The Mew American Tariff Bill.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1705, 11 May 1886, Page 2

The Mew American Tariff Bill.

(Per Mail Steamer.)

The Committee of Ways and Means reported the new Tariff Bill to Congress. The reductions proposed are within the estimated amount. The present annual surplus 30,000,000 dols. The Committee say neither the actual needs of an economical Administration nor the patriotic expectations of the people justify any increase of the enormous annual expenditure. The reduction of the surplus will by little exceed 24,000,000d01* on the basis of last years'* importations. A minority 'report, which may be called the Republican version of the tariff question, dwells on the injustice done to the wool-growers of th* United States, whose vast interests would be left to the mercy of competition with the wool-growers of Australia, New Zealand, and Soutn America, where the principal cost of production m shepherd's labor, which is cheap, and the feeding, either m winter or summer, does not enter into the cost of the sheep industry. The decay of the sheep industry m the United States would be a national calamity, and would place the manufacturers at the mercy of foreign producers. The industry had required years of care and much cost to reach its present development. The majority of this Committee had, as tar as it could, taken wool from the dutiable list. Nothing; was left for this great interest, which enriches every state m the Union, but to appeal to Congress and to the country to repudiate the work of the Committee.