Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-05-03
TARIEE TALK.
Debate on the Tariff BIn Continued In the
House,

| WASHINGTON, April 26-Yesterday de.
bate continued on the tariff. The House
went into Committee of the Whole on the
Tariff bill and Mr.. Bynum, Of Indiana, said
the bill presented did not meet with his
unqualified approval He believed tina,
| duties on imports should be levied and
collected at all times to meet the current,
ordinary e1pen ses OF the Government and
that any extraordinary expenses should be
met by resort to internal taxes Beliey-
| ing this to be correct he would maintain
the present internal revenue system of
| taxation until the last obligation Of the
war was discharged. But, mindful Of the
diversified interests Of the country, he was
willing to come to the consideration Of the
bill In a spirit of concession and compromise
and join in the construction of measure
which yielded something TO the productions
Of every locality. He advocated a reduc-
ton Of duties upon the materials upon
which the laborers Of the country worked.
He advocated such a reduction as would
give larger markets in which manufactur-
ers could sell their products. He admitted
that wages had increased under protec-
tive tariff, but denied that this was on ac-
count Of the tariff. because the same in
crease had taken place in Great Britain
under free trade The great trouble with
the country was the want Of @ market
Tear down the wall that had been built
around the coast, give American labor a
chance TO compete with foreIgn labor and
it could take care OF itself. It needed no
other protection
The speaker controverted the claim that
protective tariff was for the benefit Of
American labor. It was said that the Amer
Ican farmers should be protected IN the
production OF wool Under the high pro
lection on wool the price had steadily fall
en-. He did not assert that the tariff was
the sole cause of the decline, but he con-
tended that it was an important factor
Wool could not be produced in tho United
States for less than 20 cents a pound.
The people Of the country consumed Co.,
OOoOOO pounds a year, which
cost them $40, OOO,O 900. or this GOO, OOO, 900
pounds more than 800, O00, 900 had to be pur-
chased abroad because the high tariff had
broken down all the wooden Industries. In
conclusion, he said that the day had passed
whom the glory and triumph of men and
nations was in the invasion Of a foreign
land and the day had arrived when that
glory and triumph consisted in bearing the
National emblem into the harbor Of every
grand temple dedicated to commerce and
industry.
Mr. Browne, of Indiana, expressed him.
self as not in tho least frightened at the
plethoric condition of the National treas
ury. This was not the first time that there
had been a surplus in the treasury, but
neither Johnson nor Grant nor Arthur had
made the condition Of the treasury pre-
To-
Of the Government The country con-
tinued to enjoy an unparalleled pros
perity. The accommodating revenue might
be made the occasion for doing much
for the peoples benefit The Ma
tional debt might be gradually paid of. the
merchant marine might be built up, harbor
and coast defenses might be constructed, a
navy might be provided commensurate
with Americas glory and grandeur as q
nation, and grateful people might tender
to the old soldiers who saved the country a
parting benedictIon. That a surplus existed
was an evidence of National pros
perity. That 1t had been gathered
into the treasury without oppres-
sion or complaint was an evidence
that the protective system was just one.
If the surplus were under the control OF a
wise craftsmanship, it would be National
blessing, but as it was safer to reduce 1t
than to run the hazard Of ill-advised ex-
penditures he was anxious to have re-
vision Of the method Of taxation so as TO
reduce the revenues to the lowest limit of
National wants. The speaker argued that
the plan Of reduction sketched by the
President in his annual message would ro-
suited in disaster to American industri
Mr.. Dockory, Of Missouri, said that the
surplus was required in the channels of
business and trade and commerce in order
that capital might employ labor, and that
the question presented was how that sur
plus was to be disposed OF. He warned
Congress that if it did not reduce taxation
it was by extravagances that the surplus
would be got rid Of. There were on the
calendar OF the House to-day hundreds OF
measures which would never have been
heard OF had it not been that there was
surplus in the treasury. The Democratic
party had always been the friend Of tho
laboring men, and if the Republicans could
show that the protective system was benefi-
cial to the workingmen Of the country he
was willing to waiv g his objection to it
But they could not do so. On the contrary |
many unprotected industries paid their |
employees higher wages than were paid to |
laborers in protected establishments. He |
had statistics to show the immense bonus |
which the protective tariff put into the |
pocket of the manufacturer, but which did |
not go into the pockets of the workingmen. |
Mr.. Kerr, of Iowa, inquired why the gen. |
tleman did not go out of the banking busi- |
ness and into the manufacturing business, |
f it was so profitable.
Mr.. Dockery replied: II remain in the |
banking business for the same reason that |
he manufacturer remains in his business,
because it pays; but / never went before a |
legislative body asking aid for myself and |
behind the supposed inter-
,sts of the laboring men of the country"
The protective system, he continued, had
,uiltup an aristocracy of monopoly.
The speaker contrasted the increase of
Individual wealth in the manufacturing
states of the East with the decrease in the
Individual wealth OF the agricultural
states of the West, and said it was due to
he discrimination made by the protective
ariff against the West. The Democratic
'arty proposed to favor a revenue system
which would give all the incidental
protection which the manufacturers |
eeded, but did not propose, if it
ould avoid it, to continue system which
evied an enormous tribute on the agricult-
Iral States for the benefit of the mauu-
acturIng States. In conclusing he said:
Let US unhand and unshackle the genius
nd enterprise Of cur people and permit
hem to cross the seas and repossess them
elves of the commercial advantages they
nloyed when the flag was familiar sight
n all waters Of the globe and IN all the
larbors of the world. IApplauscl
Change OF Name.