The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-05-16
THE MILLS ELL.
Mr.. Scott Addresses the Hooao on
The Measure.

ne MEASURE
WASHINGTON, May ll.--Mr. Scott. ol
Pennsylvania, addressed the House al length
this afternoon in support OF Inc Mills tariff
bill. In the course OF his remarks be asked
whether this great country. sixty millions
strong. with inventive genius keener. with
labor more skilled than any other people ON
the globe, should decline 10 compete for sa-
premacy in the marts of mankind, and con-
time forever TO trade among ourselves under
the insane delnsion that we were growing
rich By the process. The bill. he said. was
framed in the interest OF the whole people.
IL was intended in the first instance to stay
the mounting surplus in the treasury, threat
ening overwhelming disaster; and second,
to relieve. as far as prudence would permit
at this time. The over-bHndened industries of
the country from excessive taxation He
criticised the Randall bill. which he contend
cd would increase taxation instead Of relier-
ing the people of the present over-burdcn-
ing taxes. Taking the iron and steel sched-
nle in Mr. RanGalls bill as a fair index, he
said it was not in the line Ofrevenae reform.
il increased the burdens on every ayocation
the iron worker as well as the farmer.
For every dollar os reduction of the duties
in the iron schedule ;weniy-six dollars were
added to the burdens OF the public High
protection. Mr. Scott claimed, created mon
opolies, and did not add penny TO the
wage-worker.
As exhibiting the operations OF the mon-
opoly duty swelling the profits of the man
nfaciurer, Mr. Scott referred TO the fortunate
situation of the iron establishments who
use natural gas. This he said was the cheap
est and most effective fuel ever discovered,
vet il appeared that the economy Of its use
had not as YET enabled the proprietors of the
Edgar Thomson steel works 10 reduce the
price Of their product or TO add anything to
the wages of their employees. What was
needed was open markets around the globe.
Western Pennsylvania. Eastern Ohio and
large areas besides. which were soon TO be
supplied with this marvellous natural gas,
would if they understood their true inter
esis. exchange the pi;iftl cry Of more subsi-
dies for the most thriving industries on
earth, for the laundering demand FOR free
dom OF exchange and cheap supplies. Con-
irasting the coal industry, which, as he said,
protection did not protect, with iron and
steal, he said that from a practical expert
enec Of over one-;hiri Of 4 century in the
coal mines of the State, both anthrocitc and
and bituminons. he was justified in stating
that the wage-w worker received for his labor.
directly aud indirectly, from 20 per cent TO
S5 per cent. OF the selling price Of coal at the
mines, as against the 5 per cent. that Labor
received at The Edgar Thomson steel works
on the selling price of a ton Of steel beams.
The tariff did not protect the coal miner,
but robbed him in just SO faras it increased
the cost of what he consumed by the impos
ition of duties the Government did not need
to meet its requirements.
In further criticism Of the Randall bin
Mr. Scott sid the measure, from whatever
point il was looked at, was a misbesottcn,
ill-shaped, pretcntious, unjustifable mon
ster, with no excuse for existence and no
purpose in its life but 10 olistruc; the Demo-
cratic party and TO delay the justice which
the country demanded.-By .lssooiJted Press.