Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-04-05
The Tariff Commission.

The Tariff Commission.
The tariff commission bill passed the sem
ate by vote of thirtyeight to fifteen. All
the republican senators present and voting
are on record in favor of the commission,
and with them eleven regular democrats,
chief among whom are Bayard and Voor-
hees. The negative votes were all cast by
democrats, so that, so far as the voting
shows, there is entire unanimity OF opinion
as to the commission on the part OF repub-
lican senators and an equal division on the
part of the democratic. Republican unan-
unity in regard to this measure, however,
does not extend to the country. The case
is this. Twenty years ago tariff bill was
framed which should supply the government
with the extraordinary revenue required for |
the prosecution of the civil war. 1t levied |
a duty on more than twenty-five hundred ar
ticles which were imported into this country.
Hardly an article Of use, of consumption, or
of wear, escaped taxation. Upon articles like
iron, steel and textile fabrics, in the produc-
ton of which this country came most directly
in competition with foreigners, a tax was laid
designed not only to raise revenue but
heavy enough to render their importation
and sale in American markets Improbable
in competition with similar articles OF de-
nestle manufacture. Protection to Ameri-
can industry was the principle upon which
lr A do aud
half after the close of the war, tariff and in
ternal revenue taxation raised one hundred
twenty million dollars more than the aggre-
gate requirements Of the government, and it
is estimated that the surplus revenue OF
the government for the current year will
amount to one hundred fifty million dollars.
That is to say, for every man, woman and
child in the country tax Of 80 each will be
paid to the government during the current
year over and above what is needed for all
its expenses. Under the operation of the
present tariff, immense profits are possible
to the manufacturers of the articles for whose
"protection it was especially framed. Un-
der it gigantic monopolies have grown up
which are now interested to perpetuate
high protective tariff, and which are able to
spend money lavishly to influence congress
sional action. The time has come when
congress has felt compelled to attempt the
task of revising tariff which, however wise
and proper a measure at the time its adop-
ton, has for years been felt to be unjust and
oppressive. Two methods of undertaking
revision were suggested, one directly by
congress through the appropriate commit
tee the other by commission of experts
who should take the whole subject of ma
tional taxation into consideration and report
to congress at its next session. The chief
reasons alleged for this latter course are not
entirely complimentary to congressman and
are somewhat at variance with the popular
conception of the statesmanlike qualities
with which the national law makers should
be endowed. Reduced to plain English,
these reasons are that members of congress
have not the time to devote to the consider
alton of such question, and if they had
the time they don't know enough to take
the subject up and dispose of it intelligently
Politics, office hunting, transacting the pri
vate business of constituents with the gov
eminent, much speech making, legal bust
ness, SO trench upon the time of congress
men that they have not time to attend u
the high and legitimate duties of nationa
Legislators; and as to the other reason, hoy
congress that acknowledges its incapacit,
to deal directly with the subject of tarii
revision can trust itself to act intelligent
upon the report of commission of experts
since congress must act upon the commits
sion's report and be responsible for wha
finally becomes law, is as anomalous i
reason as it is false in fact.
Here is system of taxation which is III
Justly burdensome to the people. The d.
mand is that these uniu st burdens be n
moved. Congress was considered competer
to impose those burdens. 1t says it is nj
competent to lift them. Men are in col
gress now who twenty years ago assiste
TO frame this same tariff whose revision
demanded. They have twenty years
additional experience to guide them in IL
work of revision. There are other me
practical business men of rich experienc
who have made the tariff the subje
OF years of study and observation. 1t
not a question of creating new system
raising revenue. 1t is simply a questiC
of correcting in an old system abuses whit
are as plain as pikestaff. Congress
abundantly able to take the question
hand and deal with it promptly and abb
II is the will, and not the ability, that
wanting. The high protection men, t
monopolists, the men who are making ia
ulous profits behind the strong defences
present tariff has reared around them, g
for the commission. Direct action by CO
gress would reduce those defences at on
to their proper level; commission "
maintain them at least two years long
during which time three hundred MILL
dollars will be taken from the pockets
the people for the benefit of the "protecte,
with fair prospect that the two years N
be prolonged past another presidential ca
paign. Advocates of the commission ms
long speeches in favor Of protection. Nett
high tariff, low tariff, nor free trade is
question at issue. Ardent believers il
just and reasonable protective tariff are
strongest advocates of immediate revis
by congress, Relief from unjust and odi
burdens, relief from taxation which email
the Bessemer steel combination to
sixty per cent dividends and other mon
olists to realize princely fortunes at the
pense OF the unprotected millions, is wha
deman ded, and it is what congress can
the people directly and at once instead
handing it to them several years he
through the tortuous channel Of conn
sion and after hundreds of millions of h
daily earnings have been scooped in by
monopoly kings.
Mr., JUSTICE BLATCHFoRD was swor
and took his seat on the bench of the
preme court with the usual formal