The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-17
ECONOMIC MEASURES oF THE FORTY
SEVENTH CONGRESS

In looking over the labors OF the Forty
seventh congress, particularly during is
last session, we find that perhaps the most
important work hss been The passage OF the
revenue and tariff bill. There is, or was, al.
the very threshold Of this subject Il grave
constitutional question. As is known to
nearly all Of our readers, this bill in It's tariff
features originated in the senate. While
the constitution would seem imperatively
TO enjoin that revenue bills shall originate in
the house of representatives, this principle
being analogous to that OF the English gov
eminent, which requires all tax bills to
originate Ia the house Of commons we
cannot but regard the principle as one OF
great moment 10 the republic. The theory
ON which il rests is that the house of com
mons and our house of representatives, com
ing directly from the body OF the people,
are more fully alive TO the needs OF the
latter and more perfectly in accord with
the ideas of taxation. II Is not the pur-
pose, however, of this editorial, to discuss
deliberately this question. Nor is it
our purpose now TO enter into any
investigation OF the substantial features
of the tariff bill, us We desire merely to call
attention to it as the chief act Of the closing
session of the Forty-seyenth congress.
While it purports TO be II revision of tho
tariff, it will be found TO be such revision
as will not be acceptable to the people. At
an early day we purpose giving our readers
an exposition of what the bill does really
seek TO accomplish. The next subject OF
legislation, second in Importance to the
| tariff bill, was the bill having in view the
resuscitation of our shipping interests.
The substantial feature Of tins bill, which
was embraced in the eighteenth section
substituting the owners of vessels TO the
amount of the duty upon the imported ma
terials used in the construction OF vessels,
was wisely stricken out by the house Of
representatives, The day has passed in
American history when the people of this
country will quietly submit to subsidies to
promote private enterprises, for these sub
sides violate the fundamental principles
which underio every just system of taxa
ton, uniformity and equality. And right
here, we desire to call attention to and heart
lily indorse an admirable expression of the
| eloquent congressman of our district, made
in the house Of representatives recently,
wherein no iormulatos the following grand
principles, viz. "Among the great prinoi-
pies of free constitutional government, none
are more vital than uniformity aud equality
of taxation unjust privileges TO none, and
equal protection of the laws to ALL" Iu-
deed, this entire speech of Mr.. Welborn's
on the Revival OF American Shipping is so
replete with figures and telling facts col
lected from official tables, and so marked
with eating logic, that 1t should
be read by every citizen who
would see the iniquitios of the rank
injustice and oppression which has been
done to the commerce OF the country by
republican refusal to grant w what the
people are now demanding, the building Of
our own ships aud the adoption Of n free
ship policy. Commenting upon this, Mn.
WEILBoRN shows from the committees r.
port the following statistics as to the past
and present condition of American ship.
ping;