The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-02-14
UNrAxED OUININE.

There are, we believe, a half dozen manu-
fscturers of guinine in the United States.
For some years past quinine has been on the
tariff free list. The Great Government of
the United States thought it wise and pru
dent to do what it could to reduce the price
Of a medicine in universal demand by per-
sons afflicted with chills and with fever. 1t
appeared to be an infamous outrage
10 tax such medicine as quinine
for the benefit of q half dozen
quinine manufacturers. These manufactur
ers had for years enjoyed a monopoly
in the manufacture and sale of this n
despensible medicine. They had grown
fsbulously rich, and were not pleased with
the action of Congress when it placed
outline on the free list. They cared moth
ing for the victims of fever-they wanted
money, and they wanted the Government
to help them eKtort it from the sick and the
dying To regain what they had lost they
appealed to the Republican Tariff Commits
sion and to the Re publican Ways and Means
Committee of the House of Repre-
sentatives, and they did not ap-
peal in vain 1t was decided
to again impose tariff tax on quinIne, as
NJ. Kasson said, TO "raise revenue" when
it was the grand purpose of the Tariff Com
mission and of the Ways and Means Com
mittee, ostensibly to reduce the amount of
revenue annually collected, for which the
Government had no legitimate use. Mr..
Flower, q Democratic member of Congress
from New York, when the proposition was
before the House to tax quinine 10 per cent
called a halt and told the House that
the Government did not need
the money which the Republicans
proposed to collect of of sick men.
6s gave the House to understand that the
people did not propose to make the six sui-
nine manufacturers of quinine rich at the
expense of suffering humanity. He said ::
al want to take the side of the men who did
not appear before the Commission, the men
suffering from fever, and to protect them a
little. This tariff bill protects everybody
except the sick man, and 1 want to protect
him, and that is the reason why have
moved to strike out the lines which the
Clerk has read: 'quinia and inchonidia, sui
phste and salts of, 10 per cent ad valorem.'"
Mr.. Mckenzie, Of Kentucky, in addressing
the House upon the subject OF free list arti-
cles which the Republican Ways and Means
Committee had placed on the free list while
seeking to TAX quinine. said:
Now 1oOok at the free list of this bill; 1t Is full
of goofaess and wisdom and beneyolence. see
here G<ad thank God for IL, thatfhe Committee
on Wagsand Means have put blood on the free
list [Is1yhter Sir II you were tolevy tax of only
one cent gallon on all the blood which you have
extracted. through the means of your Infamous
tariff, froz the American people, you could pay
the National debt IN twelve nonths, and have a
large surplxs In the Federal Treasury Consider
ing the enormous amount thai you have hereto
fore extracted, you need not levy any prohSoitory
duties it. nor need you permit It TO coEe ia
free. 1t Is already drug in the market Tksn
find that the Committee has put "tone dust" on
the free list Ny God, gentlemen. you are manu-
featuring bone dust in pauper graveysrds whea-
ever you propose to tax quinine, aud you are
making IL very fast [Laughter.I
Mr.. Mckenzie referred to the fact TINT the
Re publican Committee had put musk and
Cisit ipecac, leeches and divi-dlvi on The
free lat; the last named article. the speaker
thought, that Sod Almighty and few pro-
tecisE individuals" only knew what it was.
The Republican Committee also placed dia-
mOUds On the free list; ard ''nov, gentle
men" sid Mr.. Mckenzie, "if there is any
thing on - face of the earth that grinds the
poor people Of this land into the very dirt it
is the tax on diamonds" The Republican