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TARIFFS COMPARED.
PRiNCIPAL SCHEDULES FROM 1789
CAREFULLY EXAMINED.
Summary of the Changes in Duties from
the First Tariff Imposed P ‘ by - the United
States Government to the Present Time,
Changes Proposed by tbe Mills 15i 11
[Copyrighted by the American Press Association. 1
No other subject in American politics has
been so often and so continuously debated as
the tariff. It is not surprising, therefore,
that the rate of duties upon imports into the
Lmted States has been changed no less than
fifty times since the establishment of their
government. But omitting minor changes,
of which there have been as many as three in
one year, tho different tariffs adopted bv
congress may be classed under eleven heads,
viz.:
1. The Hamiltonian or Federalist tariff,
the first adopted, signed by President Wash
ington on July 4, 1789, and amended many
times in tho following twenty-three years
and generally by higher rates. It was sus
pended for a time by the “embargo” of
President Jefferson, which practically
hibited all trade with Europe.
2. Tho war tariffs of 1812-15, nominally
moderate, but made prohibitory for a time
by the British blockade.
3. Tho Lowndes-Calhoun tariff of 1S10,
avowedly protective and designed “to pre
serve those industries called into existence
by the exigencies of the war and by the
blockade. ”
4. The first “Clay tariff,” sometimes called
the “Republican tariff” of JS2H, raising
rates of 1810 and adding many articles
duced in the newer states. This was the first
tariff levying duties on wool.
5. The tariff of 1828, the highest before the
war, denounced by its enemies as “The
Tariff of Abominations.”
(5. The “modifying tariff” of 1832, designee
to “correct the inequalities” of that of 1828.
7. The compromise tariff of 1833, designed
to pacify the nuliifiers of South Carolina and
providing for taking off one-tenth of the
higher duties each year uutil all should reach
a uniform rate of 20 percent.
8. The Whig tariff of 1842, adopted on the
plee that the treasury was empty and the
manufactures prostrated, and designed to be
both for revenue and protection.
9. The Polk-Walker tariff of 1840, abolish
ish all existing duties and providing for a
lower scale of duties on what was alleged to
be a “scientific plan.” Tho rates averaged
about 22 per cent., if luxuries be included,
10. The Democratic-Republican or second
compromise tariff of 1857, reducing the rates
of tne Polk-Walker tariff on tho plea that
the revenue was excessive.
11 The Morrill tariff of 1801, the first
tariff providing for a general system of com¬
pound and differential duties, specific anil
ad valorem, and making differences between
goo Is imported from different parts of the
world. This tariff was frequently
during the war, revised in 1860, 1807. 1809
and 1870, reduced 10 per cent, in 1872, raised
to the old rates in 1875, and slightly reduced
in 1883, the result being the present tariff.
It has been avowedly protective throughout.
T’le Mills bill would make certain reduc¬
tions on the rates left in 1883 and place sev
era! articles, of which wool is the most im
portant, on the free list.
T iQ student of American tariff legislation #
shonld lteei) constantly in mind the fact that,
unt 1 18<9, the tariff question was
complicated with the questions of banking
and currency, and that a change in the one
often produced results now erroneously
charged or credited to the other. While
there have been eleven genera] tariffs and
some forty minor changes under the general
heads, there have been no less than eight dis
tinct systems of currency and banking,
which may be thus titled: The Hamiltonian
United States bank era, 17S9 to 1811; the
Madisonian state bank era. 1811 ^
1817; the Clay, etc.. United States
bank era, 1817 to 183G-*37; the Jack
son-BeDton “hard money” experiment,
1837 to 1841; the general state bank sj-siem.
1841 to 1802; the greenback and national
bank system with suspension of specie ? ay
ments, 18*22 to 1879. and the era of “equ
tion” if coin and paper, from 1879 to
prK>3nt. The student who attempts to
tho currency alone finds bis scientific conclu
sions constantly set at naught by the facts
thwarted by revulsions due to the currency.
