Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-04-17

synopsis of ar. Morrfs0n's Speech
Ia Favor of Its PAssas Q.

Synopsis of Mr. MOrrfs0n's Speech
In Favor of Its Passas e.
WASHINGTON, April Is w hen the
House, to-day, by a vote of l40 TO l3S,
decided to consider the Morrison Tariff
bill, Mr.. Morrison addressed the House
In favor Of the measure.
Mr.. Morrison opened his remarks by
stating that the prevailing tariff system
burdened the people with taxation and
created an annual suplus Of $50,O0O,o00
in the treasury. The object OF the bill,
| he said, was to reduce taxation and re-
lieve the people.
| Referring directly to the provisions OF
his bill, Mr.. Morrison said it proposed to
add to the free list--which now includes
nearly one-third Of all our impOrtations-
| salt, coal, wood and lumber. Salt ia
| already free from tax for fishermen, also
| for the exporters of meats, to lessen the
cost Of food to the people of other
| oountries-not for our own. Coal ia
| uptaxed for use on vessels having by law
| the exclusive right to the coasting trade
| or engaged in the foreign carrying trade,
| privilege denied TO persons engaged in
other pursuits. The revenus from wood
and lumber imported and hereafter to be
| admitted free of duty has in tie 10 years
| last past not much exceeded $l0, 100000
The census returns show the domestic
wooden products to exceed $500, 200, 600.
per annum. II the average duty of 20
per cent. on the imported wood adds but
10 per cent. to the price of that produced
here, its increased eost to the people has
been $500, 900, 900 in 10 years. In these
| 10 years, under the pretense OF taxing
this article to secure $40, 100000 OF
revenue, we have compelled the people to
pay $500, 000,O 600 in bounty to encourage
the destruction Of forests and the telling
OF trees and in the same time we have
given more than $4,000, 900 acres of land
under the timber culture act as bounty to
encourage the planting Of other trees and
other forests.
Estimates based on the census statistics
show that 81 many as 100000 of our
people do some work or are occupied in
\ some business and that the average
| earnings of at least 16,0J0,0 600 of these
| do not much exceed $500, and are wholly
| consumed in means OF daily subsistence.
| These, too, are the millions who in shop
| and field strike the blows Of all produc-
4 ton. AL the accommodations and boosted
additions to our national and individual
| wealth go to one. ten tn of those who earn
Il
/ great mass of the savings of the people
\ and are enriched by the profits of the
| labor of other men. Like estimates " i'll
l show that the few who profit most from
l Inc labor OF all contribute little under
l this system OF unequal taxation-not
| more than 2 per cent. of their savings-
1 while the great mass of workers, includ-
| ing the dependent poor, pay the bulk of
| taxes, all of which ia subtraoted from
\ their too soanty means Of comfortable
living.
Mr.. Morrison opposed the repeal Of the
| internal revenue system, and in regard
4 to the relations Of high tariff and high
4 wages, said that during more than one
half OF the last 10 years wa 90 have been
! as low or lower than before the adoption
of the taxing policy as pretended means
| of making wages higher. 1t Is insisted
| that wages are 30 much higher here than
| in countries seeking our markets that
| revenue duties will not equalize the
| difference IN the cost of production. Con-
| ceding the truth of what is not true, that
| the foreign rival must pay for the privi
| lege of selling in our markets a sum
| equal to the difference in wages to enable
| the home producer to sell with reason
| able profit, let us see'if revenue rates will
compensate for that difference.
| The census valus OF manufactures for
1880 was IS, 1863 ,579, 191. The wages paid
in making them were $947, 953, 795. The
| difference in COST of goods is said to be
The difference in the cost of wages. But
suppose the difference between the COST
here and the cost abroad amounts to all
the wages paid mere, then these manu-
features would cost abroad "a 42l ,625, 1886.
Suppose the average rate OF duty which
the bill before the House leaves 81 80 per
cent. was reduced to % per cent. and at
that rate this 81, 421, 625, 1886 in value
OF goods was imported. 1t would cost the
importer at that rate of % per cent.
1912, 757, 5S7, which not only makes up
for the difference in wages, but exceeds
all the wages paid for making all the
goods.
II those who claim especial friendship
TOR manufacturing industries will insist
on their going into decay and then dying,
some other apology must be found for
their taking off than the removal OF I'M
necessary taxes.
Further remarks were made by Judge
Kelley. Mr.. Mills (Tex and MIR Russell,
after which the House adjourned.
PRESS COMMENTS.
Right here it ia worthy OF remark that
many Republicans profess to be advocates
of tariff reform, yet all (except half
dozen) of them voted with their party, in
order, as they said, to distract and en-
barrass the Democrats. With the same
design in view, Mr.. Randall and his
squad OF ..kickers Joined hands with the
Republicans, instead of sustaining the
settled policy of their own party.-New
York Star, Dem.
1t requires hopeful vision indeed to
discern any real prospect of success for
the bill against the united action Of the
Republicans and the serious opposition to
it within the Democratic party itself.-
NeV York San, protectionist.
The opposition to Mr.. Morrison was
very appropriately opened by Judge
Kelley. OF all the men in the House he
is probably the only one who could have
talked absolute nonsense with the sin-
oerity of fanatic and the boldness Of
unconscious ignorance. It must have
been some comfort to Mr.. Morrison to See
his opponents in his own party compelled
to follow such a leader. Undoubtedly
they will follow him. They have thrown
away reason, and not even the ridicu-
lousness of falling in behind man who
prays that America may never get access
to foreign markets, and who hopes to see
the country "isclated, will change their
minds. IN. Y Times, Rep.
The debate in Congress will serve to
keep this issue before the people. 1t will
be discussed in every part of the country,
and this alone is well worth struggle.
There ia yet large amount OF educs-
tionsl work to be done before the tull
principles of a just reform Of the tariff
can be clearly comprehended by the
nation. Had the Democrats properly in
terpretsd the lessons of the campaign OF
1880 they would at once have entered
upon this task aud so prepared the way
for another fight to be made in very
different manner in 1854 -Neu York
Herald.
DefalcatfOn and Excitement.
|