The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-04-17
VOLUBLE VEST,
In Passing Through Sedalia,
Submits to an Interview
by the "Bazoo."
His Friends Greet Him, and Every.
body Glad TO See Him All
Along the Line.

0A0u8 WIG ~~A0S.
Senator George q. Vest, accompanied
by his wife, arrived in Sedalia yesteria,
afternoon direct from St. Louis. Mrs
Vests health is almost completely restored
while the senator himself is the very pic
ture of rugged health and endurance
Mrs. Vest remained here, but Vest himself
went on 10 Topeka, Kansas. Of course he
he could not escape the repOrtOrial inquisi-
ton, alt! ough it had 10 be necessarily
brief. and he did not try. Vest is agenial
frank, outspoken man, who believes in
dealing openly with his constituents, and
giving them e, ery now and then an account
of his stewardship.
"Malarial troubles are common in Wash.
ington," began the reporter, "but you look
as though you we're ague-proof."
"Why shouldn't / be? When . man
has camped in the swsmps Of Arkansas
bivouscked along the bayous OF Mississippi
and Louisiana, and gone through multi.
tude of Missouri autumns, he is not very
apt TO succumb 10 that occult and intsngi-
bic thing known al Washington as 'mala.
rial poison I have had my share OF the
old-fashioned 'ager,' and am now accli-
mated and malaria proof"
Senator, you gave a vote on zinc which
is not generally understood in Missouri.
Will you please explain il TO me, and
through me TO all the numerous readers Of
the BAZOO"
Certainly, and with pleasure. My po-
sition on the tariff question has been
greatly misrepresented, but one should ex-
pect this. Especially should no Democrat
look for any fair treatm. mt al the hands of
the Associated Press II there is anything
TO he made i'm political point of view by
either slsndering him or quoting him
falsely, both will be surely done But
about zinc.
In 1881 the amount OF zinc spelter i'm
ported was 1855, 2l6 pounds. In 1882 it
had increased TO Is, 40S,39l pounds. In
1881 the duty amounted 10 81, SSS.27. In
1882 it amounted TO SIT, l25.SS. This
shows that the present rate OF one and
One-half cents duty per pound is not al all
prOhibitOry, but that il produces q larger
revenue and larger competition between
foreign and domestic zinc. So far, there
fore, from the present duty excluding Tor
eign zinc and giving thereby the people OF
southwest Missouri a monopoly, ii appears
larger in 1882 than in 1881"
WHO wanted the duty on the article
Senator"
The galvanizing iron establishments of
the east, of course. These prefer to buy of
the importers on account of their proximity
to the seaboard, and the cheaper the zine
10 them the larger their profits. The most
extensive Of these manufactures is in Del
aware, near Wilmington, and so when Sen
ator Bay ard moved 10 reduce the duty on
zinc, both Senator Cockerell and myself
opposed it."
What are your views about the tariff
question generally.
am emphatically for a revenue tar
i'll. i do not believe thai tariff beyond
the revenue standard is constitutional;
but inside of this limit am for fai.' anu
equitable adjustment Of all import duties.
No section or state should ask and receive
more protection for its industries than an
other. ALI should share alike the burdens
and the benefits of q tariff. AS We are
now situated, free trade is impossible. NO
matter what We may think about it rs
principle. The expenses of the government
for 1884 will be $340, $50, I62. The import
duties will 60 to $235. ZOO, 900, and The
internal revenue to $l45 100000. Suppose,
then, . resort 10 had 70 free trade. how
conld the revenue necessary to support the
government be raised? Stop paying pen
SONS and repudiate the balance Of the
public debt? Or continue the internal
revenue system perpetually, with its horde
of spies, inforn,ers and black-mailers? Ur
resort directly to a specific tax levied
against and collected frem each state? /
believe that the tax should remain
on spirits and tobacco, and ! was
opposed 10 taking it from bank capital
and deposits, proprietary incidents, and
Aud right here / would declare
that would be very glad for some Of these
tariff dOclrinaires. who have been abusing
me SO learnedly, TO explain how We are TO
raise $40, 230, l62 from internal revenue
alone. Perhaps they want Missouri To pay
some 10000, 600 annually az direct tax
10 support the general government"
"DOes this position, Senator, differ any
from the position you have always main
tanned on this tariff question:"
s"Not in the least. On July 22, 1882,
] said in the senate: 'Wiihin The scope OF
tariff for revenue, / shall vote to foster and
protect by just discrimination in tariff
duties the iron interests of Missouri. That
Is not only my duty, but one of paramount
and shall correctly discharge
it; but always and without exception i
must adhere to the great principle that a
tariff for protection 10 any interest over and
above the limit Of tariff for revenue is in
violation Of the constitution. The govern
ment has no constitutional power to tax
one class OF its citizens simply to protect
another. Congress has the power TO i'm
pose tariff duties to raise sufficient revenue
to carry on the government. and within
this limit Can so impose these duties as to
protect American industries and At the
same time to equalize the burdens of tax
atoms but the instant that duties are I'M
posed beyond the necessity have named,
and only to protect certain class interests,
the imposition is outside of the constitution
AID antsgoristic to the spirit OF our in
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