If he attempts to combine the two in oue be
ro*clisfo£“ ' Pe, ' PlBIed i! ‘ r ° rmil>S COrrOCt
The followin', compilation presents n com
parison of tariffs from 1780 to tho present
u P on tbose articles tho duties upon which
would be affected by tho Mills bill were it lo
become a law Limitations as to space, how
ever, have made it possible to show the most
notaole changes only. The items arc classi
fitd alphabetically, the nomenclature of
Mills bill being observed so far as has been
found practicable. The first date given in
di cates the tear the article under eonsidcra*
^ note,'etc! 1 ''
n fc the firstchan^e of
pj ^yg yvi case, 1883,’now however, the rato of the
schedule of in force, and referred
to hereas “1888,” is given just before tho fig
ures proposed by the Mills bill, in the
tor of such articles as wool, iron, sugar, etc..
It lias been thought better to giro one short
explanatory paragraph than to attempt to
give tho schedules in full. In fact, this would
be impossible, as a comparison of the schedules
on wool alone would quite fill this page. The
letters “n. o. p. f.” stand for “not otherwise
provided for.” Here are the figures:
Acetate of Lead, broivn * L-42, 4 cts. lb;
i86i. 20 cts. lb. ; is73, 6 cts. lb. ; 13.8, 4 cts.
m.Us bill. 2 cts. lb.
Acetate of Lea white: 1842, 4 cts. lb.'
1872, 10 cts. ib.; 188J, 6 cts. Ib.; Mills bill. 3 cts. lb
A*“i, ta...:lc o. lannin. bi34. $ 2.00 lb.;
V-t- 2,0 lb,, 1888,si lb; Mills bill, CO ct3. lb.
Acids, acetic, acetous and pyroilg.
neons, exceeding specific gravity of 1 47/1000 per
lb.; 1S42.20 per cent.; 1864, 80 eta. lb.; 1875,30 cts.
lb.; 1888, lOe.'s. lb.; Mills bill 6 eta lb.
Acorn* and Dandelion Hoot, and all srib
st itutes for coffee u. o. p. f. : 1370, tree; 1.75,3 eta.
lb .. 1888i 2 cts. lb.; Mills bill, free,
Alum: 1S1G, £l.00aud $2.00 cwt.: 1824. 2?2 cts
lb.; 18-12. I** cts. lb.; 1846, 20 per ceut.; 1861, 6 cts.
| lb.; ISoo, 6 cts. lb.; Mills till. tree.
! Aniline Oil and its homologucs: 1S70, free.
ISSS, free; M.lis bill, free.
Antimony, as regulus or metal: 1808, friu
2846, 2o p r cent.; iSGi. 10 per cant.; 137ft, i0 pm
c-mt ; 1833. lo per cent.; Mills bill, free,
j of JutV'for grata: 1831 . lib' pertebt'.;
18K8t p(ir ccnt . ; Mills bill, fr.e.
Baryta. Nitrate of: 1S64, 20 per cent..
Mil s bill, ii ct. lb.
Baryta, Sulphate of: 1842. )* ct. lb.; 1346,
20 per cent.; 1864, y r ct. iu.; 1383, 10 per cent.;
Hills bill, free.
Ceuds * 1332, 16 per cent.; 1842, 2ft per eent.;
pug, 30 per cent.; 1864. 50 per cent.; is 8. .70 per
ceut.; Mills b 11.40 per cent,
j Beef t r2% j ct . , h .. 184a> 2 o par cent.; l Cl.
1 1 ct |b> 13S8> 2 cU- lb Mill billf f;e o.
. . ^
fees wax: 1842, 15 per cent.; 1846, 20 per cent
1833, 20 per cent.; Mills bill, free.
Belts, endless, for paper or printing machines:
1875, 20 cts. lb. aud 35 per ceut.; 1833, 20 cts. lb.
and 30 per cent ; Mills bill, 30 per cent.
