The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-16


man Dingley, of the ways and means
committee, in response to a request
that he furnish synopsis of the new
tariff bill presented by him today.
makes the following Statement:
THE bill has two purposes, namely.
to raise additional revenue and to en-
courage the industries of the United
States.
"On the basis of the importations for
the last fiscal year, the bill would in
crease the revenue about SIP, ,OOO, ,OOO
divided among the several schedules
roughly, as follows. A, chemicals,
S3,5OO,OOO; B, crockery and glassware,
$4,OOO,O0O; c, Metals, $4,000, O0O wood,
$1,75o,0OO; E, sugar, $21, ,75O, 600; tobacco.
$7,0OOOO0; G, agricultural, $4,000, 900; H.
liquors $1,S00,000; I, cottons, 81, 200, OOO
], jute, linen and hemp, $7,SOO,OOO; K,
wool, SIT 100000; K, manufactures Of
wools, $27,000,000; L, silks, $1,5OO, 900; M,
pulp and paper, $5S,OO0; N, sundries,
S6,2000OO.
This estimate is on the supposition
that the imports Of each class Of goods
would be the same the next fiscal year
as in the fiscal year ended last June.
But as the imports Of wool were three
times as great in pounds as in 1893. the
committee assumes that the excessive
importation would be largely reduced
by the proposed bill, although the fact
that our domestic production Of wool
has diminished 100000 pounds since
1893 will necessitate the importation of
much more wool now than in the latter
year.
assuming that the importations of
wool will fall off, at least one-third
from those of 1896, on account of an
ticipatory imports TO avoid duties. we
place the increased revenue from this
source at $11,0O000O. Anticipating also
that the imports of woolens will fall
off nearly so per cent from the. enor-
nous imports of 1896, we estimate the
increased revenue from this source un-
der the proposed rates at about $14 =
OO0,O00. From sugar we estimate 500
100000 additional revenues. Anticipat-
ing considerable falling off of i'm
PORTS of Havana tobacco because of
the revolution in Cuba; we reduce the
estimates of additional revenue to be
derived from the tobacco schedule to
A,000,000. The remaining schedules
would afford a revenue Of about $39,-
100000, on the basis of the imports of
1896, but as there would probably be
diminished imports at some points. al
though the gradual restoration Of busi-
ness activity would Offset this by in
creasing the consumption of imported
luxuries, we reduce the estimates on
these to $31 900 600. These would ag-
eregate an additional revenue of $780,
100000 the first year
"A further reduction of $40, ,OO0, 900 for
contingencies would leave $4,000, 900 as
the probable increased revenue from
this bill the first year, which would un-
doubtedly rise to 100000, 600 the second
year.
These estimates are below rather
than above the probable result, unless
a considerable delay in the enactment
of the bill should greatly enlarge the
opportunity for imports of articles on
which duties are to be raised-particu-
larly wool and woolens-for speculative
purposes. Undoubtedly any delay be-
yond the 1st of May in placing the bill
on the statute book would result in
large loss of revenue.
This increase of revenue is secured
by transferring wool, lumber, crude
opium, argots, paintings and statuary.
straw ornaments straw mattings bur-
laps and various articles from the free
list of the present law to the dutiable
list; by increasing the duty on wooIens
to compensate the manufacturer for
the duty placed on wool; by raising the
duty on sugar about three-fourths of
cent per pound, in order to encourage
the production of sugar in this coun-
try, which, 1t is believed, can be done.
nd tIaI1G crix foT
which We now import mainly from
abroad; by increasing the duty on ag-
ricultural products affected by Cana
dian competition, and on fine cotton
goods; some manufactures Of iron and
steel, manufactures of jute, flax and
hemp, in order to encourage these ana
other industries here, and especially by
increasing duties on such luxuries as
liquors, tobacco, silks and laces, etc.
''As rule, the rates of duties pro-
posed are between the rates of the
tariff of 1890 and the tariff of 1894, such
reduction of rates from the former law
with, at the same time, a preservation
of the protective principle, being made
feasible by changed conditions.
THE iron and steel schedule Is
changed very little from the schedule
in the tariff of 1894, the change being
entirely in the more advanced articles
The same is true Of the cotton sched-
ule. In the agricultural, wool and
glass and earthenware schedules alone
are the duties Of the act Of 1890 fully
restored, as a rule, and in a few cases
increased, with the view of amply pro-
tecting and encouraging our farming
interests at every possible point
While the duty on clothing wool is
larger in proportion to the foreign
value than on manufactured articles.
yet it is thought desirable for the pub
lie interest and for our agriculture that
we should produce this prime necessity
for ourselves. The duty on carpet
woods, as well as upon many other ar
ticles, is imposed mainly for revenue
The irritation caused by the use Of a
few woods heretofore classed as carpet
woods, being used for clothing pur-
poses, has been remedied by transfer
ring such woods as to the clothing wool
classes. but the duty on clothing wool
has been restored to the rate of the act
of $780,
'In framing this new tariff, the aim
has been to make the duties specific
or at least partly specific, as far ais
possible, to protect the revenue and
also to protect OUT own industries
This has been done in responce to the
wishes Of the better class of importers,