Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-04-18

There was intense interest mani
tested in the roll call. At the conclu-
sion of the first call there appeared a
majority of one in favor of the meas
ure. The house then went on the
second call and the members crowded
around any one of their colleagues
who was keeping tally, earnestly list
ening for response, the result being
so close until the final announcement
that nobody was quite sure how the
vote stood, but upon its announce
ment there was round of applause
from the democratic side The COM
mittee then resumed its sitting and
Morrison opened the debate in sup
port of the bill.
He described the financial condi-
ton of the country and stated the
estimated surplus of revenues over
expen:es and dwelt upon the necessl-
ty of reducing taxation and relieving
the people. The bill might not be all
it required, but it was an advance to-
wards the promise of more com
plete tariff reform. Such reform and
adjustment of the tariff was not be-
lieved attainable at the present ses-
sion. 1t would create no surprise
that, in the opinion of the minority of
the WAYS and means committee, the
measure was not sufficiently harmo-
nious to secure their approval.
They found in it no merit because it
proposed to reduce all duties alike. A
horizontal reduction might not be the
best, but no other was now practlca-
bic. ProtectionIsts opposed it, not be-
cause it was a horizontal reduction,
but because it was a reduction at all.
The year of 1860 was time of plenty.
Laborers' wages were at least as well,
and the grower of grain better paid
than they are in the year of 1884, and
in that year (1860) of bountoous
plenty, our importation of foreign
goods were less 10 person and IN pro-
portion TO the population than in the
years of 80 or 80. To the list of articles
now imported free of duty, amount
ing to nearly one-third of all our i'm
pertations, it is proposed to add salt,
coal, wood and lumber Salt is al
ready freed from tax for fishermen.
also for 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 the
exclusive right to the coasting trade
or engaged in the foreign carrying
trade-a privilege denied TO persons
engaged in other pursuits. The reve-
nue. from weod and lumber i'm
ported and hereafter to be ad-
mitted free of duty has
in 10 years past has not much exceed
ed SO, 600, coo. The census returns
show that domestic wooden products
exceed $500, 600, 900 per annum. If
the average duty of % per cent. on
imported wool adds but 10 per cent.
to the price of that product here with
increased cost to the people, has beea
800, 000, 600 IN 10 years. In these 10
years, under the preteRse of taxing
this article TO secure SO, 000, 600 rev
enue, we have compelled the people
TO pay $500, 600, ,oe0 IN bounty TO en-
courage the destruction of forests and
telling trees, and In the same time we
have given more than is, 000, 900 acres
of land under the timber culture act
as bounty to encou, age the planting
of other trees and ether forests. In
the estimates made by clerk of expe-
rience In the bureau of statistics
from which the actual payments on
importation, show to be but estimate6.
though based on official data Yae