The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-07-01
Labor and National Taxation,


8 stands the labor question better than represen
tative Hewitt, of New York. Himself con
, nected with a large iron establishment, in
which no strike ever occurred, and making
, the question of labor and taxation lite study
; no one has better right to speak as by au
thority on such question. During the de.
bate in the house last week on the Kelly bill
to reduce the internal revenue taxation, Mr..
Hewitt IS thus reported
Mr.. Hewitt in discussing the bill referred to
the large number of wOrkmen throughout the
country who were refusing to work. and con.
strike now In progress. In but few cases had
any reduction IN wages been proposed. The
general demand was for an increase of wages,
and the ground of that demand was
that the workman found himself unable to
support himself and his family with the wages
he was now receiving. He (Mr. HewltD had
personally given considerable attention to
this grievance, and had discovered that it was
well founded. The rise in the price of neccs
sarles OF life during the last year had been so
great that the working people had found that
they were being reduced from a condition OF
comparative comfort to one of comparative
want. What was found upon the other hand
While the demand by the employees was
just. one, the employers were unable to concede
1t. They would be glad to pay higher wages
il they were able. They refused because con
cession would simply destroy their capital
The conflict, then, was one which II was I'm
possible to settle either by the action of the
employee or the employer on any just princi
pie OF compromise. Relief must come from
some quarter. If congress could show that
there was heavy hand like the hand of a
bandit, taking out of the earnings of labor and
capital unnecessary contributions; If 1T could
find that such levy was made on products of
industry, and that that levy was unnecessary,
then SO lar as 1t had the power it should pro-
coed with speed, it should go on the express
train of legislation, in order to remove the
evils which were sappihg the very roots of
the comfort and the peace OF the people. Con
gress was told by the Secretary Ofthe Treasury
that more money was coming in than was
needed, and the gentleman from Pennsylvnla
(Mr. Kelly SAID that the surplus would
amount to Sl37000,000. One hundred and
thirty seven million dollars distributed among
the workingmen would relieve them of the
levil which had brought on all this trouble
and disorder. Who was here resisting taxa
tony The democrats had come to congress
asking a reduction of tariff, but that question
had been referred to a commission. Then
they had demanded reduction IN internal
revenue taxation, and had been presented with
q bill which took off $l7,000000 or 500 00,-
900, holding out the word OF promise to the
ear, but breaking 1t to the hope. Whom did
this proposition relievcg 1t did not touch the
workingman directly except IN the single artl,
Gle of matches That was the reliet which
the republican party, charged with the respon-
sibility of legislation, offered to the working.
men, now on universal strike because wages
were not sufficient for their support. 1t was
tub thrown to the whale The demand for a
reduction in taxation had been made; 1t must
be needed it would be the issue IN the fall
elections. Let that issue be fought out in the
fall elections Let 1t be noted that this propo
siuon did not dispense with single office
holder. They were wanted rs political ennis
saries in the coming election. He appealed
to gentlemen on the other side to reduce ex-
penditures and to take the load of taxation OIL
the overburdened energies of the working
people. There was but one security for the
taxpayers, and that was to keep the treasury
poor Poverty of the treasury was the wealth
of the people. 1t would not permit of rals-'
ing money for jobs; II would not permit of
river and harbor bills of ST. 000, 900; it would
not permit the payment Of large sums for fin.
ishing the worthless vessels in the navy yard.
Mr. Mcmillan opposed the bill IN Its pres.
ent form as being q measure for the relief OF
the banker, but containing no adequate relief
for the workingman from the burdens OF taxa.
ton under which he suffered.
Mr. Sparks attacked the entire system of in
ternal revenue, but announced his opposition
to the pending bill on the ground that the
burdens Of taxation we've removed from the
rich and not from the poor.
Mr.. Springer said the purpose of making
the slight reduction was that tie treasury
might be overlooking and that extravagant APP
preparations might be made. Retrenchment
and economy had been scofied and laughed at
by gentlemen on the other side, who would
submit to nothing but the old flag and an ap-
preparation.
Flies and Bugs