Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-06-24
HIGH TAXES.
THE CAUSE OF LABOR STRIKES.
A Democratic COngrossmau's Warping to
tho Country.

A Democratic Congrsssm.u's warpins t,
tho Country.
Pending the consideration BY Congress
of the bill to reduce internal revenue tax
alton in the House yesterday, Mr.. Hewitt,
(Dem.), of New York, referred to the
large number of wOrkmen throughout the
country who were refusing to work, and
considered the cause which led to the ex
tensive strikes now in progress. In but
few cases had any reduction in wages
been proposed. Tho general demand Wa.
for an increase of wages, and the grount
on which that demand was placed wa.
that the workman found himself
unable to support himself and hi
family with the wages he was now
receiving. He (Mr. Hewitt)had personally
given considerable attention to this griev-
ance and had discovered that it was vel
founded. The rise in the prices Of neces
saries of life during the last year had beer
SO great that the working people hat
found that they were being reduced from :
condition of comparative comfort to one o.
comparative want. What was found upor
the other hand? While the demand by
the employees was a just one, the employ.
ers were unable to concede to it. They
would be glad to pay higher wages if they
were able. They refused because conces
sion would simply destroy their
capital. The conflict. then, was
one which it was impossible to settle eithe,
by the action Of the employe or the en-
plOyer on any just principle of compro-
mise. Relief must come from some quar-
ter. If Congress could show that there
was heavy hand, like the hand of ban.
dit, taking out of the earnings of labor
and capital unnecessary contributions il
it could find that such a levy was made on
the products Of industry and that that
levy was unnecessary, then SO far as it
had the power it should proceed with
speed-it should go on the express train
of legislatiOn-in order to remove
tho evils which were sapping the very
roots Of the comfort and the peace of the
people. Congress was told by the secre.
tary of the treasury that more money was
coming in than was needed, and tho gentle
man from Pennsylvania Mr.. Kelley }
said that the surplus would amount to
$137, 600, GOO. One hundred and thirty seven
millions of dollars distributed among the
wOrkingmen would relieve them of the
evil which had brought Oh all this trouble
and disorder. Who was here resisting
taxation The Democrats had come to
Congress asking q reduction of the tariff,
but that question had been referred to a
commission. Then they had demanded a
reduction in internal revenue taxation and
bad been presented with bill which took
off ST., ,OOO, 900 or SEQ, 600, 900, holding out
the word of promise to the ear, but break
ing it to tho hope. Whom did this
proposition relieve? 1t did not reach
the wOrkingman directly except in the
single article of matches. That was the
relief which the Republican party, charged
with the responsibility Of legislation,
offered to tho working men now on a uni
versal strike because wages wore not
sufficient for their support. 1t was 4 tnb
thrown to the whale. The demand for a
reduction in taxation had been made. 1t
must be needed. 1t would be the issue in
the fall elections. Let that issue be fought
out in the fall elections. Let it be noted
that this proposition did not dispense with
q single office holder. They were
wanted as political emissaries in the
coming election. He appealed to gentle
men on tho other side to reduce expendi-
lures and to take the load of taxation off
the over6urdencd energies of the working
people. There was but one security for
tho Taxpayers and that was to keep the
treasury poor. Poverty of tho treasury
was the wealth Of the people. 1t would
not permit of raising money for jobs it
would not permit of river and harbOr bills
of 81, 600, 900 :; it would not permit the
payment of large sums for finishing the
worthless vessels on tho stocks of the
navy yards.