Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-10-19

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100 per cent, adding nearly quarter
of million dollars of tax on imported
ties at once, all of which is a loss to
the cotton producer. Even with this
they are not content, but still iurther
tax the struggling agriculturist by
raising the duties on trace-chains and
all other kinds less than I of an inch
thick, from p cents, which is equiva-
lent to 34.37 per cent, to 3 cents per
pound, equivalent to rate Of 53.37
per cent.
THE TARIFF SUCKLES TRUSTS.
The minority criticises in similar
manner the lumber, salt and provision
schedules and then discusses the sub
ject of trusts as follows: The present
tariff is the nursing mother of trusts.
1t is the wall behind which the COM
binations are formed by which the peo-
pie are plundered. The tariff keeps
out foreign competition and combina-
tions suppress domestic and the whole
people are at their mercy and must pay
whatever is demanded. Language is
inadequate to describe the iniquity OF
these corporations against the rights of
the people or to depict their disastrous
effects upon the general welfare. As
tariffs which render this possible are
established and maintained at the spe-
cial instance of those who form them,
it would seem but simple justice, as
well as good policy. to tear down as
much as possible of their cover, and to
refuse longer to aid in the wrong doing.
They are but private affairs, as has
been asserted, but public evils Of the
gravest character affecting the price OF
every article which contributes to the
comfort and support of the people.
The provisions Of the substitute favor
them greatly, and will serve to encour-
age their formation in still other
branches of manufacture. Many Of
those belonging to trusts appeared be-
fore the Finance Committee clamorous
for such legislation as would promote
their interests. They are all opposed
to the House bill, which should COM
mend it to all who condemn their ef
forts. 1t is bad enough to permit those
who are the most interested manufac-
turers, to appear before our Commits
sioners and suggest the legislation they
wish, but surely we should not listen
to trusts and aid them to rob with both
hands.
GRINDING THE POOR.
Can iniquity go further than that
the logger's iron should be raised from
80 per cent. to 65 per cent; that table
cutlery for the poor should be raised by
specific rate added to dd paiorem; that
knives for the poor should be heavier
taxed and made cheaper for the rich;
that breech-loading shotguns should
be made cheaper for the 5000 grade
and dearer for the $12 grade by max
ing each pay 10 to 20 per cent. al "a
lorem.
All these and more are no longer
startling, and prepare the mind for a
thousand other inconsistencies and
determinations hidden by new and OBJ
scure classifications that only time and
patient investigation will reveal. In
the cotton schedule, again the great
process of "leveling up" is called into
requisition, to what end or for what
purpose, who can say? By changes in
classification, made by new subdi-
visions still further eomplicating the
administration, and by changes in
rates, in effect principally increasing
taxes, the most glaring inconsistencies
and determinations are perpetrated in
this so-called revision. In the wooden
schedule the substitute now only re-
tains the duty on raw wool, but in
creases the duty from 10 to IL cents
per pound on clothing and combing
wool, and the existing duty is retained
on carpet wools which all parties agree
are not produced in this country, and
the changes made in the manufactures
of wool increases the taxation and to
that extent increases the cost of the
manufactured article, and especially
the upper grades Of the clothing of the
poor.
NOT FREE TRADERS.
The report then continues: The
minority cannot pass by in silence the
absurd accusation that the House bill
means "free trade" the "ruin of in
dustry," and the "degradation Of
American labor" These charges are
as false as they are misleading. 1t
would seem that no man proposes to
cut off excessive taxation without sub
jecting himself to the charge of free
trade. True, Government revenues
might be reduced by making duties 80
high as to prevent impOrtations alto
gether, but that is the other end OF the
system which increases the taxes paid
to private persons. If the first method
of reduction leads to free trade, the
other leads to free plunder, which is
worse. 1t is safe to say that there is
not Senator in this body, or man in
any way prominent in councils OF the
Republican party, who at one time or
another has not admitted the necessity
of reducing taxes in order to stop the
surplus. They are therefore free
traders and desire to ruin the industry,
and the decentralization of labor. The
minority respectfully submit that the
enemies of American labor are they
who supplant it with the labor OF un-
naturalized foreigners whenever they