Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-07-19
SENATOR BAYARD.
His Latest Delivery on the SUBJ
JoCt of Tariff and Taxation.
Washington Special. 14tb.

Bayard's speech in the Senate to-
day was n of the ablest and most
statesman-li speeches he has eve
made. He spoke for two hours and a
halt, and was listened to throughout
with the closest attention by leading
Senator's on both sides. 1t was for
the most part a practical exposition
OF the taxation issues now before the
Senate. While he did not express his
opposition to any Of the internal reve-
nus features Of the bill, yet he argued
that the reduction proposed was
OF such q character as to afford but
small relief toI the people. The
section of the bill relating to the sugar
tariff he contended was a deception.
1t was brought forward as a reduction
OF the duties on sugar, but while it
repealed the additional duty of TWEEN
live per cent imposed by act Of
1865, the bill at the same time directed
the Secretary Of the Treasury to regu.
late duties on sugar according to COM
pick system of color and polariscopic
tests, the result Of which would inevi-
tably increase the duties on lower
grades, which are chiefly imported.
The scheme gave the Treasury De-
partment a discretion
TOO WIDE FOR SAFETY.
1t has been rejected over and over
again by the House Ways and Means
Committee during the last six years
after full hearing and arguments on
the part Of all branches O. the sugar
trade, and now the Senate Finance
Committee, without having given the
subject any careful consideration. was
attempting to force it through the
Senate. 1t was an extraordinary pro-
ceeding, especially in view Of the fact
that Tor the first time in the history
of the government the Senate proposed
to originate a customs tariff bill.
The proposition to reduce the tariff
on steel rails TO $40 a ton was. of
course, a concession, but it was I'M
reasonably small in view of the enor-
nous profits made by the combination
OF manufacturers controlling the man
ufacture Of steel rails. The duty of
$40 ton was a larger ad valorem
duty than was $28 per ton at the time
the duty was first imposed. Twenty
dollars a ton, except at rare intervals
when there was a much larger demand
than the home manufacturers could
supply, would prove to be practically
prohibition. He advocated a reduc-
ton to $l4 per ton.
Bayard commented with great force
on the attempt to double the duties on
the manufacturer of wares and vessels
made Of hoop, band or scroll iron, or
of which such iron is the component
material of chief value. He showed
that the effect Of this increase of duty
would be
FAR REACHED AND OPPRESSIVE,
and far more than offset the small re-
lief granted in the reduction of duty
on steel rails. 1t was a farce to bring
in a bill containing such a provision.
and call it a bill to reduce taxation.
The latter part of Bayard's speech
was devoted to a most interesting and
admirable review of the tariff l%eeisla-
ton enacted during the war and the
years Immediately succeeding. He
showed how internal revenue duties.
which had been made the excuse for
increased tariff duties, had been long
since repealed, and how the high and
oppressive tariff duties have been CON
tinued long after the excuse for their
imposition had passed away.
This review was followed by a mas.
terly exposition of the sound prtnci-
Piles which should underlie all taxa
ton, whether internal revenue or ms.
toms. He was unalterably opposed TO
the exercise Of the taxing bower FIR
the benefit Of any class or snecial
interests, or for any purposes what
soever, except purely public PURPOSES.
de maintained that Congress- could
not rightfully take the property of the
citizen for any other than a public
purpose; to use the taxing power
otherwise was a species Of
COMMUNISM AND ROBBERY.
Bayard concluded his speech about
half past 4 o'clock, and was WARMLY
congratulated by Senators.
Then followed a half hour contro-
versy over a petty point of order az N
whether an amendment oTered bv
Beck TO reduce the tobacco tax from
sixteen cents to ten cents should prop
eerly come in as an amendment to the
bill. u VI 'ne
PENDING acton on that amendment
me Senate adjourned. It is expected
inc session tomorrow will be chiefly
devoted TO speech making.