Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-10-05

OF honest labor, threatening every class,
from the poor colored cotton picker,
whose few pounds Of crop could not get
to market for lack of means to wrap, to
the merchant and capitalist who had ad-
vanced the necessaries If life to sus-
tain that labor through the season ,ahd on
these comes the proposed revision, MOI
with helping hand. but with other bur-
dens, and the cotton ties which their own
friends had reduced to 35 per cent in
the tariff of 1883 Zone of the bright oasens
in desert of iniquity). they omit by
name but include them in new classif-
cation, go that instead of 35 per cent it
must pay, according to the valuation OF
1887, over 100 per cent, adding nearly a
quarter of million of dollars tax on i'm
ported ties, all of which is loss to the
cotton producer.
Even with this they are not content
and still further tax the struggling agri-
culturist in the schedule, raising the
duties on trace chains and all other kinds
less than "a of an inch thick, from 81
cents, which is equivalent to 44.37 per
cent, to 3 cents per pound, equivalent to
a rate of 53.57 per cent. Can ingenuity
60 farther than toggers iron should be
raised from 30 per cent. to 65 per cent. !;
that table cutlery for the poor should be
raised by specific rates added to ad val
orem that knives for the poor should be
heavier taxed and made cheaper for the
rich; that breech-loading shot guns
should be made cheaper for the $40
grade and dearer for the SIS grade, by
making each pay $40 and 25 per cent. ad
valorem.
All these and more are no longer start
ling, and prepare the mind for thousand
other inconsistencies and discrimina-
tions, hidden by new and obscure clas-
sification that only time and patient in
vestigation will reveal. In the cotton
schedule again the grand process Of
"leveling up" is called into requision, to
what end or for what purpose who can
say? By changes in classification and
by new subdivisions, still further compli-
eating the administration, and by changes
in rates, in effect principally increasing
the taxes, most glaring inconsistencies
and determinations are perpetrated in
this so-called revision.
In the wooden schedule the substitute
not only retains duty on raw woods,
but increases the duty from ten to
eleven cents a pound on clothing and
combirg wool, and the existing duty is
retained on carpet woods which all
parties agree are not produced in this
country; and the changes made in the
manufactures of wool increases the taxa
tion and to that extent increases the cost
of the manufactured article, and
especially the cheaper grades, the cloth
ing of the poor.
The report criticises in similar man
ner the lumber, salt and provisions
schedules and then discusses the subject
of Trusts as follows: The present tariff
is the nursing mother of trusts. 1t is the
wall behind which the combinations are
formed by which the people are plumber
ed. The tariff keeps out foreign compe.
tition, and combinations suppress do
mestic competitor, and the whole people
are at their mercy and must pay what
ever is demanded. Language is made
quate to describe the iniquity of
these corporations against the
rights of the people, or to depict
their disastrous effects upon the general
welfare. AS the tariff rates which rem
der trusts possible, are established and
maintained at the special instance Of
those who form them, it would seem but
simple justice or good policy to tear
down as much as possible of their cover
doing. They are not "private affairs" as
gravest character, affecting the price of
every article which contributes to the
comfort and support of the peo-
pie. Provisions of the substitute
favor them greatly and will
serve to encourage their formation
in still other branches of manufacture.
Many of those belonging to the trusts
appeared before the Finance Committee,
clamorous for such legislation as would
promote their interests. They are all
opposed to the House bill, which should
commend it to all who condemn their
efforts. It is bad enough to permit those
who are interested in manufactures to
appear before our Committees and sug-
gest the legislation they wish, but surely
we should not listen to trusts and aid
them to rob with both hands.
The report then continues: The mi
nority cannot pass by in silence the alb.
surd accusation that the House bill
means Free Trade" "the ruin of indus
try" and degradation of American
labor" These charges are as false as
they are misleading. 1t would seem that
no man can propose to cut off excessive
taxation without subjecting himself to
the charge of "Free Trade" True, the
Government revenues might be reduced
by making the duties so high as
to prevent importations altogether,
but that is the other end of the
rod which increases the taxes paid
to private persons. If the first method
of reduction leads to free trade, the
other leads to plumber, which is worse.
1t is safe to say that there is not Sena-
tor in this body or man in any way
prominent in the councils of the Republi'
can party, who at any time, or another,
has not admitted the necessity of reduc-
ing taxes in order to stop the surplus.
They are therefore free traders and de-
sire the ruin of industry and the demor-
alization of labor. The Minority respect
fully submit that they are the enemies of
American labor who supplant it with the
labor of unnaturalized foreigners when
ever they can be got cheap.
In conclusion the report says: We are
firmly convinced that beside the adva n
tages to the whole country which would
result from placing wool upon the free
list IL ia easily demonetrativa fhot aach