Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-04-26


Three tariff speeches by Messrs. Bynum,
Browne and Dockery consumed most of the
time of yesterdays session of the House.
The conference report on the bill for the
relief of postmaster for the loss of certain
postal funds, as amended by the Senate
extending the provisions of the act of
March IL, 1882, authorizing the Postmaster
General to adjust certain claims of post
masters for loss by fire and burglary 50 As
TO include claims from the loss of postal
fluids was agreed TO.
The House then went into Committee Of
the Whole on the tariffbill.
Mr.. Bynum OF Indiana, said in referring
te the surplus that tie withdrawal of 30
large q sum of money from the channels of
trade for any long period of time would re-
suit in a contraction of the currency which
would bankrupt and ruin our most enter
prising business men. The time had passed
when the House could refuse to consider q
measure for the reduction of taxation. 1t
must now meet the question fairly and
honestly The bill presented did not meet
with his unqualified approval. He believed
that duties on imports should be levied and
collected at all times, to meet the current
expenses of the Government, and that ex-
traordinary expenses should be met by in
ternal taxes. He would. main tain the
present internal revenue system of
taxation until the last obligation of the
war was discharged. But he was willing to
come to the consideration of the bill in q
spirit OF concession and compromise and
joint in the construction OF q measure
which Welded something TO the produc-
tons Of every locality. He advocated re-
duction of duties on materials upon which
the laborers of the country worked, and
such reduction as would give larger mar
kets in which manufacturers could sell their
products He admitted that wages had in
creased under a protective tariff, but he
denied that this was or account of the
tariff because the same increase had taken
place in Great Britain under free trade.
The great trouble with the country was the
want of market Give American labor q
chance to compete with foreign labor. and
il could take care Of Itself. It needed no
other protection.
Speaking of the wool industry be said
that under the high protection on wool the
price had steadily fallen. He did not as
sert that the tariff was the sole cause Of the
decline in the price, but contendei that it
was an important factor. The people of
the United States consumed 800 0OO, 600
pounds Of wool Z year which cost them
S240, coo. 600, more than one-half of which
had 70 be purchased abroad because of
the high tariff had broken down all
our woolen industries. During the past
ten years the United States had imported
Sl62, 600 600 of cotton goods more than il
had exported. American labor had been
robbed Of the privilege of making that
Sl62. 10000 of cotton goods. During the
same period the imports of wooden goods
had exceeded the exports by $3.50, 600, 600.
The American workmen had been robbed
of the labor that was contained in the $780,
600, 600 of wooden goods and yet gentlemen
on the other side talked about protecting
American labor.
Mr.. Browne, of Indiana, said that this
was not the first time that there had been
a surplus in the Treasury, but neither
Presidents johnson, Grant and Arthur had
made the condition of the treasury pres
ence for disturbing the industrial policy Of
the government The country continued
to enjoy an unparallel prosperity, and
the existence Of q surplus was an evidence
of national prosperity; and that it had
been gathered into the treasury without
oppression or complaint was an evidence
that the protective system was Just one.
The surplus under the control OF wise
craftsmanship, Mr.. Browne said, would be
Q national blessing. But, as it was to safer
70 reduas IL than 70 run the hazard Of Ill
edyind sxasn&twss he Wa spSeu 70