The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-07-14
RANDALL'S TARIFF BILL
Mr.. Morrison's Report on the Mes,
uTe.
THE CHANGES PROPOSED, AND THEIR rrrg-
on CUSTOMS DUTIES AND THE Kgyryr-v


WASHINGTON, July IO.-Repre.eptst;r.
Morrison's report on the Randall bin -
The bill proposes to remove am ipte-.,,
taxes on tobacco, snuff and cigars. apo7pt
ing on the basis of last years rscalpts =.
S2S,000,0oo; on apple, peach and r-ars
brandy, to S1,400,000; on spirits. f9, ~.
in the arts, variously estimated at from =
100000 to Si5.000,900 and believed p, -.
least S10,00o,000. making in the a.-rrs-,,.
of internal revenue taxes 10 be rer7o9o.,
S39. 100000. In the appendix of 49,
mates, submitted with the bill as mart ~.
the reduction Of revenue from customs -
tariff taxes to be effected by 1t is estimated
at SS,570,576, making the aggregate of ~
proposed reduction $4s, 100000. Tbalfn
to so reduce excessive revenues and tbs
statement that there were no excessive
revenues TO be reduced were s,h
mitted to the House by the same men,
Der in the same half month IF tbs
statement that the revenues wifi No.
exceed appropriations and the estimates
with the bill, including loss of rseeiu+s
from brandy and from spirits for uss in
the arts, may be credited, the enactment of
the bill into law will leave the Govern
ment SIS, 100000 short of the sum ueeasss.
ry to the administration of the ,r,verr
ment and requirements of the pubic dsb,
authorized by law, including the dent. in.
Cured by the payment of pensions al
ready allowed, the validity of which We MAJ,
not question, and the payment of which *
enjoined upon as III the oath we have taken
to support the Constitution. Your conn
mittee, unwilling 10 credit a purpose so
lacking i'll patriotism, so forrettul of the
public faith, must believe these and other
provisions of the bill to be the resnlt NJ
fiscal distemper, hiIdering lust cornnra.
tension and intelligent treatment of the
subject. In view of its effect and burmese
so far as it has a purpose affecting the
| revenue of the government. the bill MIGHT
well be left to that neglect which M
doubt, it was expected to receive. But in
the hope that even so unwise a measure
may open the way for the majority of the
House TO redeem Its pledges by the renoy.
| al and reduction of unnecessary. and
| therefore unjust taxes, your committee re-
port the bill back with the recommends
ton that 1t do not pass. The bill changes
the duty or rate of tax ON articles Welding
less than one-tenth (Sl7OOO.nOO out Of
| the SlSl 100000 received from customs In
| 1888. 1t increases those that yielded ST.
100000, and decreases or removes those
imports for 1855. 1t does not reduce the
revenue from customs $S,57O,57G. not al
all, but does Increase it $5,5O0,OO0. Be
sides the articles added to the free list
the duty or import tax is reduced ON castor
beans, castor oil, starch, iron and steel
rails, beams, girders, lead, and other
articles yielding S3,3o0,OO0 of revenue,
and the revenue Is estimated on
the bill to fall OF in proportion
TO the reduced rate of taxation recon
mended. The tax on all clothing. whether
OF silk, linen, cotton or wooden. and other
WOODEN goods, or tin plates, cotton ties, and
other articles yielding, as already stated
81 100000, Is increased, and the revenue
Is estimated to fall OF in still greater pro-
portion than on articles upon which the
rate OF tax is reduced. Apparently the
bill was prese nted on the belief ihat
necessity existed for a reduction, not OF
taxes, but OF revenues, and that the de-
sired end Is reached both through higher
and lower taxes. The estimates. with the
bill. are made on this arbitrary assumption
and are entitled TO no respect whatever
The report then proceeds to consider the
Randall bill in detail, aud says: The
estimate and intended effects of the bill
are believed to make plain the methods by
which taxation ON the basis OF imports
and revenue receipts in 1855 would yield
Sl4,00O,O00 OF revenue and be made 10
divert that sum from public purposes TO
private gain. The introduction OF this bin
would be considered the first avowed at
tempt in our Legislative history TO empty
the treasury by tire use OF the taxing
power. II tins measure may be supposed
to have any purpose relating TO a system
OF huance, II points 10 direct taxation, Tor
when internal revenue taxes are taken of
and custcu-hOuse taxes are laid on so high
that the people get the burden, the monop-
olists the benefit, and the treasury nothing,
new sources OF supply will be inevitable.
The measure Is not supposed to fortshadow
any such system or to do more than Judi
cate mind uIlearned IN methods and uu-
mindful of results"
In treating OF the proposed reduction
and removal Of the internal revenue taxes.
Mr.. Morrison says they are the most light
ly borne and cannot be reliuGuished In
the face OF the $4,000, 900, 600 war debt vet
unpaid.
The report then says: "Thi5 We do know.
that OF the Is, 100000 people who do
something some work or engaged in gain
iul pursuits-IS, 100000 OF these earn on
the average not much more than $500 q
year, which Is necessarily consumed ia
means OF subsistence. while substantially
the savings 60 to the other Oue-tenth. And
now We are oyertsken by and Id the midst
OF our industrial paralysis. s million OF
workmen are idle for y ant q work 10 do
and capital, in still greater proportion
than unemployed labor lies dead or un-
productive. Our hills and mountains are
full OF mineral wealth. Millions OF acres
Of produc tive lands wait for the piuw.
Homes for homeless billions are 20 b. had
for the taking. Favored with plentiful
haryests, blessed with health, the only
plague which afilicts US is idleuess. What
we need is profitable employment There
Is an apparent puny effort in the bill.
through an increase OF taxation, % shut
out goods from abroad that they may be-
made AT home. Ii this effort was 80 sue
;essiul as to prevent the I'm p0rtation Of all
manufactures we would have direct taxa
lon and 10000 men yet unemployed.
Their profitable employment amounts 20
nearly the difference between what is pop
ilariy known as good and hard times.
The removal Of the tobacco tax will fur
lish no new employment. Neither it,
moke nor it, juices viii turn a wheel,
hait or spindle. Wood, wood, hemp, salt
nd cheap food Tor to.ling men lie ~ The
Of great aud successful indus
hes. To free these from taxes will cheap
q production without lowering the price
labor, and our idle men may thus be
labied to make something which may
sold probably abroad, and with which
are overlooked at home"
Survival OF the Fittest.