TARIFF REVISION. 



781 



duction can not be stated with precision, partly from 

 want of time to make the calculations required for 

 such details in the brief period intervening between 

 the final determination in particular cases and the 

 preparation of this report ; and there is no exact 

 standard by which to estimate the amount of reduction 

 in revenue, on account of the varying character, 

 amount, and prices of commodities in the importations 

 of different years. If the reduction reaches the amount 

 at which the commission has aimed, and if there is 

 any truth in the allegation of the opponents of the 

 present economic system, that a duty on articles such 

 as are produced in this country, whether in manufac- 

 tures or agriculture, enhances the price to the con- 

 sumer, not only of what is imported, but of the whole 

 domestic production, to an amount of which the duty 

 is a measure, the reduction proposed by the commis- 

 sion would benefit consumers to the extent of hun- 

 dreds of millions of dollars. 



As to the principle generally followed in 

 making reductions, it is said that the effort was 

 " to make the reduction apply to commodities 

 of necessary general consumption, and to di- 



minish or withhold the reduction upon com- 

 modities of high cost, requiring more labor, 

 and which being consumed principally by tho 

 more wealthy classes could bear higher duties, 

 at the same time supplying revenue and en- 

 couraging the higher arts without being op- 

 pressive in their operation." It is further 

 stated that tho purpose was ; 'to make a dis- 

 crimination in the rate of the duties imposed 

 upon a manufactured product and the raw ma- 

 terial or partially manufactured product of 

 which it is made, the object being to impose 

 a higher duty upon the latter." By way of 

 showing how momentous were the interests to 

 be affected by tariff legislation, the commission 

 presented the following table, and the sub- 

 joined explanatory remarks, showing the prog- 

 ress of the United States in manufacturing 

 industry during the period of the last thirty 

 years : 



It is to be noted that the figures given for 1870 are 

 upon the basis of the then depreciated currency, while 

 the figures for 1880 are upon a gold basis. 



The above table shows that capital increased in the 

 decade ending in 1860 about 90 per cent ; during the 

 period between 1860 and 1870, about 110 per cent ; and 

 for the last decade only about 32 per cent, to which 

 should be added the difference in the standard of val- 

 ues. That at the close of the first decade referred to, 

 the number of hands employed increased 37 per cent ; 

 between 1860 and 1870, 75 percent ; and between 1870 

 and 1880, about 33 per cent. 



From 1850 to 1860 the wages paid increased 60 per 

 cent ; from 1860 to 1870, 105 per cent ; and from 1870 

 to 1880, as we come down again to a gold basis, 22 per 

 cent. 



The materials used from 1850 to 1860 increased 86 

 per cent ; from 1800 to 1870, 141 per cent ; and from 

 1870 to 1880, 36 per cent. 



The value of the products of these manufactures 

 increased from 1850 to 1860, 85 per cent ; from 1860 

 to 1870, 124 per cent ; from 1870 to 1880, 27 per cent. 



The progress of the nation in manufactures during 

 the last forty years has been, for capital invested, 423 

 per cent ; for hands employed^ 180 per cent ; for wages 

 paid, 300 per cent; for materials used, 511 per cent ; 

 and for value of products, 427 per cent. 



The growth of industries during the last decade, 

 upon the whole, has been a healthy and prosperous 

 one, and yet it lias not more than kept up with the 

 growth of population. The increase in population 

 during the last ten years has been about 30 per 

 cent, whereas it has been shown that the increase of 

 capital invested in manufactures has been 32 per cent ; 

 in the number of hands employed, 33 per cent ; in the 

 amount of wages paid, 22 per cent ; in the value of 

 materials consumed, 36 per cent ; and in the value of 

 the products, 27 per cent. 



According to Mr. Mulhall, an English statistician 

 of recognized authority, the total value of the products 

 of English manufactures for 1880 was about $4,000,- 

 000,000. The table above given shows the value of 

 the products of our own manufactures to be, in round 

 numbers, $5,370,000,000, giving the United States the 

 eminence of being the greatest manufacturing country 

 in the world. 



The commission presented a series of sched- 

 ules of duties to be imposed under its proposed 

 revisions of the law, and also various changes 

 in the administrative methods of the revenue 

 system. Among the latter were the substitu- 

 tion of a single entry-fee at the custom-house, 

 for numerous and annoying small fees ; giving 

 authority for certain procedures already in 

 use without the sanction of law ; giving facili- 

 ties for the importation of the personal effects 

 of immigrants ; providing that the weights and 

 measures employed in invoices may be those 

 in general use in the country of exportation ; 

 requiring invoices of merchandise subject to 

 ad valorem duties to be made out in the cur- 

 rency actually paid therefor, as well as that of 

 the country from which importation is made ; 

 limiting the requirements of triplicate invoices 

 to articles subject to ad valorem duties only ; 

 making it imperative that, before certifying to 

 an invoice, the consular officer shall require an 

 oath, affirmation, or declaration that the in- 

 voices are correct ; providing more equitable, 

 rigid, and efficient penalties for under- valua- 

 tions; providing for an appraisement, separate 

 and distinct in all cases ; permitting the exam- 

 ination of bulky goods for appraisement at 

 other places than the public stores. Provision 

 was also made for the repeal of the require- 

 ment of the existing law that land transporta- 

 tion costs and charges should be added to the 

 basis of computation for ad valorem duties, and 

 a bill was submitted for establishing a customs 

 court for the determination of disputed ques- 

 tions arising under the tariff laws as to the 

 classification of duty on imported merchan- 

 dise, etc. 



The schedules of duties were fourteen in 



