The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-04-06
4 Republican Tariff Reform Speech.

| constituency devoted TO him created
such a furry in official circles few
months ago, this afternoon took advaI-
| tage of an opportunity most ingeniously
! secured TO delivering a ringing tar'n-
reform speech, which surprised his Rs
| publican colleagues quite as much as IL
/ pleased the representatives on the other
side of the House. Notwithstanding
! the fact that the sturdy Norseman has
heretofore expressed his convictions In
/ no uncertain tone, the high protection
! lists of his party were not prepared for
/ such a hearty and unreseryed indorse-
ment OF the principles enunciated n the
| Presidents message.
The bill 10 appropriate several million
dollars tn satisfy judgment OF the
! Supreme Curt in the now famous
/ Choctaw C aim was under consideration
and had been debated for An hour or 50,
/ when Mr.. Nelson rose and, prefacing
his remarks with the statement that,
/ having several thousand Indians in his
/ constituency, he felt qualified 10 spsak
| as to what was for their best interests,
| launchsd in upon the tariff speech which
he has held in reserve for some days.
/ Mr.. Nelson Is not an orator, but his
strong clear voice, his vigorous Ian
guage. his evident familiarity with his
/ subject and, above all, the earnest con-
| viction with which he spoke amply
atoned for any lack OF oratorical polish.
When he began talking his voice was
hardly audible above ths din which
usually prevails on the hoor OF the
| House, and as he proceeded members
\ ceased talking, papers were thrown
aside, and Democrats and Republicans
alike crowded around his seat Nearly
every member of the Ways and Means
! Committee was present. and Mr.. Mel
soa's enunciation OF true revenue
reform principles was received by them
with rounds OF applause, which the
Chair made little or no attempt to
check. The Republicans repeatedly at
tempted 10 interrupt the speaker. but
he kept steadily on until, having built
up a splendid argument in favor OF
genuine tariff reduction, he sat down
in a storm of cheers, in which even the
Republicans were compelled to join.
1t was not honest, he said. 10 call
men who favored tariff reduction free.
traders. The men who opposed all
forms of tariff reduction were not the
only friends OF American labor nor the
only guardians of American enterprise.
The question of protection or free trade
was not fairly involved in the problem
Congress had to solve. The question
]
rid of by extrAvagant expenditures or
whether the taxes should be reduced.
The great body of the people were
agreed that the surplus should be re-
duced by u reduction OF taxation.
The next question presented was
whether that reduction should be appli-
ed TO the tariff or internal revenue taxes.
AS to tie tax on alcoholic liquors, the
ultra pIotectionists apd the ultra pro-
hibitionists were the only ones who de-
sired a reduction upon them. Neither
OF these parties was large, and the
question Of this reduction was rot prac-
ticable.
In regard to the removal of the tobac
CO tax there was greater diversity ot
opinion. This was lax which, by tho
Judgment OF all nations, was the bes
kind OF tax. 1t Was a growing one and
one which was more cheaply collected
!, than the tariff taxes. There was M
serious elamOr for its repeal.
, The tariff taxes might properly be di
vlded into two heads, rev9Due taxes
like those on tea and coffee, aud proUec
tive taxes, like those on commoditiet
. not foreign TO our own country. Oal,
so high a duty should be laid as wouiC
fairy cover the diff in the cost o
production here and abroad. That 4
/ what he termed low tariff. Any rat,
, above that was a high tariff.
IL had been tie fashion to ascribe tn,
higher wages OF this country TO tn
3 tariff. TnaJ he considered to be falls
3 pretense. England was free trade
, while Austria, Germany. Ira.y au,
France were protection, and yet wage
in England were much higher thai
9 upon the Continent. The main caus
3 for the lower wages of Europe was to b
found 10 the density OF population an,
the greater supply of labor
He sent 10 the clerks desk and ha
, read letter received bY him from
Charles I. Pilsbury, of Minnesota (who
he stated, was prominent Republican
q warmly commencing his course in Con
{ gress upon the tariff question, and de
g claring that 90 per cent. of the Demo
Gratis and 70 per cent of the Repuhli
cans OF Minnesota agreed with him i
: his views. The reading OF the lette
S was applauded on the Democratic side
,. Mr.. Nelson, continuing, said ths
when our great West is filed up and W
begin To approximate Europe in popu
: lation then cur labor will fail to ge
t better wages under the protective sy:
S tenn. He read from a consular repOI
4 to show the bad effects attributed [
the protective tariff in Austria. Whe
labor found no market the patient wa
- beyond reach of tariff remedies.
=. He referred TO the bill introduced b
u himself placing sugar, Manila hemI
ju.e, coal and Sisal grass on the FIRE
lis., ard said tnat, taking sugar all /
u all, every doiIaT worth used in tn
o country paid 50 cents in taxes. Hem,
II iute, Sisal grass, Manila and twine ha
paid S63 700 900 in taxes during the la.
fiscal year on imports of SOS, 200. 900, a
L average ad valorem du'y of CATS D.
= cent. He read letter from a promin
h ent farmer in his section, saying ths
r binding twine cost 16t cents per pound
which amounted 20 Two cents a bush,
u on wheat, and that some relief shoul
e be afforded. Mr.. Nelson sent to th
|, desk and had read extracts from Mir
n HesGta newspapers and private letters I
himself, favOring tariff revision.
= The reading was received with gres
applause on the Democratic side. On
OF these letters was from lumber mar
W ufscJurer Who thanked him (Mr. Ne
q sony for including lumber in the FIRE
b list of lis bill, and adding that exceI
: he feared il would embarrass the mes
sure he would be glad to see wool IL
cluded also. Another correspondeI
n begs relief from the high tax on win
4 dow glass, saying that il equals the CO.
or the glass at Antwerp and that Oh
country had been long eno5gh at th
u mercy OF PIttsburg manufacturer
Il Sill another man writes that Mr.. Ne
e sons bill is good enough as fuI as
, goes, but for Gods sake amend il b
puttin0 WOO! on the free list" He az
u jures Mr.. Nelson not TO be Frightened 3
Is the bleatiDg OF sheep which need u
Ie more protection than hogs and hers.
IN Mr.. Nelson next quoted Western Re
publican platforms declaring in fave