Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-05-04

amount IrOm SLIa,OOu 70 tlOU,VUD.
The conference report on the joint Ieso-
lntion accepting the invitation of the
French Government to participate in the
Paris exposition was adopted.
The House then went into committee of
the whole on the tariff bill and Mr.. Wilson,
of West Virginia, took the floor in advocacy
of the bill. He started out with the asser-
tion that the bill was an effort of the peo-
pie to recover the right to tax themselves.
Twenty-Five years of protection have en-
trenched private interests in the tariff hat
they regard it as their exclusive domain
and resent the intrusion Of .he people as
those of tresspassers. He said that while
our tariff rates were running up from
Is to As per cent during the war,
and Immediately thereafter. every interest
that wished to become 4 parasite upon
the people were permitted to dictate its
own terms and those terms still remained.
The so-called revision of 1888 soon turned
into q struggle between the captains. of in
dustry for an increase their bounties,
and was finally thrown into secret confer
ence where higher rates were given than
either house had dared TO vote in public and
was then hurried through Congress with
out being sifted or reai. Mr.. Wilson
claimed that all the reductions that had
been made were those affecting property,
and had thrown the burdens on
those least able to bear them. Pro-
lection acted on the rule of the
Ohio politicion 70 claim everything
He declared that protection had no more
to do with the present prosperity of the
country than it had TO do with the planets
or tides. But those things for which it is
responsible, it strenuously ignores. Ii says
nothing of the groming an tagonism of capi-
tai aud labor, of the ~, 900 strikers and the
q 81 ~
long industrial depression in the building
up OF great wealth by favoritism, which in
order 10 retard its privileges was ever ready
to corrupt the ballot-box and ihtimidats
voters, the rapid Capitalization of manu-
factures in q few great corporations and
their recent fusing into formidable trusts.
Continuing Mr. Wilson stated that the
tariff did not regulate the price of labor
and having contrasted the prices paid in
the same line of employment, he said that
the contrast showed that man in Maine
was only worth two-thirds man in Con-
necticut-
Mr.. BouteIIe, of Maine. asked the wages
of farm lsborers in West Virginia.
Mr.. Wilson-"They are not as high as
they would be with protection off"
Mr.. Boutelle wanted candid reply, or
wanted the gentleman To retreat igno-
miniously from the question.
Mr.. Wilson replied. amid laughter and
applause: Il cannot yield for a speech, but
accept the gentleman as a full eXplana-
ton why q man in Main is worth only two
thirds man in Connecticut"
In conclusion, Mr.. Wilson said: You
may strike down that tribune of the people
at the other end of the avenue who, put
ting aside all ideas of prudence, spoke out
that ringing summons that rallied the
people as nothing else ever did. You may
strike down tie leaders of this fight, as you
struck them down in the last Congress.
Those who hold the standard may fall but
other hands will take il up and move for
ward. The spirit of liberty is behind US
all We can hope for the destiny and great
ness of this country urges us forward. !"
Grear~ applause greeted Mr.. Wilson as he
concluded, many Republicans joining in
complimentary manifestations.
Mr.. Dingley of Maine, in opposing the
bill discussed the Presidents and Mr. Mills
assumption that duties on imported arti-
cles which can be produced here to the eI-
tent OF our wants were a tax which increas-
ed the burdens OF the consumer TO the eX-
tent. or nearly TO the extent OF the duty.
And he argued that on the contrary such
duties benefited the consumer by encour-
aging home industries and securing pro-
ducts for less labor or revenue Referring
10 the charge that protection had destroyed
our foreign carrying trade, Mr. Dingley
said il was true that this has declined, but
no more rapidly since the war than in the
in six years before the war.
Mr.. Mckinney of New Hampshire, said
that he believed that the best means of col
lecting the funds necessary for the support
of the Government were by a tax on i'm
ports. and that that tax should be levied a.
far as might be. on luxuries, and that a:
far as might be, the neceSsaries of life
should be placed on the free list He wa:
not in favor of any radical charge in the
tariff laws, for the business of tht
country was now on higf
tariff basis and any radical ant
sudden change would disturb the busines
interests. He was the last man who wouiC
interfere with the manufacturing interest,"
for he represented a manufacturing State
but as the peoples representative he woulc
vote for the interest of the whole people
He strongly advocated the placing OF WOO
on the free list. declaring that it would
work little injury 10 the sheep grower
while it would greatly benefit the
wooden manufacturers and give cheaI
clothing to-the people. 1t was about time
for the gentlemen on the other side to stoI
crying out that the Democratic party wa
seeking TO bring disaster upon the country
1t was only trying to carry out the funda
mental principles of government and appl,
equal taxes tO all communities.
The committee then arose, and the Hous
at 5:30 p. N. adjourned.
The Senate.