Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-04-30
~Te,ephone Connection
The Tariff Debate.

While the major part OF congress was
with Secretary whitney on Saturday,
witnessing the launch OF his vessels,
small contingent remained In the House
In guard over the tariff bill, about which
Mr.. O'Neill, Of Philadelphia, had a
speech to make, that became the text OF
divers uncomplimentary remarks about
Philadelphia and Pittsburg, and Penn
sylvania evolution under the tariffs that
have protected her. A goodly number
had disagreeable things to say, and Mr..
O'Neill and Mr.. Bayne were quite over
whelmed in their championship Of
their state. Mr.. O'Neill insisted that
Philadelphia was far ahead Of New York
In manufacturing industry, and Mr..
Bsyne declared that the industries of
Allegheny county were greater than
those Of all the Southern states that had
representatives in the ways and means
committee, which Is the national
tariff factory. These statements were
doubtless true; but they did not have
relevancy to the question OF the good or
iii Of the Mills tariff bill ; nor In truth
did the suggestions Of the other side have
much more rertinency to the issue, though
they seem to have considered the indus
trial troubles in Pennsylvania, its strikes
In the coal regions with the oppressive
coLduct Of the coal bosses there, and the
strike at Carnegie's and the Pinkerton
detectives there, as evidence of very great
Generalization In Pennsylvania, notwith-
standing the protection its coal and iron
enjoys. The inference was fair and the
comment was pertinent, In debate
upon the general state Of the country.
It may, too, have had relevancy in a
question as to the policy OF free trade or
protection but inasmuch as the Mills
BIZ now under debate does not propose
FREQ trade or anything like 1t, but simply
provides reduction Of duty, which its
friends consider that the industries Of the
country can bear without injury, 1t is
not evident that the inability of the EN-.
ployers and employees Of manufacturing
and mining Pennsylvania to get along
harm0niously together elucidates the
issue save that 1t seems to show ar
irreconciliable conflict between these two
interests and illustrates that no tariff
protection, however high, will provide
employees with all the wages and privi
leges that they demand
It offsets the argument OF those favor
ing q high tariff that it Is for the work
ingmen's benefit only; and it is fair and
effective in repelling .his idea. II tn,
projected iron and coal industries o.
Pennsylvania cannot give to their work
men good wages, they cannot claim be-
fore Congress that they want their pres
ent tariff protection that they may satisfy
their labor. 1t is not for the laborer's
sake 20 much as for their own that they
want protection as their conduct prove,
and as everyone knows without proof.
And 1t is admitted that they are en-
titled to adequate protection. TIL,
Mills bill proposes to accord it to them
The only question Is as to whether 1t doe,
70. This is the only question open fol
argument, and it seems that congressman
should conflne themselves to 1t and con.
slider the several provisions Of the bill,
instead Of wasting their breath and the
public time in discussing the abstract
doctrine Of free trade or protection, which
Ii not the issue. Those who advocate
free trade condemn themselves In voting
for the bill Of the ways and means com.
mittee, which provides protective duties
70 an extent deemed sufficient to main
tain all the manufacturing industries Of
the country.