Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-12-10
senator sherman ON raritr rinkering.


Senator Sherman made speech on pro-
posed intermeddling with the tariff, in the
senate, Thursday. He had, he said, been
watching in vain, during the three months
of the last session, for any proposition from
the democratic majority in the house-in
which body alone any such measure could
Originate-to reduce taxes. The democrats
had made great demands and promises in
this direction, but there had been no per
formance. The senator particularized as
follows:
The democrats had promised in their ma
tional platform TO reduce taxation and TO do
il in such a manner as not 10 iniure the in
duStries of the country. But the trouble
was that the democrats could no. propose
any plan. They could not agree among
themselves. The propositions that had
been made in the house had been 81 diverse
and various and some of them had been SO
absolutely contrary to the interests of the
country that the party itself had revolted at
them. If the plan proposed by member of
the democratic party IN the house had been
sanctioned by congress and had gone into eff
feet il would have been the overthrow and
destruction of the democratic party. be
cause while il might have reduced taxation,
il would have destroyed the industries Of
the country. The democratic party had had
control of the house of representatives (the
only body where taxation bills could Origi-
nate) for ten or twelve years: and Yet the
only reduction of taxes which had been
made within that time had been made dur
ing the only two years that the republicans
had control of the house. Then lin 1854
the taxes had been reduced some $50. OO0,-
900 or 100000. 900; and the senator from
Kentucky (Mr. Beck had opposed that law
| to the bitter end.
We give the full report of the Associated
press of the remainder of the speech:
The senate had awaited the action of the
house on that subject for three long weary
months last session. and had awaited in
vain. The propositions that had been made
! in the house had created such a rpvulSi0n
of public opinion. especially in the north
west. that the majority Of the democratic
party had been largely reduced. If the
democrats had been able 10 carry one of
their measures through, their majority
would have disappeared in the air. There
fore. until some proposition was made by
the senate to the house of representatives.
il did not lie in the mouth of the senator
]
chide the senate with a failure Ia reduce
taxes. The senator should call his brethren
together, and he (Sherman) ventured Ia say
that when the house did agree on plan of
reduction. il would be for the destruction
of American industry. not for the purpose
of reduction.
The first plan proposed by the secretary
of the treasury was to use the surplus in
wiping ont the greenback currency. How
many votes would such a proposition get
among the people of the United States?
The senator from Kentucky himself would
be opposed Ia it. How would he Beck
propose 10 r, duce taxes In general that
senator was in favor of free trade IN its
brOadeSt and almost unlimited extent
The senator would reduce the surplus
by removing the duty on wool from which
A revenue of about s., 900. 900 was derivedD.
He would abolish at once an industry
in which more than a million farmers
were engaged. But, when he was
shown chance of reducing the revenue
nearly SIS, OOO,O by aboliShing the duty
on sugar. he would not be in favor of that
Was there any local or sectional or party
reason for that? Was the senator in favor
of the repeal Of the duty on sugar? He
lShermanl had not heard him give an an
swer to that question.
There was an opportunity for reducing
the revenue 5l-00O,000 a year. But that
was not what the democrats wanted. He
and the senator from Kentucky could sit
down together and in five minutes propose
plan for reducing the revenue. He
lShermanD would be in favor of voting a
bounty on sugar. as in Germany and
France, although he knew there was preju-
dice in this country against such b0untieS,
and nobody was bold enough 10 propose
such thing. But the object OF the demo-
cratic party was not TO reduce taxes but 10
tamper with the great industrial system Of
the country. II was against such action
that the republican party stood like wall. |
In conclusion, he said that until the den
Ocratic party could agree among themselves
and could present to the senate plan by |
which the democrats were willing Ia stand. |
they had no right TO chide or complain of
republicans. When they could send the |
senate a bill the senate would show them |
that it had the power 10 reduce taxes: and
the senate would propose a measure by
which taxes might be reduced without Grip
ping industries OF decreasing wages.
The Nenia Gazette is for Blaine first. last
and all the time As matter of course, |