The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-05
THE MILLS BILL.
The Occasion for It's DenunoiatiOn by the
Republicans.


There has, perhaps, been no measure
brought before congress IN the last quarter
OF century that has received such un-
qualified denuuciation from the republi-
can party as the sO-called Mills bin, and
yet, Notwithstanding tie facts as repre-
sentcd by the presidents message, it
is the only measure before congress up to
this time proposing any reduction of the
revenue or any remedy for the evils
threatening the country with overtaxa-i
ton.
In discussing this measure / shall paw
no attention To the denunciations hurled
at it by the republican speakers and press,
but shall endeavor to answer such objec-
tons as are actually made do it. l shall
also consider it somewhat from an Indiana
standpoint. While do not agree with ths
idea that the tariff question is local issue,
| know very we'll that men have habit
of voting according 10 what they deem TO
be their own interests or the interests Of
section in which they live, rather than to
take into consideration the interests of tho
whole country.
The chief features of the Mills bill con-
sist in transferring TO the free list raw
wool, timber, salt, hemp and its equiva-
lents, together with quite a number Of
other articles of lesser importance; of
reducing the tariff on wooden fabrics TO 40
per cent. ad vaovem; OF reducing the tar
iff on steel and iron blooms and steel rails
to from 30 to 30 per cent; of reducing the
tariff on sugar; and the repeal of the tax
on tobacco and products, except as TO
cigars and cigarettes.
First in importance in the changes thus
indicated are those made IN the wool and
wooden schedules.
Tho r,o~+rr haxr-v7rr hoor, f-ov,.
its organization a sectional party, endeay-
ors in every measure OF public Importance
to find some ground of accusing the dem
ocratic party OF being specially favorable
to the South, and amongthe first and moss
prominent objections made to the change
in the wool tariffs is that tits a discrimina-
ton against the northern interests in favor
of southern interests; in fact, this charge
runs throughout pretty nearly the entire
list of accusations brought against the
Mills bill, and will be noticed somewhat
in detail. So far from this being true with
reference 10 the wool and wooden tariffs,
and the changes proposed, if they diserim-
mate against any section OF the country
it is against the Southwest and the
Pacific states. There have been
changes going on from the very founda-
tion of our government, IN regard TO what
Dc leIutO LllG MOOl ttuLCIo, LlldI dI6
irrespective OF tariff provisions. In the
early history OF our country New England
was the center Of wool production; then
it shifted to the middle states, then to the
West. and finally it passed the Mississippi
river, and is located in the southeastern
states and territories and in the states of
the Pacific slope. 1t may be interesting
to recur to the statistics upon that subject
for moment. from which it will appear
that as late as 1860 the New England and
middle states maintained the lead in the
production OF WOOL although from lS40 to
1860 the number OF sheep in the New
England states had run down from nearly
1000 900 20 considerably less than 10000
In 1880 the western states were largely IN
the lead and the southern states following
next, while the middle and New England
states were rapidly ceasing to be WOOL
growing states at all in any proper sense.
From 1875 to 1887 the aggregate number
OF sheep in the United States increased
from 33.000O00 10 44,0O0,O00, but in that
same period the number fell off in the
New England, the middle and the western
states, but increased largely in the south
ern states, the Pacific coast and the terri
tories. In 1887 the state of California was
a long way in the lead OF any other state,
having an aggregate of over 100000 head
Of sheep Texas came next with over
4.7OO.OO0, Ohio with 100000, and New
Mexico almost equal with Ohio in num-
Der. AS to our own state, we had lost in
that period OF twelve years nearly 100000
head. In 1875 the nuber accredited 10 rs
was 100000, while in 1887 it was ], ,034, 900.
The cause of these changes is very evi-
dent, and is more climatic than anything
else. OF course cheap lands bad much,
also, TO do with il, particularly in shifting
the centers from the New England aud
middle states TO the western; but il is very
evident that sheep cannot be raised in
herds Of any considerable number except
in a climate in which they can exist with
out shelter the year around, and that q
country that will produce them and sus-
tain them in great numbers at no other or
greater expense in caring for them than is
expended in the employment of a shep-
herd and his dog cannot be competed
with in the production of cheap wool by
such countries as ours, where they can only
be raised in flocks o, very limited NUM-
bers, and where it becomes necessary to
give them shelter and provide food for
them from four to six months in the year.
WOODWORKING.
Not in tho Least injured sy Taking on
the Duty.
From these facts il is evident that the
wool center has passed us by and located
itself in tho Southwest and states of tha