New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-10
THE SITUATION.

We have now reached a point at which the
exact bearings Of different systems OF tari1 can
he measured. II seems best to call the atten-
tim of Protectionists as well as Of opponents
IN y striking contrast About $400000OOO OF
Y du,iabIe imports in 1893. the last undisturbed
wear Of the operation Of the Mckinley tariff,
were REQUIRED to pay about S19S,O00.OOo in du-
Ties Different modes of making up the Treas
nry figures account for some discrepancy, out
the lowest general average is taken. This state
ment includes no duty whatever on sugar, but
IN 1896 the last year Inder the Democratic tar
if of 1894. the duties collected on sugar were
about S2991O OOO while the duties on all other
articles were about S126,200,OOO.
IT Is not the purpose here to go into any nice
statistical calculation. Men Of average appre-
hension can understand that the whole bocy OF
consumers who use sugar had TO pay what
over mart of the revenue was derived from the
dutv on that item, and that the remaining duties
on imports fell upon the people who had TO use
jmported goods Of other kinds Most OF these
other goods were of kinds not purchased by the
great majority of consumers There was
very high duty on leaf tobacco, but nne-tenths
Of The people who think they are smoking Ha-
vana cigars or cigarettes are not, and pay no
rex whatever There was high duty on FER
nented and distilled liquors, but none except
the wealthy and luxurious classes use imported
liquors.
The sugar duty is tax on the people When
ira Republicans were able to get rid OF 1t IN
1900 they had reason to hope that the millions
would appreciate the relief. After they were
beaten. and the Democrats had put heavy tax
ON SUGAR in order to prevent taxes on imported
clothing and other goods which the millions do
NOT u.s.. it came to pass that the tariff and other
TAXATION borne by the millions Of consumers
was higher By several dollars per capita than 1t
had been under any previous Republican tariff.
The pending Tariff bill increases this part OF
the tax and 10 that extent Increases the burden
which the millions Of wage-earners have to pay.
although comparatively few Of them buy or
use imported clothing or other goods affected
by protective duties.
The new tariff will restrict purchases or Tor
eirn woolien goods, but of goods which the mill
IONS buy only TO a very slight extent. 1t VIII
restrict purchases Of cotton goods finer than
200 threads 10 the itch, but these are scarcely
bought at all for general consumption IN TINS
country. The proposed tariff as TO silk ana
linen goods is much the same as the tariff or
1870 though with some increase OF duties as
N a higher grade used by few OF the people
II taxes the millions no more as to the earthen
and glass ware they use than the Mckinley
tariff did and on all varieties of plain cotton
goods and the ordinary manufactures OF iron
and steel II Is as low as the present tariff. All
things considered the pending bill taxes the
people much Jess than the act Of 1890 on prod
nets which they purchase in competition with
goods of foreign manufacture, but it taxes them
ON sugar. which the people consume with little
regard TO their wealth, and that heavily In
that respect it is not as satisfactory plan OF
revenue as the tariff of 1890, and the difference
is directly due to the necessity of increasing
revenue owing to the enormous increase in DEBT
and in annual interest payment caused by the
democratic Administration and Its policy IL
now rests with the conference committee when