Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-05-18
WIN. R. MORRISON.
His Speech on the Reduction OF Internal
Revenue Taxation,
And the Tariff Policy Which Olamors for
tbs Reduction

tbs Reduction
The House having un aer consideration the
repor, OF The committees of conference on the
taxation, and for other purposes
Mr.. Morrison said:
Mr. SPEAKER: II Is too late to de-
bate this conference bill or to designate
the discreditable methods and agen-
cies which brought II here. When
passed. as 1t will be, duties on imports
or tariff taxes may be lowered at most
one-eighth, or IL! per cent. of the pres.
eut rate; but they will still be 40 per
cent. higher than they were beforeihe
war rates were added. To-day they |
are higher by so per cent. than they |
were before the addition Of war rates.
Some have been increased more. others |
less, but l state the average increase at |
less than 1t Is when fix II at 60 per |
cent
increased the tariff-the Morrill, tariff
of March ., ls6l-was fully up to that
protective standard of equalization be- |
tween us and our foreign competitors
beyond which the tariff commission
ttli~ us ttluN ttOt w WlttiOut
positive injury to the interests II II In
tended to benefit. It's author, Mr..
Morrill,. advocated II here ms meas.
ure which would place our people and
| the varied industries upon level Of
fair competition with the rest OF the
world. As such u measure II had in
the senate the support Of Mr. simmons
of Rhode ISL nd. the elder Cameron.
and other advocates of the protective
| policy.
| am not disappointed In finding no
modification of that policy in this con-
ference measure, based AZ Vt is on the
tariff commission report. Neither did
the commission in its proposed rates of
duty make any substantial or equitable
reduction in the burdens Of taxation
although II was prsfessedly appointed
to revise the tariff upon scale OF JUS
tice to all interests. II credits itself In
| its report with q substantial reduction
of more than 20 per cent not one
fourth Of which II made, unless d.
minished revenue from increased and
prohibitory rates of duty he accepted 40
n reduction of taxes A more shame
less piece Of trickerv than that at
tempted in its revision and assumed
reductions never received the respect-
full attention n the national Legislature.
The pending hill will not reduce taxes
to the extent 1t will reduce revei,ne-
1t has no such purpose. As bill to
reduce tariff taxation 1t IL aptly de-
scribed bv a German saving. "Wash
me the fur, but don't wet It," The
same Is true Of the commission scheme
and the bills fashioned after and from
1t At both ends Of the capitol
put aside from the beginning, ~
impracticahle In this congress, all
question of rightful authority to i'm.
pose or the justice OF imposing taxes
on all the people to enable part to nc
auire property or get money in busi,
ness, profitable or Improbable. Blu,
might we not reasonably expect anc
rightfully demand even Of this con
, gress the removal of so much Of the "
. per cent. increase or war tariff taxes a.
Is now no longer necessary for revenue
The commission, packed to perpetu
ate the present system, admits ana re
ports that except for the establishment
( of new industries no duties can bt
justified which more than equalize TIM
conditions of labor and capital Will
those of foreign competitors; that du
ties above such standard Of equaliza
ton are excessive and positively inju
4 rious to the interests they are supposed
I to benefit; that substantial reduction
' of the tariff is demanded by the hes
| conservative opinion of the country, y
t a due recognition Of public sentiment
4 n measure of Justice to consumers. ant
: that 1t will add To the general indus
8 trial prosperity. From 20 to 20 pc
!, cent. is stated by the commission
e the substantial reduction demanded
9 Does the majority of the house VIII
? would professedly quiet the apprehen
o sion resulting from the agitation O
i this question expect To accomplish
Q with less? Does the majority here ex
9 pect the next house of representative
to accept less than the commission
s comedies to be demanded by the pes
a conservative sentiment OF the country
:. Gentlemen may continue TO proIes
/ here their anxiety to quiet the unres
s. on this subject, but their reiusa,
e double the proposed reductions VIII
, correctly interpreted to contradict u
;, such protests. ,,a 1,
!, renlv 10 the honorable chairman MT
o Kelly, that 1t was the duty o, .n'
r. Int In 40 revise It as to make real an
Is equitable reduction Of tariff taxes, an
V not to so revise 1t as to reduce the rev
5. enue by increasing rates OF duty an
le taxation, which Is the effect OF vi
IS hill. / said then, and repent now, u
r, nurnose is TO forestall action In and D
st the next congress, and thus rreven
lie any fair and reasonable reduction,
Is saia then. and now again repeat, tns
a SAL th;s hill Ia passed all those VIII
e would maintain war duties OF in ',,s,n
st them will insist that this IL revls,o
n Of the tariff. and therefore settiemeI
is NJ the question which must not agar
" ba disturbed or agitated lest demal
+. for further revision or reduction VI
;s nn.attie the industrial interests OF u
IN onmntrv. Sir, the advocates OF protee
us five and selfish greed here ana eyer,
re where. but deceive themselves 'ne
ne axnect from this measure 40 niuch ~
Ne Temporary settlement OF .ne queS''o,
IL for which they seek oblivion
he AnpITIoNAL TARIFF REDUCTION =
y S3o. 600, 600 CONSISTENT WITH fh'
he TECrIvE POLICY. a..
NC With good harvests, withou. whi !,
" wa cannot have commercial anu -
~ dustrlal prosperity, we may ~ ens n
nnder this bill an Income OF slo.vu,U'
:. from the sale Of public lands sna ao 0.n ~
~ Miscellaneous sources; SluVV,V
" Srn~, internal taxes on spirits, Hs
IP- ,i"nors and tobacco, and uniess u
y,s XII contaips artfully concealed pr
1t pn vo clauses not yet discovers