The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1880-05-29
from the Department AS said before,

this is but throwing out tub to tickle the
agricultural interests of the country.
We would rather have free trace-chains
and free salt, which would benefit every
agriculturist in the land, whether demo
Gratis or republicans, than to have forty
appropriations like this made for the Ag
ricultural Department. 1t is material re-
lief which we want, nothing else. The
total value of the tobacco crop of the
United States is in round numbers $22,-
ooo,ooo and upon this industry there is
imposed in this country a tax of $42 ,ooo,-
600, which is wrung from the people and
mostly from the tobacco growers by an
unjust system of internal revenue laws
that are odious to the people and have to
be enforced by spies and informers whom
we made an appropriation to pay in the
legislative, executive, and judicial bill the
other day and against whicli | voted.
This system is all wrong and unjust.
Why should you impose this burden upon
the tobacco-growers; why discriminate
against us? You do not impose any in
ternal-revenue tax directly on the wheat,
COIN, rye. and oats raised in the various
parts of the United States. do not com
plain of this, for do not believe that any,
tax should be imposed upon agricultural
products; but do complain of the, unjust
discrimination against the great staple, to-
bacco.
We ask no bonus to enrich us, such as
you give to your Northern manufacturers
by your tariff laws at the expense of the
agrlculturists and laborers of the country;
all we ask is to give us equality; let US
alone; let us have the fruit of our labor,
but do not impose this heavy burden on
our tobacco to support the extravaganza
of the Government and fill the Federal
Golfers. Why do you exempt, from taxa
ton the incomes of the bondholders and
the capitalists7 Ought NOT these million.
aires to bear their part of the burdens. of
taxation? Their immense incomes are
bringing them in their interest seven days
in the week, and yet it is impossible to get
this Congress to impose even light tax
upon their incomes. This House voted by
a large majority during the extra session
for an income tax upon these bondholders.
| voted for the tax. But it failed for want
of two-thirds vote, as the bill came up
under a suspension of the rules. 1t was
said this would be regarded as an instrlc-
ton to the Committee on Ways and
Means, to report a bill similar, taxing
these incomes; but, sir, it was false
hope.
Twelve months have elapsed since that
vote was taken, if recol;ect Alright, upon
the motion of Mr. Dibrell, of Tennessee, a
faithful and able Representative, who
moved to suspend the rules and pass that
bill; and yet no bill of that character has
been reported from that. committee, al
though they have had such bills referred
to them-imposing tax on incomes. is
this Just? Is it right that the industrious
and hard working farmers and laborers of
the country should be taxed heavily not
only by the iniquitous internal-reyenue
system, but by the tariff duties, doubling
the price of nearly all we use, while capi-
talists and miIlionaires pay nothing on
their capital? 1t is against this unjust dis
| elimination that / complain, and in the
name of Justice and in behalf of the people
represent, protest on the floor against
| this iniquity But, sir, it seems that ap-
peals are vain, Judging from the votes OF
| a majority on this floor upon various
votes that have been taken looking to even
tariff reform in a small degree, tightening
the burdens upon the masses of the people.
/ suppose we will have to wait until the
people are aroused to a protection OF Their
own interests by sending men here who
will legislate in their interest. The whole
legislation in Congress for years has beer
in the interest of bondholders, railroads
/ and monopolies; and whenever move Il
| made here in the interest of the farmers
and laborers of the country, to modify tht
| tariff, or to relieve the farmers OF the
country of any of the burdens of this IN
ternal revenue on tobacco, the Republican
| side of this House vote solid against 1t
and enough Democrats unite with them t.
defeat u.s. I dislike, sir, to refer to thes
facts, but it is true, and the country ough
to know it. The votes in the Congress
ioaaZ Record given even at this session
and for years back prove 1T.
But. sir. will not trespass further ol
the time of the committee, and / would no
have digressed from the point at issue ha
4 it not been for the remarks of gentlemel
on the other side of this House on yester
day. when they volunteered their advic
to us in regard to the protective system
a system that robs one man to enrich an
| other-by law. | want gentlemen t
know that we do not consider this appro
priation as giving the relief we want.
had rather see the bill putting trace chain
on the free list that / offered, pass thi
House, than have hundred such appro
! priations as this. 1t would be of benef
10 every farmer in the land, whether he
Democrat or Republican, a white man Q
a black man, and it would not affect tn
. revenue, for the whole duty collected o
trace-chains was only $4,000 last yea
as shown by the Commissioner of Intern'
Revenue. These are not partisan meas
ures, but just in themselves to all, an
then you may say you have done some
, thing for agriculture, which is the tru
source of our wealth and National pros
perity. 49,.
Mr.. Chairman, do we owe what litt
prosperity we enjoy to-day to the finar
cial policy of this administration NJ
8 sir. We owe it to the agriculturists I
our land. to the sons of toll, whose prt
!, ductions happened to be needed in Europ
! and which threw the balance of trade
q our favor to the amount of $24o,9II 200