Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-10-26


similarly bound by the most solemn and re-
peated platform promises. opposed the billat
every step. Opposition was all they made;
they offered no substitute. they suggested
nothing; they decided to cling to the War
Tariff tax and trust to the gulhbllitY of
the public to believe their campaign cries
of Free Trade. Tue Mills Bin went to
the Senate. The first reception it got
there was a speech by Senator Allison of
Iowa, in which he produced figures to
show that Democratic extravaganza had
so reduced the surplus in the Treas
ury, that there were only SIS, 100000
of it that could now be relied
on for use, and the idea of
passing the Mills bill or any other bill,
reducing the revenue was not to be
thought of. The N. Y. "Trlbune" was
caught by thu Senator's figures. and in its
turn caught many of the Republican pa
pers including our neighbor, the "Valley
Virginian." Bat 1t Was not many days be-
fore the Senate Republicans found out the
people were not to be quieted by any such
deception as Mr.. Allison had fitted up In
the shape of statistics. The popular de-
mand for a reduction Of taxation was too
strong, and the people we're heard from
too frequently. The Senate Committee
on Financa set to work to frame bill as
a substitute FOR the Mills Bill II at first
tried delay. The longest time any Tariff
Bill was ever held by tie Senate Commit
tee in the history of this government, was
fifty-four days. This bill was held from
lay 26 b, to October 2d-four months and
half. 1t was found that the popular clamor
now rose high for the committee to do
something people we're tired waiting.
1t HAD determined first to report no bill
at all, and next, if forcsd to report to do
SO, 80 late in the session that no vote could
be taken. In this the Democratic House
foiled them again by refusing to adjourn
and putting it at the disposal of thu Re
publican Senate to name the day of ad-
journment. at last the Committee had
to report, and on October Fad, Senator
Allison from the COMMITTEES if by the
irony of fate, the very Senator who had
produced his figures showing there could
be no reduction of revenue made-repor-
ted a bill reducing the revenue $73 ,000,-
900. But, though enacting farce. they
had been true to the great Manufacturing
Lords who controlled their party-these
Lords not liking levity about their inter-
ests even in farce--and had put one
third of the reduction on an agricultural
interest. sugar. When the bill got before
the American people, it was received with
humorous scorn by those who were not hurt
by it, and with indignant remonstrance
by those who were. It was such jumble
that the authors could not say whether
slack coal which had been put on the free
list (there's ''protection" for you) had
gotten there Intentionally or not. But
as the whole thing was farce nobody
cared much either Way. The Pennsylva-
MIA people took fire on the free coal aud
were assured that the clause would be
amended before the bill was passed. The
Kansas people took fire on the skinning
half the protection off sugar, and Senator
ingalls, promptly assured then that it
would be all right before the bill was
passed. And we presume everybody else
that objected got the same answer.
But farces LIKE tragedies have their end
ings. The Senate made show of remain
ing in session to "consider the tariff. -
The Republican Senators were in fix.
They dared not vote for the bill if it were
put on its passage; the Man Behind the
Plow had gotten too hot when he heard
that the great manufacturer was to have a
warm Protection overcoat and has back
was to be clothed with a Reduction duster.
Nor did they want to undergo the humi-
liation of deliberately hauling down their
flag and adjourning, while the Democratic
House at the other end of the capitol was
sitting there laughing at them. But one
Of the two they had to do, and so they
chose the latter; the Senate adopted a
resolution to adjourn Saturday, and On
Saturday Congress adjourned.
What a picture, for party assuming to
be the legal guardian of American Indus
tries, to present to the country Its repre-
sentatives in one House afraid to touch
the matter of Protection at all, and its re-
representatives. IN the other House spending
nearly five months on bill and then run
ming away from it bsfole voting on 1T
And that demoraliZad, vaclllatlng poll
tical party that reiterates its national
tariff platform In the House, repudlates it
in the Senate, and then panic strlcken runs
away from the subject Of tariff altogether,
proposes to the American people to take
charge of their tariff taxation for the next
four years !! In what splendid contrast
does the Democratic party appear to it !
Robust, courageous. determined; it pro-
missed the people lower taxes, and gave
them; it promised the working people of
the land free raw materials, and gave
them. It trod down the Republican
s1arlers in the House with firm tread, and
marched boldly on to the emancipation Of
the people from Tariff Bondage. 1t says
to the American people, these things you
shall have if I can give them to you, for
il is clear now, that without my strong arm
you will never get them.
The impression is being created in some
localities that the adoption of the Mills Bill
will reduce the State taxes. Of course there
is nothing in this Vazley Virginiam.
There isn't Well there is just this in
it, that while the farmer of this State pays
only 40 cents on the 500 tax TO his State,
he is paying $47 on the 500 tax to tt
United States Government. The thing
County Treasurer Mcfarland had the
collection of the United States tax which
the farmer pays, he would soon know it.
7 ct how if would uorkl Ihis