New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-09-13
I DTTINITE CtIOffi.

y
II r. we'll that at ait We have, from ono OF
the Democratic candidates, public dccaro-
ton IN 10 the Intentions of that party in re-
gard " the tariff Mn Hendricks, IN his speech
at indianapolis on Thursday night declared
that the talin must be reduced that the party
was pledged 10y its convention to that course
and continued;
II Won do not like that don't vote with the Democracy.
for when the Democracy cones into power undertake
to say that the machinery will be turned for whe-bach
ward did / say-no forward. IN favor Of reform In
favor of reducing taxation the wants of Government
economically administered.
lie does not stop here. BY way of
showing how much the reduction ought
TO be- Mr.. Hendricks quotes statements
that the surplus is now SS3OOO,OOO or more
yearly, "collccted from the people every
year beyond the demands of an economi-
cal administration of the Government"
Thus we have at last distinct demand that
the tariff shall be cut down, and so cut down
that the revenue shall be $50, 900, 900 less than
il is now. Mr.. Hendricks says not word about
any reduction of the internal taxes, but some
| of the free traders with whom ne has acted for
| many years consent to have both branches of
| the revenue reduced to some extent. The
! entire revenue last year was $3lS,OO0, 600.
| To take of $50, 900, allowing for natural
growth. would involve reduction of one
| quarter both in the tariff and in the taxes on
| liouors and tobacco. If the whole should be
taken from the tariff, the reduction in duties
would be about 40 per cent Whether Mr..
Hendricks means to cut down the taxes on
whiskcy and beer he had better explain to the
Prolibtionists, who are now doing what they
can to secure his election.
From % to 10 per cent of the duties on i'm
ports are to be taken off, then, if the Demo-
cratic party succeeds That is the meaning of
tariff for revenue only, or taxation for public
purposes exclusively" as expounded by Mr..
Hendricks The Morrison bill, a first firm
step toward free trade" would have taken of
only % per cent. But that bill, which Governor
Cleveland urged members of Congress to sup
port, does not 20 far enough for the Hendricks
wing of the party. lie proposes from % to 10
per cent reduction, and is thcreupon chcercd
by his hearers.
Very well; it is most desirable to have the
issue distinctly made. The WOol-gOwcrs Of
Ohio and Indiana are now defended by duties
Of only 10 and 2 cents per pound, Democratic
votes in Congress having made one reduction
last year. Mr.. Hendricks now proposes to cut
down the duty to and cents per pound, or
even lower. If the WOOl-growcrs Ike that
uroposal they will vote for Mr.. Hendricks.
The workers in iron and steel in Ohio AID In
diana are now defended by duties OF So = per
ton on pig iron. SIT on Bc>scmer rails, and
Sl7 % on bar iron, these duties having already
been reduced by Democratic votes. Mr.. Hem
bricks proposes to cut them down still further
ON pig iron to 50 Of per ton, on steel rails TO
81 - per ton. and ON bar iron to 1913 # per
ton. Til, would be the result il the reduction
should be only - per cent; if 10 per cent, It
would be greater. If the workers in iron and
steel like these propositions, they will vote for
Mr.. Hendricks.
The Republican party opposes this change,
and would not be willing to make il even if
every wool grower and every iron and steel
worker in the country should vote for it. For
the Republican party knows that wool growing
has been rendered Improbable by the reduction
already made by Democratic votes, and that
this vast industry would be- entirely Frustrated
by the further reduction Of - per cent. 1t
knows that iron and steel establishments all
over the country are in trouble now; that
manufacturers are realizing little or no profit
that the great depression of this industry abroad
exposes 1t To extreme peril here, if it is not
adequately defended, and that the further re-
ducion, if made, must come from the wages of
labor, because the profits of capital have already
vanished 50 nearly that further curtailmcnt
would close mills and furnaces.
Which party 10 the wool growers aud the