The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-12

uuLleb uuucEtlLlG tAlblluB h8AIlnt VIII
: what they void be under this bill II il
should becomea'law, namely, the average
advalorem dlties on dutiable goods
under the existing tariff OF Az per cent
! advalorem, anl the average under the
' proposed bill d 40 per cent advalorem.
This shows a reduction under the
present bill ,qual to ~ per cent ad
yalorem. OF ,he S53,720,447 % reduc-
ton OF duties On imports under the pro-
posed bill should it become law, SD, :
iS9, sos As are dirived from articles placed
upon the free list, leaving the sum Of
$3l, ,520,94l "a rs the gross reduction
made or propoed by the committee ap-
plicable to all cur varied industries; and
yet, sir, the minority OF this house and
OF the committee are charged with being
free traders.
Now, in my opinion, upon no class OF
our people do tle present fiscal burdens
of our countrybear so heavily as upon
the farming claSs. 1t is not in the power
OF the government by any policy that
can be adopted to protect the farmer in
what he raises, and has to sell; but the
government can impoverish and vir-
tualy pauperiSe things he consumes,
which is or nay be imported, but also
by prohibiting luties upon commodities
made in this country, and necessary to
his comfort, Which place ii in the power
OF the home manufacturer by combina-
tions and trusts to charge what he
pleases for his wares.
What mockGry OF protection the Re-
publican tariff Of 1883 is for the farmer.
One OF the strong arguments that the
protectionist makes to the farmer is the
home market that protection is alleged
TO insure for for his produce. II is u
fallacy and a fraud, and intelligent far
mers will not longer be deceived by it.
STRIKING At CARNEGIE.
And now, Mr.. Chairman, permit me
to refer to another great industry in my
State-cOal mining; an industry, sir,
which protection does not protect, and
then compare the wages paid in the
Edgar Thomson steel works with the
wages OF the skilled miner.
From practical experience oil over
one-third OF century in the coal mines
OF my State, both anthracite and bitumi-
nous, am justified in stating that the |
wage worker receives for his labor, di- |
rectly and indirectly, from 20 per cent
to IS per cent OF the selling price OF the
coal at the mines, as against the Sper
cent that labor receives at the Edgar |
Thomson steel works, on the selling
price OF ton OF steel beams. The tariff
does not protect the coal miner, but robs
him in Just so far us il increases the cost |
OF what he consumes by the imposition
Z Il 4 Ia, ~
to meet its requirements.
now turn, sir, 10 another vexed ques-
tion-woOl.
The proposed reduction in the wOolen
schedule and the proposed reduction OF
the duties on sugar. would on these two
items alone show saving to every |
family in the State OF Pennsylvania OF
81 50, after dcducting the estimate loss
to each.
While Pennsylvania consumed 3S,5Gl,- |
34S pounds Of wool in her mills in the
year OF 1856, she only produced within
the State in 1850 5,G45,9S5 pounds, or
lG 40 per cent OF the quantity required
and there were employed in this
industry 23,S3S of her people. 1t is
hardly necessary to discuss the import
ance Of cheap raw material to such an
industry. No better illustration OF the
results OF moderate duties or free INA
terial can be pointed to than the carpet
industries OF this country. To-day, Ow-
ing to this low duty on carpet woods
and the superior genius OF our American
Workmen, and Notwithstanding the
higher wages paid in the United States,
| am Crcdibly informed that ii this five
cents per pound isremoved from Douskoi
and other carpet wool we can compete
with the world on carpets and keep our
home market.
OH, WOULD 1T?
Immediately wool is free our manu-
manufacturers begin to draw upon the
markets of the world for raw materials
to meet the American demand. The re-
suit is an advance in wool in foreign |
markets, and an advance abroad would
advance the price here, tariff or no tar
iT. And this, sirs, is no mere specull.
ton; it is the known history OF wool
under the present circumstance sup
posed.
No people, Mr.. Chairman, can be n
great people who do not ''gO down to |
the sea in ships" With longer coast
lines than any other nation in the world,
producing u greater quantity OF sea
borne tonnage, ii we eliminate coal, we
are not dependent upon other nations
for ships to do our carrying. i
What has brought about this state oil
affairs? The wooden sailing ship was
doomed in the year 1860 and the iron
and steel ship, propelled by steam, was
destined to supplant it upon economical
grounds.
What proportiOn Of its costs consists OF
Structural iron or steel beams? And
how was il possible for the individual
enterprise OF this country to engage in
the construction of iron ships when
steel could be bought in England for
S26. IS per ton, when the same beams
cost in the United States 3Gccnts per
pound, OF 500 per ton? What has
brought us to this low state? The poll
cy of restriction. Protecting few sick;
II ship yards, we turn out an occasional
vessel for the coastwise trade.
1--WE are here, sir-wc, the majority
of the Ways and Means Committee, and
OF this house-in defense Of American
Industries. We alone offer it protection;
we seek alone the independence and ag-
rrandizement OF domestic labor by liber-
ating IL from unnatural rcstraint, and
allowing ii the undisturbod possession
and the complete enjoyment OF its own
earnings"
Turpio VIII Get Ills Sent.
WASHINGTON, D. G., May 1.-THE
Senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections held meeting to-day to con-
slider thc Tnrpie case. After an hours