The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-16

There was intense interest manifested in the
roll-call AT the conclusion of the first call there
appeared majority of one in favor of the meas
ure. The House then went on with the second
call. and members crowded around any one of
their colleagues who keeping tally, earn
estly listening for each response. The result
was so close that until the final announce
ment nobody was quite sure how the vote stood;
but upon the announcement there was a round
of applause from the Democratic side.
The committee then resumed its sitting and
Mr.. Morrison opened the debate in support of
the bill
He described the financial condition of the
country, stated the estimated surplus of rev
enue over expenditures, and dwet upon the
necessity of reducing taxation To fail to re-
duce taxation and relieve the people would be a
fragrant disregard of public duty The pending
bill might not be all that was required, but it
was an advance towards promise of more com
plete tariff reform. Such reform and adjust
ment Of the tariff was not believed attainable at
the present session. IT would create no surprise
that, i'll the opinion of the minority of the wavs
and means committee the measure was not suf-
fciertly meritorious to secure their approval
They found in il no merit because it proposed
TO reduce all duties alike. horizontal rcduc
ton might not be the best, but none other was
now practicable. The protectionists opposed it,
not because it was horizontal reduction, but be-
cause ii was a reduction at all.
The year 1860 was a time OF plenty. The
laborer for wages was at least as well of MS the
=
this year of 1884, and in that year, 1860 of
bounteous plenty. our impOrtations of foreign
goods were less to the person, or in proportion TO
population than III the years lSS0-S2 70 the
list of articles now imported free Of duty,
amounting to neatly 0nethird of all our i'm
pOrtahOns, it is proposed to add salt. coal. wood
and lumber Salt Is already freed from tax for
fishermen, also for the exporters of meats to
lessen the cost of food to the people of other
countries, not for our own. Coal
is untaXed for use on vessels
having, by law, exclusive right to the coasting
trade. or which are engaged in the foreign
rying trade-a privilege denied persons engaged
in other pursuits. The revenue from wood and
lumber imported, ami hereafter to be admitted
free of duty, has, in the ten years last past not
much exceeded $40, 600 000 The census returns
show that domestic wooden products ex
coed $500, ,O00 600 per annum If an average
duty of 20 per cent on imported wood adds but
10 per cent to the price of that produced here
the increased cost to the people has been
100000, GEO III ten years. In these ten
years, under pretcnse of taxing
these articles to secure $4,000. 600 OF
revenue. have compelled the people
to pay $500, 900 600 in bounty to encourage the
destruction of forests and the telling of trees
ard in the same time we have given more than
lS 900 600 acres of land, underthe timber culture
act, as bounty to encourage the planting of
other trees and other forests.
In estimates mado by actual experience in the
bureau of statistics, which actual payments on
our impOrtations show to be but estimates
though based on official data-the bill would
leave it appears. in cottons but two articles
cotton yarns, not the mest--dutiable above 40
per cent. In woolens but one-coarse carpet
WOOL of which we do not produce above 60 per
cent; and in iron ana steel but few
articles above 50per cent These rates lave been
fixed as the limit above which. on these
articles. no duty shall be collected. The present
rate on the finest cotton is 80 per cent, and yet
it is an uuquestioned fact as shown by invoices
and payments made, that duties exceeding 100
per ccnt.-eXceeding the first cost-are exacted
and paid on cotton goods the duty upon which
is in the estimates referred to, stated to be less
than 20 per cent. The same is true of iron and
steel, in different degree. In the woolen sched-
ule these abuses are glarng. They result from
the enormities. hidden and concealed both in
classification of articles and rates of duty. The
10, 90 and 60 per cent on the cotton,
metal and wooden schedules
intended to expose and remedy these
hidden enormities. Those really desirous
of Offering some relief from existing abuses will
not fail to find opportunity in removing taxes 10
the amount of -, 600, GOO on sugar, as mach on
cotton and WOODEN goods, and l4,0OO, 600 Oh
other articles used in every house
The insufficient. Npt to say deceptive, charac-
ter Of the late re sion. the manner of making it,
and the circums itnces attending its adoption,
alike forbid that 1t should be permanent The
only security from agitation and change IS
10 cOnuue the taxing power to its right
Ial purpose obtaining revenue limited 10