The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-04-02
REM ARKS
HON. GLENN W. scoFIELD.

| ReVenue Eli.
Mr.. Chairman, there is but one objection
raised to the general purposes of this bill
There may be many objections to some o.
its details. The duty on particular articles
may be deemed too high or too low the
free list may be considered too large or toe
small to property carrying out such purpo
ses but to the purposes themselves have
heard but a single objection. What are
the purposes? The first purpose is to raise
revenue To this there is no objection from
any quarter. 1t is agreed on all sides that
the tariff furnishes cheap mode of rails
ing revenue, and that of all other modes it
is least offensive to the people. The $3.50,
100000 in gold derived last year from the
tariff gave far less vexation and offence to
the people than the S35, 600, 900 in curren~
cy derived from incomes. Before the war
yearly all the expenses of the Government
were paid by tariff. We differed then as
we differ now about its terms but it was
agreed BY everybody then, as it is by every
body now, that large portion of the ne.
cessary revenue should be raised in this
way. All other countries, as well as our
own, have approved and practiced the same
system. All advocates of free trade make
an.exception in favor Of revenue. Having
agreed, then, to raise revenue by tariff, be-
cause it is found least;ofensive to the people
and least expensive to the Government, the
question arises as to,the propriety of de-
parting in any instance from a strict reve-
nue. rule of making some Determinations to
effect some other beneficial, though ca!Iat-
eral purpose. We all agree to one depar.
ture. We all agree to levy the highest du.
ties upon articles consumed by those who
are most able to pay taxes This is dis.
,riminatcn in favor of the poor. 1t is
departure form the revenue rule, but is so
clearly just and benefcient that no one
complains.
Another departure is proposed. 1t is
called discrimination in favor of protec-
tion. Here comes in the objection to which
[ referred. Having agreed that we should
have tariff for revenue, having agreed al
so that it should discriminate in favor of
the poor, we disagree about this second
proposed discrimination. Except in the
matter of details l think we disagree about
no other feature OF the bill. Now, let us
consider this difference.
A large amount Of capital, not less than
10000, 900, is invested outside Of out
eountryin the manufacture of articles which
ale consumed within it, | refer now only
to articles that might be made at home if
we had the labor aud money here. This
estimated amounted includes only the sums
directly employed in the business.
1t all the necessary collateral investments
were to be taken into account, 81 ,000,000,-
900 would be none too large. What good
does this investment do the countries
where it exists? 1t pays into the foreign
treasury many millions of taxes, and lightens
to that exteut the taxes on other properly;
it assists to build railroads, canals aud river
Improvements it erects workshops, mills,
and dwellings it contributes to the schools,
the church, the college, the poor, the high
way, and the State But more than all this
it employs, supports, or gathers around it
in some dependent manner 100000 of
population. This population consists of cap
italists, managers, engineers, chemists, in-
ventors. superintendents, mechanics, produ-
GERS, and iaborers- Such a population is
necessarily intelligent, enterprising, moral,
industrious and thrifty. 1t is the best of
foreign population, and the very people
most needed here. From their occupations
and position in society they believe in and
with republican institutions. If
all this capital and population could be en-,
ticed to our shores ana distributed equally
over the country it would give to each con-
gressional district more than 100000,
and add 10000 to its population. Thi snm
would be much larger if the collateral or
following investments were to be consider
ed.
Now, sir, why does not this vast capital
and this most desirable population move to
America and perform the work by the side
OF the market and the raw material Why
does it not make railroads and canals, build
towns and cities, pay taxes, aud owe alleg-
lance for and to the country that furnishes
the material and consumes their manufac-
lures I Is it because these enterprises can