New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-14

asked 10 pass Judgment upon our course
here. There ought to be some explanation
And to these figures | invoke the attention
of members Of the House, that they may, if
possible, ascertain wherein they are un-
sound, and wherein a better presentation
NAV he made.
have to say that it comes very far short
of the promise with which this year was
entered upon. The President OF the United
States, in his message to us last session,
called our attention to the fact that we had
paid this large amount of the public debt,
and he said that the time had come when.
by curtailment of the customs revenue,
by the extinguishment first, of as many as
possible of the internal taxes. and then of
the tariff dues, we might he able to cut
down our revenue $50, 100000, and still have
a fair margin to meet the constant public
demands and the public debt He says:
q, therefore. recommend modification
of both the tariff and internal taxes. l re-
commend thatali taxes from internal sources
be abolished, except those collected from
spirituous, vinous and malt liquors, tobacco
in its various forms. and stamps"
The Secretary Of the Treasury calls our
attention to the operations of the govern
ment in this respect for the last three years.
and SAYS that the time has now come when
we can reduce the revenue from internal
taxes Sl6,DO0,0O0 and from the tariff $50
600, 600, aud still leave a margin by which
we may pay not only the sinking fund, but
about $.5.00o.00o upon the public debt di-
rectly, making SJ0,0 900 in all of the pub
lie debt annually paid off. And he pro-
poses that we strike Oft all the internal
taxes except those upon spirituous and
malt liquors, tobacco and stamps Now,
if that should be done. $l0O00,000
must be taken from this estimate of
mine, for that estimate is based upon the
laws as they now stand and with the rev.
enues of last year as the standard. There
fore. if the proposition of the Secretary of
the Treasury, preparatory to approaching
revision and reduction OF the tariff, should
he carried out, there would have to be de-
dncted $l0,000,0O0 and a little more from
the resources side of this balance. There
fore for some reason or other, We are not
where the public had a right to expect we
would he in regard to the means by which
we are to meet these expenditures, or III
regard to the expenditures themselves.
am not criticising any Of these apprO-
priations. AS said i'll the beginning, l am.
perhaps as much responsible for them as
any other member of this House. But
want to see whether, i'll the language of
distinguished Philadelphia statesman, 1t Is
not time to call halt. | want TO inquire
whether, looking into these figures, You are
not asking too much OF your Committee OF
WAYS and Means If, after what you have
done with reference to tea, coffee, salt, and
coal. Won exact of them a measure which
shall reduce the public revenues by a reduc-
ton OF the tariff burdens, and yet provide
the means for meeting the current expenses
as we'll as maintaining the sinking fund for
the liquidation of the public debt.
Mr.. Eldredge-If the gentleman will yield
for a moment ! would like to make a sug
gestion He has spoken of the action of the
House placing tea and coffee upon the free
list.
Mr. Dawes-I am not criticising it at all.
Mr.. Eidredge-i understand that: but the
gentleman will allow me to finish my sug-
-estion. That action has been very much
criticised. 1t has been criticised by Demo
Gratis and by Democratic papers of the coun-
1ry: and it is claimed that if that reduction
shall be made it will prevent the possibility
of any reduction of the duty on pig iron
Hence it is argued that this movement in
the House was made in the interest of the
protectionists. Gentlemen on this side of
the House who voted for that measure land
| was one of those who so voted(, have been
criticised as having supported measure in
the interest of protection. Now. sir. | am
a free trader from the crown of my head to
the soles of my feet; and believing tariff
to be a tax upon the people, ! support such
n measure only because of the necessities OF
the governme ut with regard to revenue.
Now. | want to put question to the
gentleman. The tariff as it stands to-day
upon pig iron is, as we understand, pro-
tcctive tariff A protective tariff, as We be-
leve. is to a certain extent prohlbltorv
tariff Now, if we bring down the tariff
upon iron TO a revenue basis, does not the
=, hn nf En n
this question. believe that we may take Oft
the duty upon tea and coffee and yet have
more revenue than We would have it We
should continue the present protective tariff
upon iron, | must say that 1t was with
this understanding tat | voted to place
tea and coffee upon the free list, surprising
that the deficiency of reven-e nj ght be met
in the way have suggested.
Mr. Dawes-Mr. Chairman. | had but a
word to say when tne gentleman inter
rupted me and what | was about to say
will pretty much answer the gentleman 5
inu,lry upon that point. When the bill re
uealing the duty upon tea anu coffee was
presented III this House the Committee OF
WAYS and Means struggled against it. he
lieying that it was all invasion upon the
work which mad been assigned to them
They struggled against if. not because they
were opposed to the repeal of the duty on
tea and coffee. but because they believed
that to strike into the tariff in that way by
q side blow, and then ask the committee 10
be responsible for the gene al result, after
YOU had taken from the revenue so ,0U0,o0G
was to impose upon the committee a Labor
which thew would not know how topertorm
This is the excuse which |, as their organ
offer to the House for, perhaps, an undue
zeal in begging of the House BOT to take the
tariff question in that way out OF the bands
of the Committee of Ways and Means
Mr.. Eldredge-Allow me word further
ON that point.
Mr.. Dawes-Wait Il moment. Mr.. Chair
man. I am now talking in reference to W that
will increase and what will diminish the
revenue; and III the few minutes allowed
me IT is impossible to meet a question
which involves the whole theory of revenue
and of protection. AT some time, If the
House will have patience. the committee
will bring in the result of their laborS: and
trust they may have an opportunity tC
give the reasons for what ,hey have done
They are try ing to keep the balance sheet
of the government III such shape that we
shall be able to meet all the necessary
expenditures Of the government, or,ii
nary and extraordinary, az well as maintain
such sinking fund that we may during
this year, as during the last three years
pay Off fair proportion of the public debt
some twenty-five millions, or something
like that If the tariff could be adjusted
by some financial head so that all parts
would conform each to the other. and then
be brought in as a whole. as the "budget'
is brought before Parliament and submitted
to its Judgment. it would work as the gen
tleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Eldredgej,
doubt not desires to have it. 1t would pro
duce the greatest possible amount of reye
nue. with the least impairment Of the in
dustries of the country, and with such incl
dental protection and aid to every interest
as il is lawful and proper fer tbs govern
ment of the nation to extend
IL, ,,,1