The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-03-21
THE TARIFF.

Ways and Means COMMITTEES, Rspoeted
to the HoRse-The Majority aud Minor.
ity keperts Accompanying the DOcu-
ment.
WARRINGTON, March 12-The majority
and minority reports Of the Ways and Means
COMMITTEES on the Morrison Tarfn bill were
submitted to the House yesterday. The di.
vision was upon strict party lines Mori-
son says he does not know when he will
call the bill up for action. The majority
report says:
The Chairman OF the Senate Committee on
Finance, in explanation Of the bill before the
ments, became law, estimated at 81, 100000
the reduction in revenue which would follow
the changes in the tariff. These calculations
presses, what legislation is neces-
sary to relieve the people of unnecessary
taxesp Your committee find that in the six
was imported into the United States valued ut
e23s, SOS. l09 on which duties were paid amount
ing to $e6,5l4136, being 1921 per cent on the
months Of issa, under the Old law, the value
of dutiable imports amounted to $500, $50 253,
and the duty paid was Sill .266, 507, or 4s65 per
cent on the value. II thus appears that the
cent. less under the new than under the old
law. The nominal reduction made by the pro-
posed bill Is twenty per Gent or onsfth the
lions in the bill, and the liquor and silk sched-
ules omitted, the actual reduction will not ex-
coed l5H per cent The average reduction
made in the Tarih-COmmission bill and that
to be made by the proposed bill, together, do
not reach the reduction at which the commits
sion aimed.
The decrease in revenue as shown by the
receipts under the new law other than that re-
sulting from the nominal reduction of LA
per cent. results from the falling off of nearly
nSrx -, a
under the new law, as compared with the first
half of the previous year under the old law.
The reduction of revenue under the bill re-
ported is estimated at $3l. o0.oOO, on the basis
81, 100000 the bill will relieve the people
of unnecessary taxes. To that extent
LAKES VIII be reduced directly n as IL,
directly in largely increased proportions
From the statement made by the Bureau of
Statistics 1t appears that the duties or tariff
taxes were decreased on some and increased
on other articles under the new law, but,
while this is true, there has been no increase
in wages in any, but reduction of wages in
most industries, as well Us in those whose
competing products received more, as in
those that obtained less protection under the
act of March last
steel trade, as one of the leading mauufact-
ures, the report attributes the depression and
the enforced idlencss Of the workingmen TO
declares that, US such caiamities always fall
upon the laborers, the committee had de-
cided to report bill for the partial relief Of
the people from unnecessary taxes.
The minority report, which was prepared by
Mr.. Mckinley. after reciting the action of the
last Congress in revising the tariff in places
where reductions were needed, urges that the
time which has elapsed since the new
tariff went into effect has been too short
to give II a sufficient test, and asks that 1t be
given fair trial before the subject is brought
up again. Another objection urged is that the
reduction proposed by the bill under consid-
GRAFTON has not been asked for by q single in
terest in the whole country. Continuing, the
While all unite in opposition to any reduc-
ton some interests assert the necessity of an
increase of duties for the actual maintenance
country demand the restoration of the wool
duty of 1876. The undersigned have sought
to respond favorably to this demand of more
r rcr 0 the Agriculture " of t the
country, but we have been overruled. The
opponents to our views, not con-
of this large class of producers. deliberately
propose to reduce duties still lover. Against
this we enter a most earnest protest. There
are some inequalities however. found in the
present law which it would be only just to
correct Among these, wire rods, cotton-ties
and tin plates bear greatly disproportonate
duties to kindred articles, and should be made
consistent and harmonious
We are opposed to the bill, because, first:
1t will disturb business, unsettle values,
retard incipient enterprises, cripple those now
established, impair the confidence among
business men SO essential to our development
and prosperity, and bring no countervailng
benefits. N- tsEa
of labor i'm the United States, will stimulate
imports, increase competition from abroad,
which can only be successfully met by re-
ducng the cost of home product. We can
not too strongly emphasize our opposition to
any legislation which even tends to reduce our
labor to the foreign standard, either in price
or condition.
3. Thut the proposed reduction will newt.
ably increase foreign importatiOns, ami as
consequence will increase our revenues, to
which increase every interest of the country
4. 1t is wholly unnecessary and unjust:fable.
The enormous increase in the wealth of the
country during the last fifteen years, under
protective tariff. now forces capital to seek
employment in the development OF all min
erai agricultural and other resources, and
change or modification of the system vii
create such doubt of successful enterprises
as to check this useful tendency.
6. Ii has none Of the merits of a carefully
matured Tariff bill. and is not the result of q
studious consideration OF the interests OF our
people. it proposes to reduce alike the duty
upon every article of foreign import, without
any examination as to its effect upon particu-
lar industries, and wholly ignoring its neces-
sary effect in advancing prices ABROAD by tho
destruction of competition at home. Whilo
nominally it is uniform reduction, I'm fact 1t is
grossly unequal under the limitations of the
bill and it will be found difficult If not inn
practicable of execution.
g. That feature of the bill which applies ad
val0rem duties to most of the schedules af-
fected by it is especially Objectionable. be-
cause it Will greatly increase the existing evil
of differentiation, and consequent frauds
upon the revenue, as well as SO compiicate
the rule of assessment duties as greatly. to
embarrass the administration of the law.
Against the statement of the majority as to
the effect of protective duties upon wages. is
the statement OF the workmen themselves,
who unite 81 declaring that protective duties
are essential to fair and remuncratiye wages,
and that every reduction inevitably results in
lowering the standard of American wages. We
dissent radically from the statement of the
majority that Q reduction of duties lightens
by so much the burdens of taxation. The
whole history OF our National experience
shows a constantly decreasing price as the
effect of increased home competition.
What the country wants most Is rehef
tries of the country are extremely sensitive,
and just at this time, when business is more
or less depressed in every branch, threat or
fear Of change introduces an element of I'M |
certainty throughout the country the evil eff
fects of which no one can foresee. Twenty
per cent. reduction, or any reduction how |
tons made last winter. can not be defended
as to a single schedule, and as to many
1t can be shown to be wholly disastrous. |
We believe if. after sufficient trial of the eff
feet of the last revision 1t shall appear that
the industrial interests of the country can be |
maintained with it. and that the condition of |
the treasury Will justify a further revision,
such action will be more wisely undertaken |,
by the friends of the protective system, and |
with less disturbance to pubic prosperity. |
than if done now by the avowed advocates OF
the destruction of the American system OF
protection.
The minority report is signed by Represent. |
atives Kelley, Kasson, Mckinley, Russell and
Hiscock. comprising all the Republican mem |
beers of the WAYS and Means Committee.
THE FAST MAIL TRAIN.
The Run from Chicago to Burlinc ton, !
Ia, Distance OF 2o7 Miles, Made In !
-Four Hours and Forty Minutes.