Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-02-11
THE TARIFF BILL.
Certain of the Most Important
Schedules Definitely Fixed.
The SCHEDULE ON AGRICULTURE,
Many Products Go Back to the Mckinley
Rates-The Duty on Cattle Which
VIII Keep Out Next
can Stock.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-The day ses-
sions OF the republican members of the
ways and means committee, which
have been in progress for about two
weeks, have brought the tariff bill
which is to be laid before the next
congress to stage where the charac-
ter of the measure can be somewhat
gagged and where certain OF the most
important schedules are definitely
fixed. In their conferences up to
this week the taritf-makers have
dealt largely with the general
characteristics Of the schedules which
they have had under consideration,
and devoted themselves to sitting the
great masses of the figures, letters and
petitions presented to them. Four
schedules have now been fairly com
pleted, the chemical, agricultural,
wines and spirits, and earthen and
glassware schedules. All Of the rates
which have been decided upon are SUBJ
ject to change before the committee
finishes the bill but most of them
probably will remain as they have been
fixed in the first draft of the bill.
Yesterdays meeting was the most i'm
portant of the series, for it resulted in
the framing of the agricultural sched-
ule, which was made re-enactment OF
the Mckinley law with few changes, ex-
cept on unimportant products. The
most important step in connection
with this schedule was the establish
ment of rates of IS a head on cattle
more than one year old, and of 25 per
cent. ad valorem on cattle valued
at more than $50 head. The
Mckinley rates on other live stock,
including the rate Of ~ on cattle
of one year old or less, are restored.
The Wilson rates were 20 per cent. ad
valorem on live stock, and, while the
new duty of IS on cattle does not reach
the Mckinley figure Of $40 on cattle
more than one year old, it is expected
that, with the ad valorem on the more
valuable grades, it will prove adequate
to shut out Mexican cattle. 1t is
against the Mexican stock that the in
crease is particularly directed on the
representations of western cattle men
that their business had been ruined by
the importations from Mexico under
the Wilson law, which amounted to
more than 100000 head.
Much interest was centered upon
barley, which the committee puts back
to the Mckinley duty of 30 cents per
bushel because the farmers contended
that the Wilson tariff had turned over
the market into the hands of the Cana
dams, while the maltsters, who have
been using Canadian barley, have made
a hard fight against any increase. The
Mckinley rates have been restored on
fruits and berries, mainly for the ben
eft of the fruit growers Of the Pacific
coast. The fruit exchanges of the
country had prepared schedule Of
rates below the Mckinley bill, although
above the Wilson rates, but they did
not succeed in having their schedule
adopted.
Among the products in the agricul.
tural schedule which are returned to
the Mckinley rates are breadstuffs and
rice, dairy products, meats and meat
products, eggs and poultry, vegetables
and salt. The demand Of the farmers
for the Mckinley rate of $500 ton on
hay, instead of the Wilson rate of s.. co.
was granted. Ghicory is placed at one
cent. pound in accordance with the
requests of the growers in the central
states, who believe that they can cap
ture the home market with protection.
No other schedule has given the com
mittee so much trouble as the one
which includes. esrthS earthAnwars
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