Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1890 — THE NEW TARIFF BILL. [ARTICLE]

THE NEW TARIFF BILL.

OUTLINE OF THE MEASURE PREPARED BY MR. M’KINLEY. By Its Provisions * Total Reduction o! 860,000,000 in the Revenues of the Government Would Be Effected—The Proposed Rates on Various Articles of Everyday Consumption. Washington dispatch: What will be known as the McKinley tariff bill is practically completed. While subject to revision up to the last moment, the schedules have been so ight out so thoroughly in committee that the material changes are likely to be few. The estimated reduction of revenues from the bill is in round numbers $60,000,060. Some of this is to come from decreased importations because of increased duties. Roughly estimated the proposed reductions may be split up as follows: Sugar, $27,500,900: ' internal revenue, $19,000,000; free list, $1,500,000; tariff schedules, $12,000,000; total, $60,000,000. The internal revenue features of the bill are as follows: The entire abolition of all special taxes upon dealers of all kinds, commonly known as licenses; the taxes upon snuff will be repealed; farmers and planters growing tobacco will have the liberty to sell to whomsoever they please without restraint, In the same manner as any farmer can dispose of any other of the products of his land. The tax upon manufactured tobacco will be reduced from eight cents to four cents a pound; cigars, cheroots, and cigarettes will carry the same tax as is Imposed under the present law. Alcohol used in the arts is free under substantially the same restrictions as are prescribed in the Senate bill. The reductions in the revenue from these sources will be in round numbers between $17,000,000 and $19,000,000.

The following are the principal provisions in the tariff schedule—the chemical schedule contains but few changes from existing law. There are some reductions and nd advances in duty, and it is believed that the duties in this schedule will be found below the Senate schedule: The earth, earthenware, and glassware schedule remains substantially as in the existing law. There arc a number of important changes in the metal schedule.. Existing rates are maintained upon iron ore and pig-iron. Barbed wire for fencing is made dutiable at 6-10 cent a pound, which is a reduction below that of the Senate bill. Railway iron is reduced to 6-10 c a pound, the present rate being sl7 a ton, a reduction of about $4 a ton and a reduction in the rate fixed by the Senate bill. The duty on steel rails is reduced $4 a ton. The duty on tin-plate has been increased to two and two-tenths cents a pound. Pig-tin remains free. It is believed that with the encouragement our tin-plate will be manufactured in this country. Already we make the sheet-iron and sheet-steel, which is 95 per cent of the tin-plate, and, with the assurance that there is tin in the Black Hills it is thought that a great industry will spring up. There is’ an increase on the duty on pocket cutlery, which the committee justify on the ground of the depressed condition of that industry in the United States and the sharp and ruinous competition that has already been felt from Germany. Hand sewing needles are also placed upon the free list. The new metal aluminum is given a designation for the first time under “metals and manufacturers” thereof, and is made dutiable at 37 per cent ad valorem. In the lumber schedule the duty on sawed boards, sawed planks, and finished lumber is reduced 50 percent from the present rate. There is a special provision inserted that in case Canada lays an export duty upon lumber then duties shall be collected according to the rates under existing law. The dutv on Sumatra tobacco is increased to $2.75 per pound. There is a an increase generally along the entire list in the duties upon agricultural products. The duty upon barely is raised to 30 cents a bushel, hops to 45 cents a pound, buckwheat to 15 cents a bushel, macaroni and vermicelli 2 cents a pound, oats 10 cents a bushel. The duty on agricultural seeds is increased. Sugar under and including 16 Dutch standard is made dutiable at 35 per cent and above 16 Dutch standard at 40 per cent. This gives 5 per cent additional duty to the refiners, and as the standard is raised from 13 to 16 the people of the United States will be enabled in case the refiners combine to put up the prices to import sugar which will be in every way fit for family use. This is a cut in the duties upon sugar of from 50 to 60 per cen t. Molasses is made dutiable a‘ 25 per cent ad valorem, the present rate being specific. This is a considerable reduction. In the wool schedule, wools of the first class, known as clothing wools, 11 cents a pound; wools of the sercond class, known as combing wools, 12 cents’ carpet wools valued at 12 cents or less, 3X cents a pound; valued at over 12 cents, 8 cents a pound. This is a reduction of IX cents a pound from the Senate bill and an increase of IX cents from the present law.