Bicarbonate of Soda: 1864, 1% cts. lb ;
1888 , cts. lb.; Mills bill, K ct. lb.
B t chroma te of Potash: 1824,12 ^percent.;
m2 2Q percent-; i 8G4 , 3 ct a. lb. ; 1875, 4 cts. lb.;
1883, 3 cts. lb.. Mills bill, 2 % cts. ib.
Black***£ of all kinds: 1864. 30 percent.; 1888,
25 per cent ; MiilB bill, 29 per cent.
Bards or Planks, rough: 1842, 20ner cent.;
1875, $1.00 and $2.00 per M bd. meas.; 1883, $1 09
and $ 2 .oo per M bd. mean.; Mills bill. free,
Boards or Planks, p!aned : 1842.30percent.;
j g75> $j >G0 an q jj 50 p Pr m addl.; 1888. $ 1.00 and
$150 M lddl .. mil, bill. froo.
Bonn * ts: ^92. 10 per cent ; 1816, „ 30 „ per cent.;
1824 60 per cent.; 1842,35 per cent.; 1816. 30 per
,
cent.; 1%4, 40 per cent.; 187ft. 40 per cent.; 1888,
30 per cent.; Mills bill, 30 per cent,
Borax, crude: 1842, free; 1816. 75 per cent.;
1804, 5 cts. lb.: 1875, ires; 1388, 3 cts. lb.; Mills
bill, free,
| Borax, refined: 1842, 23 per cent.; 1864, 10
cts i b _. issa. 5 cts. lb.; Mills bill, free.
Bricks: 1791, 19 per cent.; 1832, 15 per cent.;
1842 25 per cent.; 1864, 20 per cent.; 1883, 20 per
.
cent.; Mills bill, free.
Bristles: 1816, 3 ct*. lb.; 1842, let. lb.; 18J6,
per cent.; 18C4, 15 cts. lb.; 1888, 15 cts. lb.;
bit, free,
J Brooms of a!l kind*: 1832. 15 per cent.;
1842, 30 per cent.; 1861. 3 ft per cent.; IS83, ‘-5 per
cent . Mii; 8 bill, 20 per cent.
Brushes, til kinds: 1789. 7*4 per cent.: 1816.
?>0 1>flr ceut . l8r , 4 40 per cent.; 1888,30 per cent.;
'
biU 20 per cont .
«££
Mills bill, free.
r> n rlap* not exceedin' 60 Inches In width:
1825. 15 ,.,r «»».: 18 , 2 20 ppr mL, lS.fi. 25 per
.
“»»•» ls75 30 "S' c ™‘-‘ 30 '' or M,U *
-
hill, free.
Cables o- r„rdo«e, tarred: 1780. 7* ct*
rwt 1S1) , ,, ot , lb ♦ cts. U>.; 1842, 5 cts. Ib ;
“ ' *'
. . pMU.dcts lb 18S8. 3 cts. lb.;
till, -ft per cent.
Cables or Cordage, not farr*d: 1780, 90
cts. c«t. ; lRlft. 4ct*. lb.; 1828. 5 cts lb.; 1842, 4 »,
cta> , b . i 84( *, 25 percent.; 1864. Manilla, 2 S c's.
t
p, . other, 3!,£ cts lb.; 1888 ,Manilla, 214 <*ts ; other,
! <**■»• J Mills bill. 25 per cent
‘ Candvi 1 7*.Hi. 10 per cent.; 1816, 12 cts. lb.;
1842 ct8 ib. ; 1864. U) c<s. lb.; iki 8, ft cts. lb ;
*
’
1 ’ 5 c ts lb
ami stick,: l.»» m
C ane» • .
30 percent; 1864, 35 percent.-. IssS. #n > '«'■ »■
{)0r ceuti unfln shed, 20 per cont.; Mills bill,
ftnifhcd, 20 per cent.
