The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-26
House Of Representatives.

On motion OF Mr.. Cox Dem, N. " the
Senate amendments to the bill authorizing the
appointment of receivers Of national banks were
non concurred in.
The House then went into Committee Of the
Whole (Mr. Springer OF Illinois In the chair on.
the bill to revise and Simplify existing laws im-
posing duties on imports and to reduce tax alton.
Mr.. Morrison Dem, ILL, Chairman OF the
Committee on Ways and Means, addressed the
committee In explanation OF the bill He laid
down the principle. IN the opening OF his speech,
that protection. other than that incidental TO
revenue is spoliation, because 1t takes the earn
ings OF the labor OF ono person or class Of per-
sons, and gives those earnings to other more
favored persons or classes: that protection
which would take equally and bestow
equally would be no protection at all,
and that Its abolition would be OF most
easy accomplishment, having no selfish In
forests Tor It's maintenance. After reviewing
briefly the experience OF other nations, he said
that an increase OF taxation, even on luIuries
showed that excessive taxation makes knaves
and thieves. Congress should try the removal
OF restrictions. should take OF the shackles,
should get revenue from property that repre-
scented the results Of labor, not from the pro-
cesses or means nv which property Is acquired.
and should recognize tine Oft repeated truth
that where protection begins revenue ends.
SUI. bad as the system Of protection was be-
lieved TO be- II had to he ealt with BY no ABRUPT
change or headlong speed, but by sure and
mode rate sters. With the care una caution of
enlightened .tatesmsnship. The present tariff,
he SAID. served the purpose neither OF protec-
ton nor of revenue; 1t promoted fraud and
offered premium to unfaihfui officers. Under
matter. The interests Of the tOing and pro-
dueins millions we're ignored, and the out
its race for subsidies and bOunties, had clouded
some Of the best intellects Of the country aud
dwarfed the spirit OF laudaule enterprise.
Reviewing the tariff legislation OF this coun-
Try, he referred to TIE removal, In lsI2, OF the
duty on tea and coffee, and declared that tho
object OF the removal was TO afford a better pre-
text for retaining protective duties on manu-
features, and that many fair minded revenue
fetofmets fell into the trap. lie said that a duty
OF three cents pound on coffee and of Is cents
on tea would yield each revenue OF ten mil
hons, and would only amount to Il tax of twenty
one and one-half cents on each to each person.
A tax OF forty-tnree cents TO each person on
twenty millions; and where, ne asked, could so
much revenue he obtained from customs ut 50
httle costI Not from duty on manufactures,
Whlch were projected AT n rate exceeding forty
per cent. In order In OBTAIN twenty millions IN
duties from manufacture. protection was given
at the cost OF tue consumer to home
product Of five times greater value, wnich
yields no revenue. lie argued that whlle
the industry, trade. ana commerce Of the cOun-
Try should not be disturbed wantonly or upon
any trlvi preteIt, the uouihcation proposed in
ms bili could only abect them benehcially, and
Was necessity demanded alike by the needs Of
the Treasury and VI the consumer. He char
acterized as fnllacious anu shallow delusion
the idea thu protection WIS necessary to pre-
vent the "pauper wages Of Europe from com
INK into competition with tue well paid labor Of
the United States. 1he Congress OF Inc United
states might have great creative power, but Ii
could not convert all in beetle infant into a stat
W 'rt self-sustalning and sef-respectng man,
either by protection or privatioD. The wages in
England were ten times as nigh as in India and
China, i've times higher than in Russia, and
double as much as in Germany, France, and the
rest OF Europe; vet IN every one of those coun-
tries the dearer labor OF England competed sue
cessfully with their cheaper labor. The home
market was another cheat and catch word Of
the Protectionists. After protection unequalled
for half generation the "home market" had
not come, but was as far as ever removed from
the fields OF agriculture. lie claimed as the
chief merits OF the bill reported 10y hun simpli-
ncation Of rate, and reduction OF rates. The
proposed reductions, he said, were still high,
and we're SO Intended, lest any radical reduction
might seriously affect any OF the great indus
protection. No one knew better than
Gated aud oppressive high tarif could not last.
change must come, and come speedily Ii
had been the purpose TO present IN the pending
measure such change IN spirit OF fairness to
all. AS to the objection that this was not pro-
pitious time for "a tarin reform, he said that II
the present tarln was an outrage and an enor-
nifty, there was no better time than the present
for reform. The present law was either wise,
just and equitable, and therefore needed no
change, or II was complicated, wrong and op-
pressve, and therefore could not be changed too
soon. The pending bill was by no means such a
complete adjustment OF the tarin was de-
handed but IL was step IN the right direction,
promise OF better things to come, means u
a great end which would surely be reached, and
to which, II the county was not led by reason
and Justice, 1t would be forced by necessity.
Without further progress on the Tariff bill the
committee rose, ana DIR. Hendee (Rop, VD), a
member OF the Committee on the District Of
Columbia, presented to the House, as priyi-
legged question: the fact OF the clandestine pro-
curement OF the report which the Chairman OF
that committee had prepared, and OF its publ
cation in the W Washington Star. As that paper
had gone to the country hs tho report OF the
committee, he declared that no report had been
agreed upon, and had not even been discussed
for more than an hour. He offered a resolution
instructing the District Committee to inquire as
to the IN amer In which the copy Of that paper
had been obtained for publication, and by whom
and from whom II was obtained. Adopted.
The House then adjourned, when Demo-
cratic caucus was announced for this evening.