Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-04-04
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, April 1, 1872.
SENATE

/ SENATE.
When the Senate passed the free tea
and coffee amendment, the high protec-
tiOnists breathed easier, expecting that
as nearly the entire proposed reduction
had been reached upon these two arti-
/ cles alone. other votes would remain un-
| changed 1t did look, as Senator Sher-
man intimated, as if there was nothing
| more for the Senate to do tariff-wise,
! but change is written on all things here
as elsewhere. Victory one day may
mean defeat the next and gice yersd.
Trumbull did not vote to strike all duties
from tea and coffee. He had little con-
fidence in the free breakfast" dodge
beforehand, but after having had time
to try these delicious beverages and note
their improved qualities, or quantities
under the anticipated new dispensation
he comes into the Senate thorough
domestic economist; the poor mans
friend that he always was with a new
grace added; he now proposed another
turn of the free breakfast thumbscrew
Free tea and coffee luxuries of very gen
eral use-were good for the millions
now would the Senate in its magnanim-
ity strike taxation from those articles of
indispensable necessity salt and coal so
as not TO tax the seasoning of the Door
mans cruel, and the fire of his hearth,
by which he boils his free tea and cof
fee? The Senate after due deliberation,
much argument and a general mystifica-
ton OF all things connected Herewith,
and much bearing no connection. decid-
ed most emphatically that it would do
no such thing. The action of the Sen
n 70 fhiS +barofC~o e
count, but the debate demonstrated that
this question like all other things has
two sides. Another thing it done, GER
tain Senators, the day before, upon the
tea and coffee question were so enthuas-
tic in their love for poor ordinary HUI
manity that it seemed as if there was
only one step more for them to take.
and that step was to sell all they had
and only give it to the poor and straight
way enter upon noble cause, but this
question left them safely anchored upon
the other side. 1t spoiled some really
beautiful impressions of some Of the
christian spirits with which we have to
do in this uncertain world, but it re-
yealed the true state of affairs, and I'M
pleasant truths are better than glittering
sOphistries. 1t appears from this debate
that certain salt manufacturers claim
protection. If a duty do not be kept
upon foreign salt that article will seek
our markets, and salt will fall below
its present figure It also ap-
pears the certain salt companies |
having leased lesser salt work let them
lay idle that their own may have .un- !
control of the trade. These |
not only claim and get high |
protection, enabling them to break .
down opposition and dictate to some
extent, the home market, but can also |
afford to export their manufactures. As |
the stock of some of these companies /
have reached millions in a few years
time it would seem to argue that the
protection is higher than the whole in
terests of the whole country requires. A
protection of an industry is
one thing, the fostering of monopoly
IS quite another. From this the Senate
turned 20 repeating tax laws and cutting
1oWn tariff with such vengeance that
high protection member broke for the
telegraph and informed his constituents
.hat things were getting fearfully mixed.
At the end OF a protracted and somewhat
'tOrmy debate on Thursday evening
Oil was passed making general tariff
'eductl0n OF ten per cent, repeating the
income tax laws so as to avert the pay
nent Of income taxes now due, and al
ogether exceeding the estimate reduc-
ions of the Finance Committee over ten
Millions of dollars This ended the
senatorial weeks work. The impression
; that the House will find tabIe-room
or that bill, The Senate may forget
hat it is the constitutional perogative of
he lower House to, originate tariff
measures but the House have not for
often it and its leaders threaten to
maintain said rights. Meanwhile tariff
: left in that uncertain state that no
ody can tell what is ultimately to re-
nit This ''raises Ned" with the tea
nd coffee trade in particular |