National Republican., 1883-02-09

ncatlon Of bar iron was changed from 1 2-1O to
1-l0 cents per pound
The clause imposing duty of 2% cents per
pound on armor or other plate was struck out
a motion TO reduce the duty on sheet iron
thinner than ~ inches and not thinner than
No. 90 wire guage from $40 to / 2-10 cents
per pound provoked u long debate, which COW
cred pretty near the whole tariff question ex-
cept the particular point under discussion,
and finally the committie rose and Mr.. Kelley
moved to limit it to five minutes. This was
opposed by the democratic side, and, after a
roll call, a compromise was agreed to limiting
the time to thirty minutes, and the house
again went into committee.
Without acting on the pending amendment,
the committee rose and the house, at $50, took
q recess until 1880.
THE EVENING SESSION
was to have been devoted to u consideration
of the legislative bill, but after brief ex-
planatiOn of that measure by Mr.. Cannon
Mr.. Flower took advantage of the general de-
bate to discuss the pending tariff bill. In
substance he spoke as follows | hold that all
taxes are laid primarily for the purposes of
revenue, and am, therefore, for u tariff for
revenue, and internal taxes for revenue; and
when the revenues are too large | am for less
revenue. But although these taxes were in the
first place for revenue only, they have served
other purposes, and good purposes as well as
Ddl OlCSs l0by IlilNB CaplIdl W hOW
into channels which it would not otherwise
have sought. They have furnished employ
ment indirectly to thousands, even millions,
of laborors, who might otherwise have gutted
other employments, and who have at least con-
sumed the products of their own and other in
dustries. Finally, they have indirectly cheap
ened the cost of many essential and necessary
manufactured articles
Although / am in the first instance for reve-
nue., l feel that due consideration must be
given to the state in which things are that
no violence must be done vested rights, and
that no hardship nor decrease of wages must
be brought upon the American laboror if it
can possibly be avoided and so l am for rove
nue. first and then protection to American
labor, or if not protection, at least no destruC-
tion of its employment or annihilation of its
comforts. Finally, recognizing that If capital
be timid labor will be unemployed, | am in
favor of nothing that will tend to q demorali-
2atiOn of business enterprises. In short l
am for a judicious reduction of taxation.
lt has become necessary TO remodel our
revenue laws so that the burdens will be
taken from the people, the locking up of
money stopped and tho government brought
down to such an amount of revenue that
there will be greater chance of economy and
honesty in administration and check placed
upon treasury rats and corruptionists. 1t
seems to me that the true and statesmanlilSe
course is to ascertain which of our taxes can
be takon Off with least danger to labor and
least Inconvenience to capitol.
In short it is as evident as anything can
be, that the reduction should be made where
the people would feel the relief only, and be
insensible of any change except for the better.
The necessar- reductions of the revenue
should be m5ie mainly by repeal of the in
ternal revenue laws. They should be made
during the present session so that business
.t..1 H..
and cease TO fear that congress is about to do
something that will change the whole as
pect of affairs; and measures looking to moth
ing but a depletion Of the treasury may be
abandoned.
The only merit of the pending bill is that
it will probably reduce the revenue n few
millions, and that is Offset by the fact that in
reducing the revenue it increases taxation.
Because of the shilly-shallying policy of the
majority of this house because of the COM
mission which fused over the tariff, drawing
salaries for doing work Tor which we were
also paid, for which we ought to be more COM
petent, and which we are finally obliged to do;
and because of the almost utter nopeessness
of sitting the evils out of the measure as it has
at last been brought before us in the short
space of time which remains of this session,
there is every probability that there will be
no reduction of the revenue by the majority
during this congress.
THE LEGISLATIVE BILL
was then read by sections for amendment.
The item appropriating S11700 for the
maintenance of the botanic garden in Wash
ington having been reached Mr.. Lefevre, of
Ohio, moved TO strike it out stating that it
was his intention, when the sundry civil bill
was before the house, to move to consolidate
that garden with the agricultural department
gardens.
After quite long discussion the vote was
taken, and rosulted-yeas 80, nays SO; no
quorum, which point was raised by Mr.. Ellis
and Mr.. Lefcvre.
A roll call followed, the committee rose, and
tho lOuSe. at 1Oo5 ndiournnd