Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-04-28
THE NATIONS CAPITOL
The Tariff Debate Continued.
Brewer, Ford and Goff Address
the House on the
Subject.
Some Strons Points Scored Against the
Mills Bill.
The Postal Treaty with Canada Con-
cluded by the Postmaster-een-
erals of the Two Countries
WASHINGTON, April 81.
House.

Mr.. Dunn of Arkansas from the committee
l<of merchant marine and fisheries reported,
and the House adopted resolutions calling on
the Secretary of the Treasury for informa-
ton relative to seal fisheries in Alaska.
The House went into committee on the
whole on the tariff bill.
Mr.. Brewer speaking controverted the
assertion that the tariff was a grevious bur-
den upon the people. He said that the peo-
pie were not complaining that what they had
to buy was too dear, but what they had to
sell was too cheap. He proceeded to ex-
anime the bill in detail pointing out where
in his judgment the proposed reduction
would result in lowering the price of labor,
while failing to reduce the revenue or sur
plus. He was especially in earnest in his
opposition to the free wool clause, which he
said would ruin that industry, national in its
Importance. He was ready to cooperate
with any party in the further reduction of
the revenue but it must be done in the con-
tinuance OF the policy laid down by the
republican party.
| Mr.. Ford of Michigan said that the ques-
ton presented now was one of tariff re-
duction not of abolition. The main object
of the measure was 10 reduce not to abolish
the tariff. In considering the question Con-
dustries of any one state at the ex-
pense Of other parts of the
| country. Rather il should consider
the general welfare of the entire nation. The
1aritf which vaye comnaratiyely a small
number of men the opportunity to tax mil
lions of our citizens a. nor cent moro than
their goods would sell for in omen market
coulIn't fail 10 have the result of buildiny
IN and maintaining vast monopolies and
trusts. whose enormous profits were swelled
| nv the tr;bute which the tariff authorized
them To levy from the pockets of the people.
| Congress had no right TO take the part of the
few manufacturers against the great body of
consumers. The tendency of prices to
cheapen constantly was not on account of
war tariff but ON account of the improved
means of TRANSFORMATION and production
The prices of agricultural productions which
the war tariff didn't benefit to any apprecia-
Bile extent, declined out of all proportion to
those of manufactured commodities, and as
usual the farmer got the worst of it. Prices
declired the world over, in free trade Eng
land and China as well as in the United
states. The prices in this country of nearly
evnrv article on which the war tariff was i'm
nosed would be good deal cheaper TODAY
# the tariff were reduced He ridlculed the
position that the high tariff increased the
wages of American workmen Noindustries
shaved more poverty. more desttution
ar more strikes than those so called protect
ed ones. There was not a hod carrier in the
Tnited States but who earned more wages
than the average person employed in the in
lustries benefited by the war tariff Refer
ing to the claim that the home market was
the best market, Mr.. Ford said that the re-
suit of this home marke, swndie is, the far
mer is most beautifully deluded. The high
tariff party gets his vote, the trusts and mon
opolists get his money, and the farmer gets
the hot end of the poker. He didn't believe
that "A single man would be thrown out of
employment by the passage of the Mills
bill: but surprising there were, these men
wouldn't compete with the farmers because
the reduction of the tariff would so stimulate
those industries. which our natural resources
have fitted us for. that an increased demand
for labor would at once spring up in those
pursuits. By cheapening the raw materials
those manufactures would be able to com
pete in the foreign markets and the reduc-
ton of the tariff would result in an enormous
increase of production to supply the foreign
demand which would increase the demand
for labor to snch an extent as to furnish en-
plovment for all idle men. Trusts and
combines have got the monopoly of
the market, got their grips on the pockets of
the people, have ratified and abused the ad-
yocates of the reduction of the tariff, have
appealed to every instinct of the American
people. selfish and patriotic, to sustain this
system of war taxation but the time had now
come when the people will speak in tones
not to he misunderstood and demand relief
Mr.. Goff of West Virginia, spoke in op-
position He said that the reduction of the
tariff should be made by the friends of the
protective system and not by its enemies.
Just as the people had completed the beauti
| ful edifce upon the construction
of which they had been engaged
for wears, when they were about
enjoy the labor of their live, one who by
the strange mutations of political forces tenn
porarllly held the position of architect in
| chief, astounded them with the order
to proceed with the work of tearing it down.
The moment one industry was self sustaining
and healthy it invited the Presidents enmity.
| He at once suggested the pruning knife of
tariff reform. President Clevelands cold
| blooled indifference to the benefits of the
people is entitled to the precedence over all
emanations from the executive mansion, in
all our history. The Mills bill was conceiv-
ed by minds impregnated with economic vi
ciousness Its passage wound be the death
kneli of protection. If they succeeded now
as they proposed next year they would take
another step and gradually but sure
ly the people would be marched into
into the camp of those who contended for a
tariff only. He declared himself a protec-
ZIONIST. He believed in the biblical doctrine
he. who provideth not for his own house
hold is worse than an inflel." The people
had haen deceived in the last Presidential
campsipnby the declaration that Cleveland
vas nrotectionist. The hand of Esau
wonj1 he offered again but the people woud
not aoaip be deceived. The people had a,
lat found out the democratic party. Ahra.
ham Lincoln had once said. "a rol cal party
may fool a nart of the people all of the time
and all of The neoule mart of the time bn