West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-10-25
TaE TAx ISSUE DEFINED.

The adjournment to-day leaves the
Democrats masters of the political
field. although the session has proved
barren Of results as far as regards the
great duty of tax reduction. The Dem.
ocratic House completed its task in
ample time for the careful considera-
ton and passage of 3 tAx.reform bill
by the Senate. But the Republicans
in both houses have unanswered per.
s~istently for delay, and they have hes
itated to resort TO nothing that could
render the mission of Congress abor.
tive. The Republican maneuvering
for position has ingloriously failed.
Everybody understands that there has
been no legislation on the subject Of
tax or tariff simply because the Re-
~publicans prevented II, and the de-
termination TO retain high taxation
for the benefit of the monopolies and
trusts is rendered perfectly clear by
the character of the buncombe Senate
tariff bill. The pretense Of formulating
a tariff revision bill was resorted to
only to cover up the determination to
prevent any legislation, just IS q mil.
itary force about to retire throws out
a line of skirmishers in advance TO
engage the enemy lightly and cover
its own withdrawal.
The buncombe bill has, however,
its serious side in that through it's adj
vance of the rates Of taxation. IL
conforms to the rules laid down by
the Republican National Convention,
and illustrates the doctrine of impos.
ing a tariff for the purpose of checking
Importation instead of collecting reY
enues, d~iscouraging independent
industries and encouraging monopoly
combinations. On metals, wood and
woodenware, provisions, cotton man
ufactures, fax, hemp aud JHte and
manufactures of wool. silk and silk
goods, books and paper, the rates
proposed in the Republican Tariff bill
are higher than those now existing.
The proposition TO increase war
taxation twenty-three years after the
close of the war, Is M that no sens.
ible man could expect to prevail. But
the Republican party has tied its for.
tunes to the insane proposal; and
were 1t possible that the people could
be 81 deceived as TO elect Harrison
and a Republican House Of Repre-.
sentatives, the Government would be
solemnly bound TO raise the taxes in
accordance with the mandate Of the
Chicago platform and the schedules
of the Allison bill.
The issue presented to the people
at the coming election is therefore
clearly defined between tax reduction,
as proposed by the Democratic Mills
bill and the increase OF taxation as
formulated in the Republican measure
pending in the Senate. It is for the
people to vote whether they desire to
pay more for their tools, clothing,
books and building materials than
they now do. a vote for the Repub.
lican ticket means q vote in favor of
increasing the price of all these nee
essaries. A vote for the Democratic
candidates means one in favor Of
reducing the cost of things that all
most need, and at the same time Civ.
ing steadier and more renumerative
employment to the wOrkmen, and
larger transactions and q better field
to commerce,
There 10 no legitimate interest in
the country that will be injured by
the enactment of Democratic policy;
there is none that would not suffer
should the Republican scheme Of tax
revision prevail.-N. Y. Star.