The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-04-11

better able b buy them. ~ would be fnotruo-
WOODEN clothing Ina this country during the per-
iod from l6l7 to 1867, under the low tariff then
prevailing with the prices now prevailing, and
they would DO pronted also BY . comparison
OF the scale OF wages then prevailing with those
now maintained. Their Investigations would
disclose the wretched condition OF labor in the
former period, the starving prices thcn received
and tho inability Of thousands OF worthy work
men 70 get work at ANY prices. Clothes at any
price were then the dearest IL the iaboring
men could have been heard by ths committed.
they would have told story Of misery during
the free-trads era which might have deferred
the majority even from inaugurating the policy
Again. the majority inquire -tre the people
to be compelled by Congress 10 wear cotton
goods In the winter or 20 without TO give boun-
While this question IL too trifing for serious
reply, We assure the majority that the only
danger OF such happening Is from the bill they
now report . bill which is to deprive our poo-
pie OF employment and the opportunity TO earn
money with which TO feed and clothe them
selves and their families anu educate their
children. The foreign market TO which the
American producer 10 invited by the majority
report Ia desultory. Our own market 10 the
best There Ia no market anywhere compare
Bile with it, Lot us first OF all possess IT, IL N
ours. and we should enjoy It, Wool in the free
list 10 deadly assault upon great agrcultu-
raj interest. and will fall with terrible severity
upon a million people. &c will destroy invested
capital, unsettle establ! shed values, wrest from
the flock masters their lifetime earnings, bank
rupt the thousands OF our best and most in-
dustrious farmers. and drive them into other
branches OF agriculture already oyercrOwded.
II Is n vicious and indefensible blow at the en-
tire agricultural interests OF the country.
The report then goes ON TO say II the provis-
ions OF the bill concerning WOODEN goods and
manufactures will become law, the whole
ready-mads clothing business OF the country
will be transferred TO European rivals. The
provisions proposed by the bill under the fax
and hemp. borax, earthenware, glassware,
plate glass, lumber, salt, and metal schedules,
fha nOtt "A acla ~ Law
disastrous, IL not entirely ruinous, to many
American Industries. Under the hoad OF steel
rails the report says: II the majority desire TO
insure the handing over OF Our steel rail mar
ket to our English rivals, the proposed duty Of
s11 will accomplish this purpose, unless the
workingmen who are employed in producing
the raw materials and finished products Of our
steel rail works willing TO accept still lower
wages than they now receiving, and the
railroad companies that transport the raw ma.
terials willing TO greatly reduce their freight
rates. Have the majority any assurance that
the workmen and the railroad oompan
willing to accept these conditions? Their
were heard before the committee.
Tho supply Of steel rails ID the Pacific coast
Is now in the hands Of foreigners because OF
the cheap transportation by water from foreign
ports, the existing duty Of s17 not being sum-
cient TO enable our manufacturers to compete
for that trade. It is stated that tho Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Company had
lately purchased 10, COO tons of foreign rails to
he delivered ut San Diego. Cal, and it is men,
toned that another lot Of $500 tons OF foreign
rails had recently been sold by foreign makers
for Pacific coast railroad
In proposing to seriously cripple, II not to
destroy the manufacture OF steel rails in this
country, the majority probably do not realize
the full significance OF the results which they
invite. 1t should be remembered that our
manufacturers OF steel rails consume almost
one-hslf OF all the iron ore and almost half OF
all the pfg-iroE. that the country produces.
II this great market for American iron ores and
pG-iron is to be destroyed. the country need not
be told of the distress which will ccme TO labor
and hot lrt.r. fsaNr h tCfa 30.
ducers.
A fragrant defect of the bill OF the majority is
its preference for al valorem over specific du-
ties. although the testimony OF almost every
Secretary of the Treasury since the foundation
OF the Government has been recorded against
tho frauds upon the Treasury which ad valo-
the report, we detoet manifest purpose TO ia
vor foreign man facturors mt the expense OF
our own people, for II ad valorom duties have
so operated III the past AS to encourage fraudu-
lent importation of foreign goods they may be
expected to do so again.
The next question considered is the surplus,
and upon this the report says: II IL be the pur-
pose OF the majority TO reduce the income of
the Government from customs sources We beg
to remind them that that purpose will not be ac-
complished by the scaling down of duties, as
proposed in the bill. 1t is well known and sup
ported by almost universal experience that a
mere dimnution OF duties tends to stimulate
foreign inportatons and thereby increase the
revenue and augment the surplus. II -the alb
solute peril" TO the business OF the country de-
scribed by the President in his message last
December as resulting from an exciting and
increasing surplus, was imminent aud well
founded, how easily be could have averted IL
by the purchase OF outstanding bonds with the
surplus money in the Treasury. power whic h
he pos sessed, clear and undoubted under the
act of March 3. 1881, which is as follows;
THAT the Secretary OF the Treasury may at
any time apply the surplus money in the
Treasury not otherwise Appropriated, or so
much thereof as may be considered proper, to
the purchase Of or redemption of United States
bonds.
To have thus used the surplus would have
been direct and business like, just what pru-
dent business man would have done with his
idle money-caled in his creditors and applied
IL TO his debts The President failed TO do this,
and when Congress assembled -the condition"
confronted IL. II the House had oven then APP
preciated the situation. how promptly aud cas-
lily it could have. in part at least, relieved it.
IL could have been done in the first week OF
December by abolishing the entire tobacco tax,
amounting to $50, 10000 annually, and thereby
removed great burden from the agricultural
producers of the country by releasing also from
taxation alcohol used ia the arts and mRnufac-
lures, which 1T IL estimated would amount TO
Sc, 90, 900 more
This simple proposition would have received
a practically unanimous vote in the House aud
the approval of the country, and have stopped
the collection OF So 900 600 month and IL IL had
been promptly done, there would now be sl2,
100000 less OF surplus in the Treasury, and we
venture to predict that the reduction that could
have been thus secured was greater than the
reduction which will be accomplished by this
bill. The majority failed to seize the oppor-
tunity. IL seems impossible for the party Of
the majority i'm the House TO pass a revenue
bill and reduce taxation this has been it's al
most unvarying experience while in control OF
| the House.
The report states that from 1866 to 1898 the
control OF the House OF Representatives has
| been equally divided between the two political
| parties. each having eleven years.
During the eleven years OF Republican con-
| troll the revenues we're reduced ESTIMATED
| 50 2. 500; during the eleven years Of Demo
cratic control the revenues wero reduced
| 81, 3SS 935 difference in favor OF the present
| minority party in the House OF $3.50. 235. ga.
In concluding the report the minority
say:
| 1t il manifest that the responsibility for the
present monetary condition which so alarms
| the country does not rest with the minority
| party in the House, but with the present m a.
| jority in Congress They cannot escape It, The
| President has for three years failed, while hav
| ing the power, to avoid the financial condition
/ he now complains Of. The majority in the
| House for six years has signally failed TO pro
vide for reduction in the revenue. They can.
| not avoid responsibility for the evils which are
| now upon US, and while these are beyond theii
power 10 retrieve, thew can by courage and
wisdom, and governed by business principles
| provide against like evils in future. They
| must now act or mako public confession oil
| failure.
The minority regard this bill not as revenue
reduction measure, but as a direct attempt tc
fasten upon this country the British policy oil
OF obligation to the people, and especially the
| working people, employed in manufacturing
| and agriculture in all sections OF our common
| country impel them TO resist IL with all theil
power. They will assist the majority In overy
4 effort to reduce the redundant income OF the