ChviI 4’lot liing; 1883, 2ft cts. per sq. ft.; when
manufactured from steel wire iftefe. per pq. ft.;
Mills bill. 20 cts. per eq. ft.; when manufactured
from tempered ateel wire 40 cts. per sq. it.
Carpet* and Carpetings, n. « P> f*»
drtbfgota, bock I figs, mats, rugs, screens, covei p,
hassocks, bedsides of wool, flax, cotton, or pa r ts
of either or thor material: The duty on carpets
began in 1790 at 7 l /j p^r cent., and became more
complicated with each schedule, Tbo carpets
mentioned in this paragraph are scheduled *n
tbe prese it tariff (1889) as follows: Druggets and
bookings. 16 cts. sq. yd. and 30 percent.; carpet¬
ings of wool; Six or cotton, or parts of <ither or
other matorial n. o. p. f., and mats, rugs, etc., 40
per cent.
Carriages: 1739, 15 per cent.: 1816. 30 per
cent.; 1864, 35 r er cent.; 1883, SSperc nt.; Mill*
bill, 30 p.*r cent.
Castor Deanes 1864, 60 cts. bush.; 1988, 60
cts. bush ; Mills bill, 2ft c‘s bush, of 60 lbs.
Castor OH: 1824. 40cts. gal.; 1816. 20 p-r cent.;
1804. $1.00gal.; 1888, 80 cts. gal.; Mills bill, 40 els.
gal.
Chicory R*ot: 1864, unground, 4 cts. lb
prepared. 6 cts. lb.; 187ft, uuground. 1 ct. lb.; pre¬
pared, 5 cts. lb.; 1S83, unground, 2 cts. ib.; pre¬
pared, 2 Cts. lb.; Mills bill, fret'.
China ware: 1739, 10 per e*>nt.: 1816. 20 per
cent.; 1842,80 per cent.; 1364 white, 45 percent.;
decorated, GO p< r cent.; 188^, white, 65 per cent.;
decorated, 60 per cent.; Mills bill, white, 40 per
cent.; decorated, f.0 per cent.
Chromate of Iron or chiomlc ore: 1888,
15 per ceut.; Mills bill, f'roo.
Chromate of po’nsh: 1832, 12H prr cent.;
1842, 20 p rcent.; 1361. Sets, lb.; 1375,4 otft. lb.;
1883. 3cts. lb.; Mill* biU.2‘J cts. lb.
Clapboards, pine* 1S72. $2.00 per M; 1888,
$2.00 per M; Mills bill, free.
Clapboard*, spruce: 1872, $1.50 per M;
1888, $1.50 per M; Mill, bill, free.
Clay, unwrought: 1800, free; 1846, ft per cent.;
13G4, $5.00 ton; 18S8, $3.00 ton; Mills bill, irso
Coal Tar, preparations of, not colors, dyes or
acids: 1838. 20 percent.; Mills bill. froo.
Cocoa: 1739. 1 rt. lb.; 1816, 2 cts. lb.; 1312 1 et
lb.; 1846,10 per cent.; 1864, 3 cts. lb. (manufac¬
tured, 9 cts. lb.); 1375, free (prepared, 2 cts. lb.);
1888, free (prepared, 2 cts. lb.); Mills bill, free.
Confe tioncry, n. o. p. f.: 1842. 23 p r
1846, 30 per cent.; 1864, 1ft cts. lb. to50 per - ent ;
1888 (value more than 30 cts. lb), ft 0 per
Mills bill, 40 per cent.
Copperas- 1 10 , $ 1.00 cwt ; 1823 , $2 00 cwt.;
mi*, a ct.. lb., 18W. so pm cent; 186-1, J$ ct.
1888. 3/10 ct. 1.*.; ,, Mills bill. .... free.
rovper c ii pplnR , Pom nc. flt only for
| romannfa c t nre : 1 7ft, 5 cts. lb.; 1838,3 cts. Ib.;
Mills lull. 1 ct. lb.
