Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-04-16


first call there appeared a majority of one
in favor OF the measure; then went ON the
second call, and the members crowded
around any one of their colleagues who
was keeping tally, earnestly listening for
each response. The result was so close
that until the final announcement nobody
was quite sure how the vote stood, but
upon the announcement there was round
OF applause from the Democratic side.
The committee then resumed its sitting,
and Mr.. Morrison opened debate in sup
port of the bill.
MP. Morrison's Speech.
He described the financial condition OF
the country, stated the estimated surplus Of rev.
cessity of reducing taxation. To fail to reduce
taxation and relieve the people would be 8 fla
grant disregard of public duty. The pending
bill might not be all that required but ii was
an advance toward the promise of more com
plete tariff reform Such reform and adjust
ment of the tariff was not believed to be attain
able at the present session. 1t would create nc
surprise that in the opinion of the minority oi
the Ways and Means Committee that the meas
ure was not sufficiently harmonious to secure
their approval. They found in it no merit be-
cause 1t proposed to reduce all duties alike. A
horizontal reduction might not be best, but none
other was now practicable. The protectionists
opposed 1t, not because it was horizon tai redoc-
The year 1860 the time of plenty for the la
bOrer for wages, and was at least as well for the
grower of grain. They were better paid than
they are IN this year 1884, and in that year 1867,
of bounteous plenty, our impOrtations of foreign
goods were less to the person, in proportion to
population, than in the years looo-s2. 1t IS pro
free list. Salt is already freed from tax for fisher
men and exporters of meat to lessen the cost for
food to people of other countries. The revenue from
wood and lumber imported and hereafter to be
admitted free of duty, has in the ten years last
past not much exceeded $4,000, 900. The census
returns show that domestic wooden products ex-
ceed $500 600 600 per annum. If the average duty OF
twenty per cent on imported woods adds but ten
per cent. to the price of that article here its in
creased cost to the people has been 500 900 in
ten years In these ten years, under the pretense
of King this article to secure $4,000 900 of rev
enue, we have compelled the people to pay $780,
100000 bounty to encourage the destruction OF
forests and telling of trees, and in the same time
we have given more than Is ,O0O,OO0 acres of land
under the timber culture act, bounty to encour-
the planting of other trees and other forests.
In estimates made by a clerk of experience in
the Bureau of Statistics, which actual payments
on imp0rtatiOns show to be but estimates, though
based on official data, the bill would leaVe 1t ap-
pears, IN cottOns
But TWO ARTICLES,
cotton yarns, not the finest, dutiable above forty
per cent: in woolens, but one, coarse carpet
wool, which VIC do not produce, above sixty per
cent, and in iron and steel but few above fifty
per cent. These articles had been fixed as the
limit above which in these articles no duty shall
be collected. The present rate on the finest cot
ton is forty per cent, and yet it is an unques-
toned fact, as shown by the invoices and pay
ments made, that duties exceeding 15O per cent.
cotton goods, the duty upon which in the esti-
mates referred to is stated to be less than twenty
per cert. The same is trus of iron and steel
in q different degree. In tho WOODEN sched-
ule these abuses most glaring. In all
they result from the enormities hidden, both in
the classification of articles and rates of duty.
The limit forty fifty and sixty per cent. in the cot
ton. metal and woolen schedules is intended to
expunge and remedy those hidden enormities.
Those really desirous of offering some relief frsm
the existing abuse will not fail of their oppor-
tunity in removing taxes yielding SS,OO0,O0O on
m al an n :
and Sl4, 200 on
OTHER ARTICLES USED IN EVERY HOUSE.
The insufficient, not to say temporary, charac-
ter of the late reduction, the manner of maxim g
and circumstances attendin. its adoption, alike
forbid that it should be permanent. The only
security from agitation and change is to contine
the taxing mower to its riahtful purpose, limited
to the necessities of the government. When no
more revenue is needed by the government of
the people it has attained the limit of its power to
tax. Estimates based on census statistics show
that many as 5000, 900 of our people do some
the average annual earnings of at least 16 200 900
of these do not much exceed $500, and are wholly
consumed IN the means of daily subsistence.
These, too, are the millions who, in shop and
field, strike the blows of all productions. All ae-
cUmulations of bOasted additions to our national
and individual wealth go to those who do not earn
it, who appropriate the mass of the savings of the
people and are enriched by the profits of the labor
few Who profit from the iaboT Of ali contribute but
little under this system-Of unequal taxation, not
more than two per cent of their savings, while
ent poor, pay back in taxes all which is sub
traeted from their scanty means of comfortable
OURS IS A VERY FINE COUNTRY.
