The daily gazette., 1878-04-10
MR.. WOODS SPEECH.

lOhOWoa
MR.. WOODS SPEECH.
Mr.. Wood, chairman of the committee
on ways and means, then opened the
debate In a carefully prepared argument,
in which he maintained that the tariff
question is paramount, and involved a
great many interests and considerations.
The matter of tariff reform, he contend
ed, is not party measure, and should
be acted upon in Congress without any
attempt to draw in party influence or
political considerations. He argued that
the interests of the whole country de-
manded revision of the tariff, support
ing this proposition by an extensive
! array of facts and figures. His bill, he
| argued to show, had been modified so as
to afford all the protection the manufac-
| turers should have. He pictured the evil
effects Df a protective tariff, and contend
ed that the system of protection robbed
the masses for the benefit of few; that
| every dollar of profit growing out of the
system goes directly into the pockets of
| q small class, and the millions are injured
instead of being benefited; that every
citizen has to contribute his share of the
burdenSome tax necessary to maintain
the protective tariff, no matter whether
he buys imported goods or not; that the
higher value given to q manufactured
ihiNiC W 10 W DIlCt,
and the profit goes to the manufacturer,
who does not pay his employe a cent
more for his work because of his extra
profit.
Mr. Wood contendcd that his bill, if
enacted into a law, will be blessing to
the working classes; that the change in
the tar fl proposed in thebill will revive
the Frustrated industries of the country
and Will furnish employment to all clas-
ses of people; that one result of the pro-
posed change will be to invite foreign
our commerce will be restored, and that
markets will be furnished for all the
surplus production. This country, he in
sisted, is capable OF producing ten times
what ~ necessary for home consumption,
and the only road to prosperity lies in
opening foreign markets to this over
production. The great producing West
will be especially benefited by the tariff
change; the grain and other products
will be transported to these foreign
markets at low rates, and the producer
will derive the profit. A plentiful de-
mand will stimulate production, and the
idle will find employment at remunera-
tive wages.
Mr.. Wood said the committee has not
undertaken to reform all the abuses of
the present tariff Though fully con-
scious of the necessity Of effecting many
radical changes sooner or later, they
were content with simplifcation Of
methods of assessing the duties, chang
ing the phraseology so as to avoid am
biguity and doubt as to the proper duty
to be levied, a large curtailment in the
number of articles to be assessed for duty,
and migrating upon the law important
provisions looking to more liberal
commercial intercourse with foreign ma
tons. The changes proposed are design
gned to be the foundation for perinan-
ent measure, comprehending new prin-
ciples and looping OFF of the complica-
tions and contradictions now existing in
the present laws.
Mr.. Wood then proceeded with and
concluded his speech, warning the OPP
ponents of the measure that If they
should succeed in defeating it the time
was near at hand when the people would
not be satisfied with so mild measure.