The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-13
the Minority ReDOrt

The report of the Republican mi.
notify, which has been pre- pared by
Mr.. Mckinley of0hio, begins with the
statement that the bill sgreed upon
by the majority il new creation, and
embodies little matter that was in-
cluded in the original bill thatwasintro-
duCed by the chairman, After recit-
ing the various articles which it is
proposed to place upon the free list,
and the reductions to be made in man
ufactured goods, the minority report
says; "The majority assert that in
1885 the average OF duty upon import
cd goods a little exceeded AZ per cent,
but this only means that values and
prices were unusually low, and fur
niBhed no justification for this bill
Nothing ismore unsound and fallaCious
than TO assume that a reduction of du-
ties is demanded when an average ad
valorom rates show high percentage.
In times OF business depression and
low prices the ad valorem correspond
ing With the speOitic duties show in
| creased percentages over periods of
higher prices, because a given
specific duty is a larger per
centage of low value than
II is Of higher. There is
no attempt in this bill to equsliEe
the duties upon imported goods on
any Just principle or to make equita.
BILE reductions throughout the tariff
list, Oh thirty-one or more articles
dutiable at from 100 to $50 per cent,
not one is dealt with in this bill, while
other articles upon which is impos ed
duty from 10 to 20 per cent. are cut
down or transferred to the free list.
This bill goes into operation the first
Of January, 1887, except as to hemp
and flax, which are exempted until
July /, 1887, Why these productions
should have six months Of license not
accorded to other industries equally
deserving may be manifest TO the
majority, but is not surely based upon
any principle of fair play or sound
craftsmanship.
The free list is peculiarly an assault
upon the agricultural interests Of the
country, seeking out IRON the 1000
srtcles in tariff their leading pro.
ducts, to be driven out by ruinous
| NVhANNNblOA llNu1 dDlNhus L ub nl6lAl
glass, pottery, sugar, rice and other
important interests affected by the
, original bill were given due notice OF
the changes proposed, and had ample
, opportunity to make successful de-
} Tense through their well-organised as.
sociations. In this connection the re.
= lort says; "The wool-growers OF the
{ country were LEI 10 believe from the
: bill fint before the committee, tina,
5 no adverse action would be had touch.
!. ing their interests, They were, there,
l fore, not before the committee in any
g official way, aud those who were heard
1 spoke for the restoration OF the duty
3 OF 1867 without dreaming that the in
i adequate protection they now enjoyed
: was to be swept from them and theii
. vast interests left to the mercy
: OF a competition with wool
e growers in Australia, New Yea
j land and South American States
}, where the principal cost Of production
r is the heIding required by shepherds
Q whose labor ia cheap, and where feed
!. ing, whether in winter or summer, doe
= not enter into the cost OF sheep bus
d bandry. The first effort, therefore, il
j the direction Of free trade is aimed 9
Q the unorgsn zed farmers of the cour
3 try who, removed from the centers {
y trade. busy on their farms and plant