1t is very free, but very freely taxed. In the
same sense that We are free men in free country,
ers when say that the commerce of the country
and the necessities of comfortable living shall be
free from all taxes not essential to the govern
ment for public uses. The amount required from
customs Is dependent upon what may be received
from internal revenue. The abolition of the in
tor al mas 0VNA oh
but with heavier-taxed and higher-priced sugar
and other articles essential in every house
hold. L am not called upon here to
defend the system, which has many abuses. OF
the two systems, however, it is cheaper in ad-
ministration, immensely cheaper in in its results,
to repeal the Internal revenue, which means
more than the additional cost of living and priva
tion to the poor. 1t means a permanent public
debt, which few owe and many pay, and which
corrupts the administration. While we cannot
altogether remedy great wrongs in the execution
of the revenue laws, especially in the South At
Neither is it because of these abuses of admins
tration that the abolition of liquor and tobacco
stantially free from these hagrant abuses.
MIR. MORRISON
said that during more than half of the asst ten
years wages had been as low, OF lower, than be-
fore the adoption of the taxing policy as a pre-
tended means of making wages higher, and con
tinued: There is but one horizontal reduction for
which our opponents are willing to legisiate, the
reduction of wages and this their favorites, with
or without regard to legislation, are now execut-
opinion of the minority members Of
the ssian9 sGimM9ittee they do
cures for whatever national ills exit, SO far as
they result from taxation, are TO be found in
higher priced clothing and other articles useful
in the fields mines and homes, for that is what is
meant by higher taxed wool, fenee-rods, cotton
bands and tin plates. Some of our friends here
declaration of purpose the execution of which
they would carefully avoid, and here is the
declaration
IN rs A 7 mn TOT mi -
1--WE favor tariff for revenue limited to the neces
sities of the government, economically admins
tered and adjusted so as to prevent unequal
burdens, encourage productive industries a
home, afford just compensation to labor, but not
create and foster MONOPOLY" A tariff for revenue
is limited to the necessities of the government i:
demanded by this plan of relief. Is the tariff nov
so limited? If not, then why refuse to limit il
Who, among the Representatives of the gOodly
people ofthat State who made this declaration be
lieyes it is so limited? Who among them believes
the bill will reduce the revenue below the
tions to which the plain people of the countr!
want an answer. They will demand to know VIII!
the tariff taxes are not removed in part, if the!
are beyond revenue limit. Do the gentlemen ex
pect to escape responsibility because the rates ar
rightly adjusted? The adjustment will be tn
same when the reduction is made, but whateve
monopoIy belongs to it will be faster by twent
per cent. less than it now, is. This platform ha
an honest meaning, 1t is that
THE TARIFF SHALL BE LOWER,
and gentlemen but deceive themselves, who ex
pect the people will be deceived by refusal t
iegislate in accordance with this declared pur
pose. If the projection policy is to be the con
tinued policy of the government it will be an,
ought to be intrusted 10 its friends, the Republi
can party. Every argument in supper
assumption that any considerable tariff mod
iication, especially a modification to
revenue basis, will destroy manufacturing IN
mills and force those now engaged in them int
other employments. This is an old, old story. L
was told of manufacturing industries in their in
fancy; it will be told when protection bring
them to decay. Eight years ago | introduced
the first bill for free res guinine and providing 10
was insisted that quinine- making would become
lost art among US If such bill should pass, am
story of free Quinine got among the people
another placed the bill before the House, omittin
law, the protcctionists themselves then feelin,
obliged TO vote for it. The great Philadelphi
house did not 20 into decline, but continued Il
second largest quinine establishment in tn
world So every legitimate industry would go o.
WITH NO TARIFF.
1t is insisted that wages are SO much hishe
here than in countries seeking our markets, tha
revenue duties will not equalize the difference il
the cost of production COneeding the truth Q
the privilege of selling in the markets a sur
equal TO the difference in wages to enable the pro
ducer to sell with reasonable profit let us Sc
if tho revenue rates will compare wit
that difference. The census value of manufac
lures for 1882 was S, 69 579 l9l; the wages paid
a
the cost of goods is said to be the difference in tn
k cost of wages; bpt suppose the difference betwee
the cost here and abroad amounts to all the wage
paid here, then those manufactures would cos
abroad 81, ,42l 90, 1896. Suppose tho average rat
| Of duty which the bill before th
1 House leaves at thirty-three per cent, wa
reduced to .wenty-two per cent, and at that raj
this 81 ,42l, ,6S $50 in value of goods was imported
il would cost the importer at thai rate of twenty
! two per cent S72,75 ,5S7, which not only maks
| up for the difference in wages but all wages pal
| for making all the goods. If those who clail
1 especial friendship for the manufacturing indus
| tries will insist on their going into decay, an
| then dying, some other apology must be foun
for their taking of than the removal Of unncessar
| taxa