The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-11-01
CONGRESSMAN SAVERS
The Tariff and Other National
Questions Ably Discussed.
sneeches by Mr.. ]. II. Copeland
and Others.

thousand people ATTENDING une pdrpecue
at that place.
In accordance with his appointments,
Colonel Sayers also addressed large
audience here last night in front of the
opera house, where he was enthusiastically
greeted and discussed the more important
issues of the canvass with great force and
cearnesS.
When congress met there was a surplus
n of $130,O00,000 in the treasury. All our
indebtedness except, two amounts, had
been provided for. These were the AZ
per cent bonds due in 1891, and another
series of per cents due in 1907. These
we're the only evidences of outstanding
obligations to be met.
The secretary of the treasury, under the
direction of President Cleveland, has been
applying the surplus to these bonds. But
the holders, taking advantage of the large
surplus in the treasury, demanded large
4 premiums before they would surrender
4 them.
Let US see what has beon the policy of
the republican party in times past when
there was surplus. In 1866, when that
party had entire control of the govern
ment and there was not single repre-
sentative of the south in congress. about
S7OOOO,OOO surplus had accrued in the
treasury and when they had from $65,OO0,-
600 to S100,000,000 for the expenses of the
government what did they do as to these
items of indebtedness? Did they reduce
the burden upon the necessaries of life?
Here would like the special attention of
you who labor ald toll for your means of
living.
The republican party has claimed the
special guardianship of the laborlng
classes, and have tried to impress upon
them that the policy of that party would
result in direct benefit to the working
masses, and that the policy of the demo
cratic party tended in contrary direc-
ton.
In 1866, by an unprecedented majority
in both houses, in order to reduce the
surplus the republican party repealed the
tax on incomes, but they did not repeal
the cents tax per pound upon cotton. In
addition to this they repealed the laws
which imposed tax on cars and receipts
of express and railroad companies. They
repealed laws imposing taxes amounting
to over one hundred million dollars upon
manufacturers. In order to compensate
the manufacturers duty had been imposed
on imports so as TO put the domestic man
ufacturer on an equal footing with the
European manufacturer. This was right,
because otherwise the American manu-
facturer would have to place this duty
upon home articles if it had not been
imposed upon the foreign manufacturer.
Still it did not reduce the duty on the i'm
ported merchandise, and it enough to say
that with the internal revenue tax and the
duty upon i'm ports all other laws of a tax
ing character we're repealed.
The position of the republican party
which they have maintained with unpar-
aleed effrontery, is to increase the duties
upon imports until imports shall cease in
this country, preserving for the manufao-
turers sixty millions of people who, Mr..
Harrison, says, are he best purchasers IN
the world.
Colonel Savers next discussed what he
considered the radical differences between
the Mills tariff bill and the senate substi-
tute, as to the amount of the duties i'm
posed and the policy of the two bills,
each bill leading in different directions.
He read letter from Mr.. Switzler, chief
of the bureau of treasury statistics, who
was known to be opposed to the policy of
imports merely for revenue. He alludt d
mainly to the duty on wooden goods.
Right here he said, before entering upon
the merits of the two bills l want to call
your attention to the action of the repre-
sentatives of the wool growers of Texas
and other states. In January, 1856,
G. G. Burbank, of Fort McCavitt,
was representing the wool growers at
Washington. He there met the repre-
sentatives of the wool growers from Vari-
GUS districts and also the representatives
of the wooleng manufacturers of the east,
and such high protectionists as Sherman,
Mckinley and others; but Mr.. Burbank
never invited me to be present. You know
their agreement, and l want to ask you If
he action of the wool growers and their
representatives in congress can be Just1-
red. They agreed to an increase from
$500 and 1854, and the men who now
complain because the house put WOOL OF
the free list are the men who met with
Sherman and Mckinley and Reed and con
spired with others to increase the duty
on wool more than 20 per cent OF the
present amount.
As to compensation to the wool growers
they increased the duty on wooden blankets
from 70. 81 to 1876 per cent. Just think
of a conspiracy by these men to tax
blankets more than 1913 per cent! Are
these men in a condition to complain be-
cause wool has been put upon the free
list?
AIIer cOnsplrlng On the otn ol JANUARY
last, and awaiting themselves of the cir
cumstances of the case to impose this tax
of 1913 per cent, what else did they do?
Why, they laid their unholy hands upon
everything of a wooden charaoter
Nothing escaped their relentless
touch. Believing it waa impossible
for the democrats to combine, and that
our tariff would fail, they thought that
with the aid of a few democrats they
would be able to pass the bill imposing
this 128 per Q tax.
Take woolenU. hing. The present tax
is 1894 They proposed to increase it to
12S.33 and to increase other worsted
goods from 1856 to 1913. Take wool hats.
The present rate is 1904. These gentle
men propose to increase it to 1854. Is
there any man here so blind; so careless of
his duty to his people, as to believe that
the Mills bill is wrong and the senate
proposition isTight? l call upon him to
halt, to consider and ponder the facts.
say to him that should the democratic
party be defeated November 6, and
the republicans should carry majority
in the house of representatives and elect
their president, say now, and want you
- ~ nd