The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-04-24
WEDNESDAY EVE'G, APRIL "a, 1877
THE TARIFF Bill.

Ways aud Means Committee, and the trl-
angular fight between the Gree-tradcrs, the !
protectionists and revenue reformers, there
have been serious fears that no practical
relief would be afforded by Congress in
the heavy burdens now laid on the people,
by taxing articles of general consumption
where protection as principle has no APP
plication, since there can be no effective
rivalry in the market other than that offered
by the foreign manufacturer and trader.
The composition of that committee by Mr..
Speaker Blaine was most unfortunate, to
say the least Of it, and may result disas-
trously in the end TO the more important
material interests of the country. A ma
iority of the committee, as is well known,
are free-traders, and thoroughly set on
giving expression to their lree-trade notions
by some positive embodiment of them into
law. IF this were the only danger that
threatened, there would be but little to APP
prehend in the way of injury to our ma
terial industries, since the protectionsts in
the House are sufficiently strong to block
any and all adverse legislation coming
from the hands Of the committee.
But many of the protectionists are also
revenue reformers, who seek to accomplish
greater or less reduction of the internal
revenue, if not entirely to repeal the in
come tax and they have been lodging
about between the two extremes, without
any well-defned idea of what they should
do, but waiting, Micawber-like, in the hope
that something would ''turn up' in their
interests. Between these and the free
traders, who want to make a slashing
change in the whole system ofrevenue col
lection, there is scarcely a hope that any
practical result will be reached in the Com
mittee. To the bill introduced by Mr.
Dawes, and against which he himself enter
ed a protest on presenting it, there are SO
many objections that it certainly ought not
to pass, nor receive, in fact, the serious
consideration of either branch Of Congress
1t is hardly possible to conceive of bill
more iniquitous in principle or tho
roughly Objectionable in fact. II re
duces the revenue about thirty-one million
dollars, it is true, but in doing this, il
virtually lifts no burden from the shoulders
Of the people, nor does it relieve at all ths
trade and industries Of the country. l
either removes or materially lessons tht
duties on nearly all the articles manufac
tured in this country, while on tea ant
coffee, which are of general if not uni
versal consumption, and which we canno
produce at all, high duty is still retained
This is directly in the teeth of the tru,
American policy, which is to impose du
ties so as to encourage home industry ant
at the same time give the American manu-
facturer and producer, as far as possible
the control of the market. For it must b.
apparent that if the foreign manufacture
is given the control of the market, tn
price of the article manufactured, what
ever it may be, will be fixed by the foreigl
merchant and not the American. TIL
effect of reduction in the tariff is to sto,
the home manufacture, when the price il
no longer held down to the figure at which
native production can afford it, but mo
nopoly in the hands of the foreign dealer i
what at once ensues. This is too mani
testify the result of non-protection to admi
of any contradiction.
But the bill presented by tho Hon. WIN
D. KELLEY, representing the Fourt
Pennsylvania District, obyiates all thes
objections, aid goes directly to the relief {
the people, without subverting domesti
trade or industry. 1t begins with sweep
ing reduction of the internal revenue, whic
is now imperatively demanded; total,
abolishes the odious income tax, costin
the people so many millions for its collec
ton takes the duty from tea and coffee
and other necessaries of life; admits tn
tropical productions free and, at the sam
time, reduces the duty on iron, steel, col
ton, wool, wooden goods, etc., to the loves
point consistent with the idea of protectin
the skilled American workman against tn
unskiled and unpaid labor of Europe. Thi
bill, if it could be passed, would affor
immense relief to the people, while it woul
strike no serious blow to our material in
terests, like the free trade assault upoI
American industries. 1t may not b.
possible to pass it in the shape in which j
has been presented, but it is the only bill
which thoroughly harmonizes with priDci
pie, and is consistent throughout with sount
policy and reduced domestic excise.
stands far better chance, however, OF get
ting through the House than the bill
of Mr.. Dawes, should the free
traders obstinately adhere to thei
purpose of doing all the mischie
they can without striking hands with tn,
revenue reformers TO defeat the object o
protection. We hope the delegation from
this State, and the protectionists of all tn
other States, will rally to the support o
Judge KELLEY in this fight, and, Will
lifting the burdens of the people, ALLOW
American industry and competition to reg
ulate the prices of foreign products.in thu
American market. To be dependent ex
clusiyely upon the foreign supply is L
open up our trade 70 European monopoly