Omaha daily bee., 1883-01-05
DELAYING THE REFORM.

DELAYING THE REFORM.
The ways and G committee are
still tinkerirg over the tariff, Taking
the report Of the late commission as q
basis, they have been busily engaged
for the past five weeks in trying to
please the manufacturers at the ex-
pense of the public by restoring as far
as possible the petty reductions in
duties suggested in the report Of the
tariff commission. The more that re-
port is examined the less cause is seer
for congratulation on the part Of con-
sumers. The additions to the free list
are few and unimportant. The re.
auctions on staples are small
as compared with what was
expected. The wealthy capitalists
whose concerns have been built up and
thriven through exorbitsnt duties
have been able to bring enough iLfu.
ence to boar upon both commission
and committee to prevent any such
decrease in the customs taxes as
would substantially tighten the bur.
dens of the people by materially
diminishing the profits Of their indus
tries. With the universal cry for
a reduction of taxes ringing in their
ears, Mr.. Kelly's committee, organized
in the interest of monopolies, and
backed by four billions Of aocumu.
lated capital, are tri1ing with the de-
mand for tariff reform, and endeavor.
Ing, In q time of peace, to continue
and maintain the most extraordinary
system of wal taxation that has ever
burdeneA q government of modern
times.
Tariff reform was one of the issues
which entered largely In the late cleo
ton. Its importance and the demand
for a prompt reduction of the worst I'm
positions of the tariff were clearly REQ
ognized By the president In his annual
message and has been steadily insisted
upon by every leading journal of both
parties in the country. The Morrill,
tariff was put into operation at a time
whom the country was straining every
nerve to raise revenues to prosecute q
war for the national existence. II was
tho boldest, the most comprehensive
and wide-roaching scheme of taxation
ever devised. Nothing but the ur
gent need of money could have justi-
fed its adoption. And congress was
p%rofuse in it's promises that the con.
clusion OF the war would see the re-
moval of the greater part Of its bur-
dens. Eighteen years have gone and
the Morrill, tariff is still substantially
in operation. An immense surplus
revenue is piling up in the national
treasury, aud a score of protected in
dustries pampered by the government
into a strength which places millions
of dollars at their disposal, are clamor.
Ing against any reduction in the taxes
which are eating into the prosperity
of our people while they ara fl log the
Golfers Of tho industrial m%iliionaires.
Enormous protection has built up
giant industries but 1t has failed to
reduce the prices of the manufactured
articles OIL to increase the wages of
the workmen. The purchasing power
of a dollar, by which alone the value
of wages can be estimated, is less to.
day than it was before the war. The
benefits of overproduotion have all
gone into the pockets of the protec.
ed while there is no protection
offered the public from the ~rapacity
OF the men who live of Of the coun-
try's bounty. While there is good
ground for argument over the policy
of protection TO American industry,
there is no question as TO the
disastrous results of RI over taxation
such as that from which the country
is now suffering. A policy which
tends to concentrate the wealth of the
people in the hands of a few pampered
manufacturers whose .prohs arc cnor-
mously stimulated by it's operation is
a national curse. 50 far from boilg
industrial protection it is pOpul-r rob.
berry,
Congress cannot afford 10 delay tho
reform. The country does no. dc,
maEd the abolition Of the tariff. 1t de.
mands a substantial reduction on all
q articles of domestic consumption and
a material enlargement of the free list
by placing on it such articles of neces.
sity rs are used alike by the poor and
the rich, snd which can be relieved Of
duty without gripping industry or de.