C; »pper, old: 130\ fr^o; 1316, 5 per cent.; l e 6l.
p, . 1 , 7 ft. 4 cts. lb.; 1888, 3 cts. lb ; Mills
i bill. Iron.
( opi*er. Panufacturps, arlicle< or
wares, n. o. p. f., compusi l whciily or in p:rt of
j C0 pper: 1720, 7 i per cent.; 1316,20 and 25 per
C .c nt.: 1842. cint.; 30 1388. per cent.: 3 cts. 1864. ib.; 3ft Mills per bill, cc*nt.^ 3ft P« r
4 ft per
Copper Ore: 1842. free: 18'*4, 5 per cent.; 1875,
3ctn lb. (re:;ulus of. 4 cts. lb.; copper cement,
DJf c!».): 18 2'i cts. lb. (regains aud eoa »e
co p< cts. Ib.): Mills till, tree.
Copper, s!m»« is: 1789, free; 1802, 1ft \> r
1842. 30 p r rent.; IMG. 20 per c nt.; I Ct, 35 p r
ccut . ; m:*., 4 : p r c nt.; ;
dll, 30 per ceut.
££* !;
bill, to per cent.
f oft on Bagging: 1824, V.{ ct*. sq. y!. : 1823.
,, - j . , .32. 3!, ei, j- ,1 : 12.2. 4
«“* **»- ” p ,‘, r '"T J" T.
rless *q. yd., .?<t . i <~r l ■ j «■■■■*
D73, ~t*.. 3 vMue cts. lb.; 7 ct« 1888, or less value sq^yd., els. cr 2 c*«. 1 ss «q. o y ov-: i., 1 7
.
cts. lb.*, ov.r 7 cts.. 2 cts. lb.; Mills hill, 3
i otton 4 loth; 1727, lft per cent.; 1 1C.2ft a
20 per cent.: isos, 25 ^ per cent.; isio. ;> • ? r « n
1861, varying duties running iron ; t i c vU. and
10 percent, to 3ft per cent.; l-dft. from 5 ct* yd.
and 20 per cent. to 3» per cent.; 1 - \ ir.vn 2 I cts.
yi “ 10 40 p; r ‘ t>at " ; MlUa blUf 40 p *’ r e ® Dt *
4 often, I>»h, wa-* datie l at .>{>'■ »s. In. r
forty years. Manufactures of cotton 1 percent,
lo 1800,17tniww. 35 In l-'K*. v .ric l slij’-Ry nil
fi- 41 , 2 ft per rent, in 1S4_\ ftu in 1 16 , nmi ;.:n varied
wr » IlUto «lnc»cxcc 1 .t. s .11 r.-i >vcr • 2 ubled
tll0 x>1 , u , l!a , , ;l , , h , r; t.,
out ..... uttie,
Cotton Thread: 1842, in value below 60 cfa
lb., 25 jm r cent.; all other, 30 percent.; 1864,6
*5ts. doz. aud 30 per cent, on HflOiV * not over lssO
da.; each additional 100 yds 6 1 *1 ff ,j i
, ,
per cent.; lo7ft, varying fro a 1* rtn. jb. a;
20 p«r cent, to 40 eta. lb and 20 | or c»-it . <
spools, from 6 cts. doz. nn 1 8 j per ecu:, to
di)Z. and 3ft per Cent.; 1S33. irora into 4t ct
value over $1,00 lb., fto percent.; ou s; oeb, 7 I
d< z.*, Mills bill, valued at not < xtn* ’ ; 40 cts.
lb., 3ft per cent., valued at ovt r 4U cts. It*., 4 1 ’ * r
ceut.; ou spools, 40 per cent.
t otto.* Ties,iron aud steel. Dutiable an4 r
earlier tar fix. shown by the pari^npu cu tr* u.
Mills bill, iree.
4 otton seed (’ 11; 1870, 30 cts. pal.; I" 3. 26
cts gal . Mills bill, free.
