The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-05

WOODEN manufactures in the United States
has been arrested by the inadequate
duties that were imposed upon manuiact-
ures of wool by the act of March 3, 1883,
| which, taken together with the erroneous
classification of manufactures of worstod,
have led TO greatly increased importations
from England, Germany, France and
Belgium. IL is only by the main
tenance of the American system
that the operatives in American wooden
mills can hope to retain the immense adj
vanccs in respect OF wages which they
have over the workingmen of England,
| Germany and France. The protection OF
the allied industries OF wool and woolCns
has not, however, been beneficial alone TO
the persons employed in WOODEN mills. II
has ut the same time helped TO incrrasc the
! wages and rewards Of farm hands; il has
enabled us 10 raise and sell 800, 600. 900
pounds OF wool where GO,0oO, 900 pounds
were raised, and 10 employ operatives in
working up 400, 900, 600 pounds where but
S6,OOO,OOO pounds were manufactured
Coincidcnt with this constant advance in
wages and enlarged employment there has
been great reduction in the cost of wooden
goods 10 American Consumers. Free trade
in wool and bare revenue duty for woolcns
would compel farmers To raise other crops,
of which the supply is already greater than
the demand, and Il would close factories
in which millions Of capital are invested,
rob an army of operatives Of employment
and force down the wages Il all other
labor.
All this sacrifice and suffering this ar
rest Of harmonious progress and this dis.
organization OF labor we are asked 10 face
in the hope that with onc.sixth Of the
worlds supply Of wool cut OF We may
thereby get cheaper wool and woolcns II
this hope werc rational, the loss would far
outweigh the gain. II IL better 10 main
tain the wages of our workers and to do
velop our own resources than Ia abandon
our fields, stop our mills and to look 20
Europe for the supply Of our manufactured
products.
The majority terms the Mills hill "a
sectional bill,' AMI SAYS its provisions
point Ia an attempt To discriminate in
favor of the planters Of the cotton.growing
States, an attempt made with the vain
hope that II may be- found possible to
achieve the permanent prosperity ol one
section ut the expense Of another"
This discrimination, il SAYS, sis not
less marked in favoroi the people in Can
ada and against the farmers aud lumber
men living along our northern border
from Maine To Oregon"
The majority treats ut length upon the
advantages Of u homo market Tor farm
products, arguing that II IL for the highest
interests OF the American farmer that the
number of our food consumers. rather
than oi food producers, should be- ia
creased, and that the general prosperity
OF nll should bo secured. II X true. Il
SAYS, that the decline in prices Of n.rirul.
tnral products has been very great, but the
value of thom, when measured by the
value of clothing, farm utensils or other
necessities Of farmers life, In much
greater now than IN any OF the years pre-
ccding 1850
The majority deny the charge that q war
tariff u being maintained IN time ui pro-
found peace, and express the opinion that
the sections ~ the House bill, Intended TO
mpltiy existing laws relating to the tax ON
distilled spitita, are certain Ia open Wide
the door Ia fraud in the collection OF taxes
on distilled spirits. In conclusion, the ~
port SAYS that the excessive duty Of from .
to ~ cents per pound now imposed upon
sugar adds q considerable sum Ia the daily
cost oi living II every family In the United
States, where, IN most cases, the cost Of
sugar h greater than the cost II bread
The high rates Of duty which have been
levied upon this important article ~ food
have not successfully developed the sugar
producing industry oi the United States
fhc great natural advantages which the
producers Of cane sugar IN the tropical
islands have over those uf the United States
prccludvs domestic competition upon equal
terms II Il were not ioI the iact that par
ties interested In the production 1T sugar
from sorghum or bccts arc con.
diont Of the rapid development Of
these industries Ia the United States,
the committee would recommend n sii.l
greater reduction ia the rate of duty upon
sugar, ~ the advantages II this reduction
would be- felt throughout u larger circle
than any other which could b. made IN
orr tafll schcdulcs.'
"lour committee have considered nu.
mrruus suggestions lof the rcpral ui nll in.
trrnal revenue taxes nnl the abolition NJ
the entire internal revenue system, bu,
they deem the adoption NJ this course ut
present both impmclicablc and unw'sc
not only because the rpcal 1T these taxes
would create a larler annual dpicit. but
Tor the further reason that the taxes levied
on distilled spirits used M beverage aud
on beer should be- retained, and the lcgis-
laiion Ia protect American dairy products
from fraudulent limitations should be- en-.
forced"