley bill. although they raised the
Wilson rates, but did not succeed in hay
ing their schedule adopted. Among the
products in the agricultural schedule
which are returned to the Mckinley rates |
.irc brcadstuiis, rice. potatoes, starch |
beans meal and meal products eggs and |
poultry, vegetables and salt. The de- !
mand Of the farmers for the rate of 81 |
- ton on hay instead of the Wilson rate |
NJ 81 was granted.
thiccory is placed at cent a pound in |
accordance with the request of the grow
crs in the central states, who estimate |
they can supply the home market with |
protection. Rates on oranges will not be-
liked yet, but the committee has decided |
40 change the classification and make the
rates higher than those of the Mckinley |
rates for the benefit of the California in
iercsts
In the chemical schedule many of the
Wilson rates will bc maintained. The
Wilson duty on soaps and SOdaS and
kindred chemicals which are of rare ma
terials for the manufacture of soap are
left unchanged The prevailing rates on
oils, including castor, are retained cx-
cept such changes rs are made necessary
ag the restoration of the duty on raw
materials which enter into their manu-
tacturc ms linsccd. There will be- extern
Sivc changes in paints and dye stuffs and
ibeir constituent elements. The duty on
horax manufactured will be- > cents n
pound: on refined boraN 3 cents; boracc
acid, = cents. which are compromises be-
tween the Wilson and Mckinley rates.
The duty on pig lead is placed ut >
cents pound, on white lead and lead
acetatcs, 1-2 cents. The committee has
decided 10 retain the Wilson tariff on
wines and spirits throughout the wine and
spirit schedule. This schedule of the
Wilson act was generally higher in its
rates than in the Mckinley act The
committee has devoted some time Ia the
consideration of manufactures of iron and
steel and to cotton manufactures, but has
not perfected these schedules. In the
Votton schedule there will bc a few
changes from the present law except in
rates on fine yarns and the most costly
fabrics. The changes in the iron and
steel schedule will b. limited TO few
specialtics like iron ties, on which Me.
kinlcy duties will be- rc-CStablishcd: on
lin plates which are unsettled. No other
schedule has given the committee So
much trouble as the one which includes
oarths, carthcnware and glassware. 1t
has been claimed 10y all the pottery and
glass interests that the Wilson law has
proven disastrous TO their interests and
that no system of al yolorcm duties
could properly protcctk them Accord
lngly the committee has determined to
adjust the items of the schedule To such
specific duties ms will be equal 10 the
.lutics of the Mckinley law. most of
which We're ad yalorem. On account of
the decorative features of such wares.
which are often the chief element in their
value. il was difficult TO adjust Il sufficient
specific rate. Plate glass has been ar
ranged as follows:
Uuder IL 10y "a inches. $ cents per
square foot; present rate cents. Above
10 by n and not exceeding ~ 10y 80. II
cents; present rate : cents. Above ~ by
20 and not exceeding ~ by CO. the pres
rnt rate of 30 IL cents; above 81 by co
The present rate of 30 cents.
Lumber will bc the next subject which
will engage the committees attention.
Throughout the week the policy Of cstab-
fishing specific rates was discussed and
IL was decided where practical To put
4 hem into effect. The increases on manu-
featured lumber have mostly been on
higher grades and those considered as
iuNurics.
Il nE Il EMERGENCY MEErl NJ |