Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-07-10

THE RANDALL TARIFF BILL.
Mr.. Morrison Says 1t Is the Result OF
''Fiscal Distemper.''
A CAusTIc REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE on
WAYS AND MEANs-MR. RANDALLs METHODS
OF FINANCIERfNG REvIEwED-rHE CoNDI-
TIoN OF THE INDUSTRIES OF THE COUNTRY.
Mr.. Morrison, from the committee on ways
and means, to-day made q report to the House
on Mr.. Randalls tariff bill, recommending that
the bill do not pass. Mr. Morrison's report says
"the bill proposes to remove all internal taxes
on tobacco, snuff and cigars, amounting on the
basis of last years receipts to 2S,OOO.00O; on
apple, peach and grape brandy to Sl,4OO, ,OGO;
on spirits for use in the arts, variously esti-
mated at from 81 100000 to S15,OOO,OOO and
believed TO be at least 100000 900, making I'm
the aggregate of internal revenue taxes to be
removed $50 10000 In the appendix of esti-
mates submitted with the bill, as part OF 1t, the
reduction of revenue from customs on tariff
taxes to be effected by 1t is estimated at So, 5.O.
516, making the aggregate OF proposed reduc-
tons S4S.OOOOOO. The bill to SO reduce excess
sive revenues, atd the statement that there are
no excessive revenues to be reduced. were
submitted to the House by the same mem.
Der, in the same halt-month. Ii the state
ment that the revenues will not exceed appro-
prlatlonS and the estimates with the bill, in.
Guiding loss of receipts from brandy and from
spirits for use in the arts, may be credited, the
enactment OF the bill into law will leave the
government S4S.0Oo.OOO short of the sum
necessary to the administration of the govern
ment and the requirements OF the public debt
authorized by law, Including debts incurred by
payment of pensions already allowed, The valid
lty OF which we may not question, and the pay
ment of which is enjoined upon us in the oath
we have taken to support the Constitution
lour committee, unwilling TO credit purpose
so lacking in patriotism, SO forgelui OF the pub
lie faith, must believe these and other provi-
an Ia list NOR
hindering just comprehension and Intelligent
treatment OF the SUBJECT. In view of its effect
am. purpose, SO TAR as it has purpose al.
fecting the revenue of the government, the bill
might we'll be lett to that neglect which, no
doubt, IL was expected to receive. But in the
hope that even unwise a measure MAY open
the way for he majority OF the House To redeem
its pledges by the removal and reduction OF un-
necessary, and therefore, UNJUST taxes, your
committee report the bill uack with the recon-
mendation that IL do not pass.
The bill Changes the duty or rate OF tax on
articles yielding less than one-tenih (Sl1,OOO.-
UUO) out OF tine S1 81 900 900 received rom GUS
toms In 1882 1t increases those which yielded
S11 ,6OO.UUO and decreases or removes those
which yield S5,OU0,UU0 on the basiS oi imports
for 1860. 1t does not reduce the revenue from
customs SS.57O,576. nor at all, but does in
crease IT 5.5UU,UOU. Besides the articles added
to the free IIst,t the duty imports tax is reduced
Oh castor beans. castor oil, starch. iron and
steel rails, rods. beams, girders, lead ana other
articles yielding S3,3Oo.UUooi revenue, and The
revenue is estimated Ia the oiii, " tall OH in
proportion to the retuceed rate OF taxation
Recommended"
PROTECTION FOR PROJECTIONS SAKE.
After analysing various provisions oi the bill
increasing the tax Oh WOODEN goods of foreign
make, tin plate and otner articles of common
use the report says: "TheSe statements OF the
estimated and Intended effect oI the bill are be-
Iieved 10 MAKE PLAIN the methods 10y which
taxation which, on the basis Oh imports and
revenue receipts in 1855, would yield S14,-
OuO,UOO OF revenue, is in;,ue 10 divert that sum
from pupiic purposes TO private gain. Ihe in
truduction OF this bill would be considered the
nrSt aroweu attempt iii our legislative history
u empty the Treasury by The USE of the taxing
power, tne 1lrsL confessed effort 'for protection
Tor protection sake, but Tor The following
declaration from the same source AS the
bill: i do not believe there is in the constitu-
ton OF the United states an authority TO levy
import duties lor protection Tor projection S
sake. LII other words can lind nothing which
gives authority to tne Congress vi the U. =. 10
raise taxes on import uuties for protection per
sc. nigh protective tariff leads to
monopoly and ~ class leSlsatiOn.' Ii tins
measure may be supposed u nave any purpose
relating 10 system ot finance it points 10
direct taxation, iOr. when INTERNAL revenue
lakes are taks.n OF and custom house taxes are
laid on 50 nns Ii thai tle people get tue burden,
the nionopo..sts the benefit, ana the Treasury
department nothing, new sources of supply
viii De inevitable. Ihe measure is not sup
posed to ioresn;,uow any sucn system, or TO do
mo.e than indicate AN origin ul.Iearned la
methods aud uniliidiul OF Results
''ALtempIs TO remove the tooaccO and other
Internal taxes" the report says, "are usuaIIy
Justified by asserting tnv Sc 10 be war taxes, and
III apparent IOrsC tIu ness oil the fact tn,.t
reIates To its money oUlis isaiions, the war as
not uaif over, and Will not Ue over, until We
have paid S4,uoo,oOO.ooU, Yet to be collected
in taxes from inc people. Al best take, are a
most grievOus burden upon the industry, tnrlft
and comfort ot the people. iney should be So
lalu to cause the least hinurance TO these in-
dustries aud comforts; the least interference
wItn reeiy-chosen pursuits aud, lar > possi-
bile, on articles, the use oi which and the pay
Ineut OF lax thereon would be largely voIun-
tary.