Curie 1 fMilr: 1842. 10 per cent.,* ISirt. 20 p •’
cent.; 1875, 30 per corn.; 1F8H, 2ft per cent.. Mf!U
bill, tree.
ft urranti, Zmto or other: 1731, 10 per c n?..
1816. 3 cts lb ; 131(1, 40 per cent.; H0t, ft . t U>.;
1876, 1 ct lb.; l. H.l, 1 ct. lb.; Mills in 1, fr* *.
Ii«tt*s: 1701 10 p r cent.; I 32 tr* I 12. 1
ct. lb ; 1 4ft, per cent ; I80I, 2 ct*. lb . I
1 ct. lb.; 1888, l Ct lb,; Mills b 11. free.
Dead oil ami f*.tt li: 1873, 20p roent., 1“
20 p(>r cent.; Mills bill, free.
Do!Is: 1792, 10 per rent.; 1842. 80 p r ceut.;
1864,3ftper coat.; 1818, 86 per cent.; Mil’s bill, 3"
per ceut.
Dyeing Male; in!*, vegetable, and dried
insects n o p. I.: 1789, free*. 184ft (dye woodm. ft
percent.; fill other, 20 per c;*nt.; T 04, free; l %
10 percent.; Mills bill,tree
var< I» ’nware. brown 1789. 10 per cent
1816, 20 per cent.; 1842, :?0 per cent ; 186-1, 2-ft per
cent.; 1,63.25 percent.; l ! t* bl l 20 p< r Ten
Kortlienu ur«>, . nu'L." * 17’ i*> ?- t •
. ,
1816, 20 per cent.; 1842,20 per cent , 1 64, «n t
cent ; 1-488, f ft per rent.. ft• ! 1 •* bill, ft.ft per nt
Funs, n. o, |». f t 1792, lo per cent.; 1- ' , 20
percent.; 1832. 2ft per cent.; 1 P>, '0 per •
1864, 35 per cent.; 1 88,35 per cent.; Mills bill,
per cent.
Fodlliers, or nam*n till: 1792,10 per Cfin f ,
1816, 30 per cent.; 13 2, 2ft per cent.; 1846 'u p i
cent.; 18(1. to per cent.; lft v 8, 5'J per r at . M
bill, 3ft per cent.
F«ather*,uumH»ufsctureil: 1 32, 17 ; ”t
18P2. 2ft per cent.; 1464, 2ft to ftO per c* 1 *
1876, 2ft p r cent, (lor beds, free); 1888, 2-ft per ■
dor bad*, freo; Mills bill. Iron
I* ig*. 179L, it) per ecu J ; 1816,3 Ct». lb.; I' 1
free; 1842, 2 cts Ib.; 1840, ) per cent.; 1864,5 i t.
lb.; 1875. 2 1 j «*t*. It*. ; PH . 2 cts. lb.; .Mills bib,
Flax. h*ckl*d: IMrt. Ift p-r cr*.; i 4 $
tOB; W 75. $4u tun; bM, fn on hill- *-U.
ton.
Flax.m t lisckled of drenml: isr
an q j fi00 ton; 1842, $2 I ) I 0 ton, 2346. 1ft p*
i804. $i*. 001 •*-. 1 7ft, $.u.oo ton; 13
M.11* bill, lreo.
Flux, lifiv; 1870, $5 ton. 1888, $ If
bill, lr»'e
Flax. »»-n*and Hemp Tarns: 1 4 .
p,,,, cent . j^j ft-**, ao and 3ft per Gent
ct# lb . fl a * f 35 — r cent ; bci p. ft c
1898, all 3ft per cent.; ► Hills s bill. 15 per ceut.
Fnrnl<ure. Household: 17
1816, 3 ) p*-r cent.: Iu7i
30 and «lu per nt
€»-tne and P uD»y i6r
33 p(?r r>JJt . jgj] s bid