Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 December 1882 — ADJUSTING THE TARIFF. [ARTICLE]

ADJUSTING THE TARIFF.

Bsport of the OoaMwlaatasi Bwnplag Reforms Bee—mended. Tbe report of tbe Tariff Commission, says a Washington telegram, is a gnat surprise, both to the revenue-reformers and tbe protectionists. Such extensive changes as an proposed wen not hoped for by the former or feared by the latter. The range of reduction of 30 to 50 per canton all articles which enter into consumption was certainly not anticipated. Neither was it expected that the commission would reoommend a reduction of duties on sugar of from 40 to 60 per cent, nor tbe nee of the polartxoope, nor the admission of so many articles te the free list As a class the revenue- eformers am much better satisfied with the report, so far aa they understand it, than the protectionists an. It is believed at a first glance at the suggestions or the commission that they will form a good basis npon which to provide for a thorough revision, and that after all it may be at Mast said that the work of tbe much-ridiculed commission has not been valueless. They propose to abolish oompound duties with a few exceptions. They have revised the custom-house regulations in about a hundred particulars, and recommend the abolition of all fees, charges and commissions. Tbe tree liet is extended by including many new articles, auoh as wood-pulp, quinine, all dye extracts, crude chemicals, and all gm< n fruit exoept lemons. oranges and grapes. The duty on these fruits is made specific. They abolish compound duties on iron ores and fix a specific duty ot 50 cents a ton They abolish all oomponnd duties on manufactured tubaoco and put a duty of $3 on cigars, cigarettes, eta They propose to abolish all oompound duties on raw wools, and to make a reduction of about 31$ cents a pound on medium fine wool, which Includes the class generally sheared by Western growers. On manufactured woolen articles ot lower grades they have made large reductions. On ©heap woolen blankets the tariff la reduced about 60 percent. On barrel and sack salt the reduction is from 13 to lo sen s per 100, and on salt in bulk from Bto 6 cents. On lumber and oereals them ie no ohanne. On steel We reduction Is heavy, but iron and steel are proportionately reduced, exoept steel rails, which drop down from S3O to $lB per ton. Hteel blooms are put at M oent per pound. Medicinal preparations an reduced from 100 per.cent ad valorem to 49 per oent All oomponnd duties on cottons an abolished and the reduction is about 30 per oent Any single book or publication may oome In free. Readymade clothing is reduced about one-third, and carpets about one-fourth. The duty on books is reduoed one-hslf, and tbe duty on works of art is doubled. Fln.-nrucUe s and ulaytng-Q rds are increased from no to 100 pe cent ad valorem. It is proposed to abandon the’Dutuu standard on all grades of sugar below No. 18 and to use the polar!scope test, and that tbe Dutch standard shall continue to be used for all grades above No 13. Tbe genet al effect of this scheme wonld be a reduct 1 ""