Tne report comments upon the fact that more
than So per cent OF internal war taxes nave
been repeuied, with hall OF lac war deb; yet to
oe paiG, ami tnat war tariff LAKES Continue to
Duruen the people and nlnder their progress. 1t
holds THAT the Lax On liquor anu TOBACCO, Indus
tries wnicn are iairiy prosperous, Should not be
removed.
THE CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY.
Referring To the great drain of the war debt,
the report continues: with the immensely oi
this draft upon Tie earnings oi the people, .heir
wealth was counted III the census OF 1880 at
SD uUoU UOO Ia lands: IN NOV able prouerty
;.s mucn more. How much vi this wealth has
been diverted or tian,ierred by unequal and
excessive taxation oy "a hisn protcc-iNe tariIt,
iaoor to those WHO employ Labor, is
largely matter of conjecture. Ihis We
do know: That OF the 2s,OOOOoO of
people who do something, some WON, Or EN-
saseu ia gainIui Pursuits, 1S.UuOUUO, Or 9-lO
tuese earn, on Inc average, not much more
than s3uU "a year, whicn Is necessarily con-
TALLY AL the savings go W Tie other LILO,
and now are 0vertaken 10y and are in the
midst OF industrial Paralysis. A million of
Work men are lOle iOr WANT VI Work to do, and
capital, ia still greater proportion than unein-
plOyed labor, lies deiu or un roductIve. Our
nils and nlOun aims are full oT mineral wealth.
Mliiions Oh acres OF productive lands wait TOR
tue piow. Homes tUr home iess mIiions are TO
be had ior the taking. tdvOreu with plentiful
harvests, tiest with hearth, the Only pias ue
which athicis US Is idieness. What We neeu Is
pruIitabie empioJ ilent. There Is all apparent
puuy effort iii tue Uill, through an increase OF
taxation, to smut out gOous from abroad, that
they may he nia.ue al home. Ii this effort as
So successful as to prevent the in lor Va ton OF
all manufactures We would have direct taxa
ton and tnTee-IOurths OF a HiIiiOn men yet
unemployed. Their profit able employ me mt
amounts 10 nearly the difference between nat
is popularity known as good and hard Times.
The removal OF the tobacco tax viii furnish
no new employing Neither its smoke nor
its juices Will turn wheei, shaft spindle.
Wool, Wool, hemp, salt, cheap loOd for lollIng
men lIe at the found lion vi great anu success
fuI industries. 10 Tree these from taxes
wall cheaper production without lowering tue
price vi labor, and our idle men may be thus
enabled to make something which may be sold
prunt.bly abroad, aud with which We are over
stocked at home. the last census estimates
SHOW an increased national wealth oi $50, ,vVO-
QUO, 900 tor Lne previous twenty years. aIarve-
lOus this growth from 1850 TO 1850 may
appear, it SHOW u yearly saving vi Only $500
~ every person of our tnen average Oi 4U,UUU.-
200. Whatever number OF persons sa we'd double
the average yearly saving, or $40, an equal
number saved nothing. FOR as many ac-
Quireu $112.oO, three Times the annual saving,
tIat many Ieii below the average yearly saving
Oi So I5U snort Of the necessities vi cOIortaoie
existence. Facts plain AS these SHOW now
erously near the great mass OI men always are
10 want and suffering. 10 those not blind tO
the wants of their less fortunate felIowmen,
facts like these SHOW why ali men should have
a right to work and enjoy the fruits OF their
earnings, burdened with such taxes only as are
ind diSna uSAh Ia efv