The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-05
THE TARIFF DEBATE.

Messrs. Oaswen and Guenther Criticise the Bill
Brought in by Mr.. Mills.
WASHINGTON. May 4.-Mr. Dunn. Of Arkan-
sas, from the committee on merchant marine
and fisheries, reported, and the House adopted,
resolution calling on the Secretary Of the
Treasury for . statement as to whether there is
ment, the enforcement of which would prevent
the overlooking Of vessels with freight on the
great lakes; and whether there is any law in
force regulating the quantity of freight to be
carried by such vessels.
Mr.. Johnston. Of Indiana. from the committee
on elections, submitted report in the Califor-
MIA contested election case Of Lynch vs.. Van
derver, and it was placed on the House caen-
dar. The report is unanimously in favor Of
Vanderver. the sitting member.
Private business having been dispensed with,
the committee went into committee of the
whole Mr. Springer in the chair on the tariff
bill.
Mr. Caswell, Of Wisconsin. criticised the
method OF tariff reduction proposed by the CON-
mittse on ways and means, declaring that it did
not provide for any substantial decrease upon
articles Of general consumption. The commit
tee should have provided. he contendsd. for the
entire removal of the duty on sugar. That
course would take one tax from the food Of
every man, woman and child Such q relief
would extend to every family. rich and poor
He would give reasonable bounty for sugar
produced in the United States, but he would no
longer continue this great tax on the mouths of
sixty million people under the guise OF tax for
revenue.
MIR. Mcdonald, of Minnesota, spoke in opposi-
ton to the protective system and expatiated up
on the injuries resulting to the people by the
locking up of vast surplus in the treasury. He
was not quite satisfied with the bill. because it
did not 60 far enough He would place coal.
iron ore and sugar on the free list He warned
the Republican party that it had better meet
the Democratic party half way in its effort for
tariff reform.
Mr. Gusnther, of Wisconsin. remarked that
his colleague. Mr.. Hudd. had swallowed the
whole dose prepared by the Democratic me- jority.
aud he seemed to relish it greatly and was en-
deavorinc by political sophistry TO persuade the
people of his district that it very palatable
decoction, a papacea for all evils, the long
looked-for Democratic st. Jacobs oil that would
heal all the evils of the body polite. Laugh
ter. The Republicans generally were in favor
of abolishine entirely the tax on tobacco.
amounting to about $40. 000. 600; also the tax on
spirits used in the arts and manufactures,
amounting to about &c. 000, 900. Should further
reduction be necessary. they proposed to abolish
the duty on sugar. and in order to foster sugar
production they would pay bounty to the pro-
Queer amounting to a sum equal to the present
tax. This would give the people free sugar, and
would not destroy or prevent the extension OF
any established industry. This policy would
make . reduction OF about $50, O00 900 certain
and absolute, instead Of problematical, like the
method proposed by the Democratic party.
Quoting the last line Of the distich with which
his colleague closed his speech, I'VE are
taxed from the cradle plumb into the
grave" Mr.. Guenther said that the poet
must have thought of the internal
revenue collector. Hardly had the little babe
como into the world than il needed . little pep
ermint to soothe the gripIng in its little bowels;
then came the internal revenue collector.
clothed with the power of the national government
and with the army and navy at his back. and
exacted from the little innocent 3l5 Der cent in
ternal taxes on pareg aud 425 per cent. on
essence of peppermint Laughter. Being an
American child. with an eye to business. OF
course the baby took the paregoric. because it
was cheaper But finally the child snccumbed,
or. But. no; it was taxed after its death. The
sorrowing mother placed a cloth saturated in al
cohol over the pale face and on that alcohol the
internal revenue spy collected tax Of $50 per
cent. That internal revenue tax was what the
Republicans wanted repealed. He WAS in favor
of revision OF the tariff. but he wanted ii revised
by its friends. not by its foes He wanted 10
protect everything American. He wanted the
standard Of wages keot up. not lowered. Fla
was in favor of restoring the wool tariff of 1867
He was firm believer Ia tariff which not cnly
supplied means for the expenses OF the govern.
ment, but at the same time built up and en-
couraced home manufactures, developed the in
exhaustible resources of the country. aud gave
employment 20 millions Of our people. While