National Republican., 1883-01-30


tariff, and was addressed to the question of
THE WHISKY TAX.
Mr.. Butterworth, of Ohio (who has charge
Of the bonded extension bill), said that he was
glad to see his brethren address themselves
TO the protection of every American industry.
If one trip Of the hammer was missed in Penn
sylVania this house would stop and inquire
tho cause and remedy The trouble. II fifty
spindles stopped in New England, the house
would ascertain the cause and if possible,
start them again. He did not complain of
that; but he represented, in part with other
gentlemen, an interest which paid into the
treasury Sl00, 100000, and which was now alb
solutely prostratcd
lSevoral republicans GOOD good!"l
You did not say "good" retorted MIR. Butter.
fought your battles. You did not say "good
when 1t nut pnndapes around your wounded
the pensions Of widows and orphans So far as
the temperance aspect is concerned IN connection
with this bill, you might as well discuss the ques
helping the industries of New England and Penn.
sylvanin, but our bankers, our boards of trade,
our chambers of commerce, our merchants, our
grocers have asked this house for three hours
consideration Of bill for the relief Of the distill-
ing industry, and we cannot have an hour.
Mr. While When did they ask for three hoursg
They slipped the bill through under suspension
Mr.. blackburn. challenge that statement and
1t was reported unanimously from the committee
on ways and means, and passed this house with
out dissenting vote.
ont my being able to get the yeas and nay.
The Chair The gentleman is not In ordef..
MIR. Buttcrworth. He hardly ever is. While we
arc protecting our industries, some in swaddling
cloths, and some, the products of which twenty
Russian rcfuyces could take on their bucks and
peddle through the country, want tho house at
very early day to consider the claims of great
| industry which Is now prostrnted, and which, if
relief Is not granted. will probably IN It's own de-
struction, drHg down many of the protected in
dustr'es. ask that on the tide Of your ndifTcr.
eucc our industries be not subjected to bankruptcy
All we ask is that the bill shall receive fnl and
inir consideration md we deem three hours ample
time. We represent M interest which has n right
| to demand hearing here.
Mr.. Reed thought that an advantage had
been taken of the situation to present one side
of the case ut time, when It was impossible
to present the other. If there had been any
over production of whisky IL was the plain
result of the legislation which the whisky
men themselves had demanded and which
the gentleman from Ohio had been foremost
In assisting If they were in trouble now It
was because congress had done three times
precisely what they had demanded. He had
heard three times before precisely this dis
course about the danger which was TO come
from refusing their demands, and, if they
were successful this time, he would expect to
hear IL just once more, and that was on the
demand to repeal the whisky tax. [Applausc
on the republican sidel.
Mr.. Butterworth said that tho gentleman
was right in declaring that the cmbarrass-
ment which had Ovcrtakcn the whisky inter-
est was the result of unwise legislation.
Whisky was taxed 300 times its value, and
the law of demand was not permitted to opc.
rate.
Mr. Blackburn submitted to the house that
as long MS It recognized whisky as property
as long rs it burdored It with a tax of 300 per
cent. of its actual value It was not only fair
but wise, to treat the whisky interest with
common deccncy. He came from " district
which probably grew rs much tobacco and
made rs much whSkyas any in the continent,
but he would strike hands with the gentle
man from Maine and tell him that, odious as
the internal revenue system was inQuisitorial
as it was, iniquitable in its distribution of
burdens as it was, he for one was content and
willing to endure it, and that he would never
support measure which looked to an aboli-
tion of q tax on the luNurics of life rs long as
the ncccssares were driven to the earth by
reason of the tariff. He was opposed to abol-
ishing the tax on whisky and tobacco, but he
would deal faily by them and enable them 20
pay their tax. He would have free salt, free
sugar, free tea, and free coffee, instead of FREQ
whisky. Applause on the democratic side
Mr.. Reid. Is the gentleman opposed to reduc-
ton?
Mr.. Blackburn. am not asking any reduction
and do not want any. f' 0t f"'
Mr.. Reid. Do you intend to be opposed hereaf.
ter?
Mr.. Blackburn. may be or / may not. am
not asking to-day for n reduction oil whisky and
tobacco. ] nm asking such legislation MS viii en-
able them to pay their debts to the government.
Mr.. Thompson offered an amendment pro-
viding that all articles in bond which are sub
iect TO internal taxation and which can be
exported under the law may remain in bond
two years longer than is now allowed on the
payment of per cent of the tax.
Ruled out on n point of order.
Mr.. Whites amendment was lost--15 to 1876,
and the consideration of this paragraph was
passed from.
Mr.. Willis offered an amendment providing
that any alcohol or distilled spirits to be used
in tho arts or manufactures reimported as
provided herein, may be withdrawn from
warehouses without the payment of any in
ternal revenue tax. Rejected.
Mr.. Cox, of NewaYork, offered an amend
ment for the importation of ships under duty
of 20 per cent. ad valorem. Pending which
the committee rose
The speaker announced tn o following
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS.
Dorsey, of Indiana, on mines and mining;
j. d. Taylor, Of Ohio, on education and labor
and private land claims; Wheeler, of Ala
bama, on military affairs Cain, of Utah. on
postofliccs and postroads
The house, then, at 5:20 p m., adjourned.