Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-12-31
TARIFF REVISION.
The Speech of senator Dawes of Massa-
rhu,ctts, in the u. >. Senate.

promise oI making proper revision ol
Che tWiU at the present session obviously
hopeless aud mpraCticable being under
discussion. Mr. Dawes said it had always
been the policy of both political parties,
whenever the revenue exceeded the cN
pcudtules Of the government, to make
efforts 10y the reduction of customs duties
and internal taxes to bring them together.
Much was heard, he said, about taxing
raw materials and the cry was raised III
certain quarters, as if it was something
new that the great panacea for all tarill
trouble was to make raw materials Tree.
lie reminded senators that the tariff law
OF 1872 (Which received the vote OF Mr..
Beck an the House contained more than
$50 different articles put ON the free list,
almost all II them raw materials. He in
VOSed an Inspection of that statute by
those who cried out that the present need
was the removal of war taxes on raw ma
terlas lie had yet to see the man who
would not favor placing on the free list
such raw materials aS were not produced
in this country.
If the tariff revision law of 1883 failed TO
come ny in all respects TO what was need
ed it was because it encountered the OPP
position of those who no longer supported
the policy of favoring American labor un-
der which, thus far, legislation had gone.
If the vast industries OF the country and
the army OF wage earnerS could be as
sured of the continued support of the sen
atUr from kentucky (BeCk) much cause
for alarm would disappear.
Referring to the propositions to put
lumber, wool and other articles on the
free list. he said that until lately all those
great Industries aud the large body of men
looking to them for their support had
been lulled into security by the belief that
Il, 4 Ill.
sidents enough to prevent the infection
Of such an idea on this country, But the
course of events had been tending more
and more 10 displace that deluSiou. one
after another those III that party'Who had
courage enough to stand up and express
their preference for their own country
and its products and its labor had been
dropped ont. II had been sounded abroad
as the Law to govern them III the future,
that they must be loyal to the idea of in
difference TO American productions and
American LABOR and must stand by the
propositions of the Morrison bill to lay
low great and important interests as an
entering wedge 10 Il more perfect and com
plete com summation of the idea that be-
tween this nation lald Its products and its
wealth and its labor and other nations
there il 70 be, and there ought to be lin
the shibbOlrth in that party no distictiOn.
The secretary Of the treasury had come
into the field and taken his advanced pO-
sitiou Oh the subject of the tariff, causing
increased apprehension and alarm III all
the great Industries OF the land. Sober,
conservative business men and thought
full. anxious but clear-headed dependents
on these interests were now seriously
nQuilng whether, ON the whole they
might not be wrecked If the theories
and doctrines announced in the le-
port OF the secretary of the treasury were
30 govern in the revision of the
tariff The secretary of the treasury
threw overheard entirely (and in so many
words all idea of protection to American
industry. HeuCeturth, according to the
secretarN's theories and dOgmas, there
was 10 enter into the policy that is to CON
trol in the la9hiOning of the revenue laws
Of the future no idea of protection to
American Industry. The secretarys con
sideratiuns were not what might be the
effect OF carrying out mis- views on home
protection, not whether they might be adj
CantagcOu, or injurious to the vast inter
4sts invested III productions in this coun-
try fmOrr than S0,OOOUCO,OOO IN lSSO) or to
the . 200, GOO wage-earners dependent upon
chem. In the mind of the secretary of the
treasury, no such consideration was to en-
ter into the question of the imposition OF
duties. The secretary would not remove
the duties on sugar because they amount
ed, he SAID, to only 80 cents per capita (but
he would remove the duties on wool, al
capita, and on readymade clothing, al
though they only amounted to cents pei
capital The proposition of removing the
duty on raw materials did not even NEE
the approval of the manufacturers tOl
whose benefit it was suggested.
On this point Mr.. Dawes read from ties
timony taken before the committee 0
Ways and means, in which Mr.. Whitman
A leading WuOl!cu manufacturer, declared
himself III favor OF Il duty Oh wool so as Il
encourage its production III this county
aud 80 render manufacturers independent
Of foreign wool. He characterized tn
secretary, views as wild and Wanton, bu
they haa, he SAID, awakened serious an,
Well grounded apprehension thrOugnOu
the country II was the attitude of thOs
who had the taril TO reform which led /
hese serious apprehensons. These in
s.ustries turned 10 the Senate for the IA
ternatlVc. They looked to those VIII
spoke Tor the Senate as they had spoke
for the policy OF the government in III
last Is years. to know what the alterni
live was. They knew that under the con
4titutuu the finance committee of tn
Senate could originate no law TO remodt
Or reform the tariff, but they also knee
hat it was within the province OF I'll
finance committee To consider this que
ton and formulate Gn "A report that WOul
carry quiet and confidence to the indu
tries and labor of the COnntry) methu
Of bringing lne ltctlplS Oh me govern
nleut to the line OF its expenditures, will
out impairing the development or pro
perty of these industries or dlminishiu
the compensation of that labor. 1t W.
Tor thar purpose that he had introduce
mis- resolution inSlructing the commit,
II iinance to inquire and report what sp
oiiiC reductions can he made in custom
duties and internal taxes that will redu
he receipts to the necessary and ecOnon
cal expenditures of the government, wit
out impairing the prosperity and deVelO
nent Of home industry or the compcns
lion Of home labor,
Mr.. Dawes declared that the man vi
r0Jld attack home industries ard hon
2hur would strike deadiier blow at d
Telfare of the country than could he
liGted IN any manner short Of war al
.r-ssnn. IT was treason itself to the gre
mtTug interests and prosperity of
country on which its future depended al
by which al ~, It's stability could
maintained lie who impaired and wea
enrQ ,hese industries came very near
him who Slapped and mined the citadel
the nation. Heretofore, he had thoup