The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-12
FISHBACK ON THE TARIFF.
HOT SHOT FOR MONOPOLY TAKERS.
The Law for Which Ben Harrison Voted
''Disoriminates Against the Laborers
and In Favor OF the Rich DIonopo-
lists Who Employ the Laborers."

When one undertakes TO defend free trade
he is denounced as a hair-brained ttreor-
ist, or paid agent of British manufacture
ers. In these letters the British free
trader and his corrupt minions" have
been left to shift for themselves, the object
being simply to "ring the backing bell''
and warn you and other republicans who
sit in high places that it is not good policy
to keep saying in our platforms that in
levying tariff duties we should discrim-
mate in favor of American iaborers, and
then pass laws discriminating against the
laborers and in favor of rich monopolistS
who employ the laborers. But it so turns
out that when the oppressive taxes you
put upon the food, clothing, shelter and
working tools OF the poor man are pointed
out, straightway the plate-glass editors
and pig-iron orators begin to vapor
about the beauties OF the protective system
in general. The question is, and let US
stick to it: Was the law you voted for
framed and passed in the interests OF the
rich and against the interests OF the poor?
| say it was, and if that can be shown,
enough is shown to induce shrewd party
managers, like yourself. to consider
whether you may not hurt any party by
passing such laws. II does not tend to
settle the controversy to say that the
democrats are not harmonious on tho
tariff question. The fact that there is
large per cent. OF fools in the democratic
party will not be disputed by me, and the
further fact that there is a large per cent.
OF the republican party made up OF men
who do their own thinking should give
very little comfort to a republican con-
gresham who allows himself to be coaxed
or bullied into the support of unjust and
pernicious legislation.
In my last letter in the Nelrs | showed
by reference to the Congressional Record
that you raised the duty on pig iron from
IS per ton, the rate agreed upon in the
senate, 10 1872, the rate fixed by packed
committee Of conference.
1t was also made to appear that this in
crease was made in obedience to the de-
mand OF democratic and republican iron
masters, who care about as much tor the
~ Tho Deople as Mr. Vanderbilt is
said to care for public opinion.
Al ,,OsaIUle, a worse outrage was perpe-
trated when you came to fix the duty on
crude iron ore. As to this, you cannotin-
.ent the slightest pretext for an apology.
The tariff commission had reported that
30 cents per ton was high enough duty
on crude iron ore. 1t would seem that
legislators, desiring 10 protect laborers
who work in factories, might see that any
increase in the cost Of raw material must
diminish the profits Of the proprietors and
the wages OF the workingmen. Iron ore
is simply dirt-rnother earth. 1t requires
as much skill and capital TO get it to
market as it does to shovel gravel from
bank to platform car. The laborers who
shovel this dirt in this country work for
81 day. Exhaustless supplies of iron
ore lie upon the earth's surface in
Missouri, Michigan, Virginia and other
states. A tax on this ore increases the
cost and price on every article made OF
iron.
Why tax it al all? With a surplus OF
revenue, why not get rid OF a senseless
importation which can never be justified
except as a necessary tax under stress OF
war? Mo- Mr.. Conger OF Michigan, for
whose constituents the country bears salt
and timber taxes, must have his iron ore
protected also Mr.. Malone of Virginia, a
late and expensive acquisition to our
party, clamored for duty OF 8 per ton on
iron ore. After debate in both houses the
rate fixed by the commissioning cents
per ton-was agreed upon.
Your packed conference committee took
up the matter and of its own motion
shall | say2-increaSed the rate to 20
cents per ton.
This was an outrage upon the public
and an insult to both houses, but honora-
able senators and congressman ate their
humble pie without murmur. To havo
offended Nv Mahnnn MIGHT haya lQH 10
the election OF a democratic secretary OF
the senate-a disaster too dreadful TO con-
template.
| have mentioned the timber tax. Let
US look at that a moment. That the
sources of our timber supply are rapidly
diminishing is notorious. 1t is also
well-known fact that the pine lands OF
Wisconsin and Michigan have passed into
the hands OF a few men who control the
lumber market OF the West and North
west. Canadians would gladly send lum-
Der TO our markets, which would cheaper
building material and retard the destruc-
ton of our own forests. Senators and
congressman from the prairie states begged
congress 10 put lumber on the free list,
and in one branch, the senate / believe,
that proposition carried. But your potent
conference committee, at the bidding of
Mr.. Conger. put tax of 20 per cent. on
sawed timber, 81 per 1000 on boards, 10
per cent. on slaves, 20 per cent. on pickets
and palings, g per 1000 on clapboards,
and 80 cents per 1000 on shingles; and
you voted for IT,
This timber tax folly will make trouble
for our party in the prairie states. The
settler on the prairie has a pretty hard
time, unless he begins with a good deal OF
capital.
If he goes west by rail the cost of trans
porting his family and household goods is
quite large-and larger than it ought TO be,
for the reason that your iron ore tariff and
your pig-iron tariff and your iron and
steel rail tariff adds to the cost of every
mile of railway travel. Arrived at his des-
tination, he must build dwelling and a
barn and Enclosures for animals, and on
all the material he uses for these you i'm
pose this senseless timber tax. II happens
frequently that he has no money TO buy
high-priced lumber, and he builds dwell
ling with prairie-sod, and in this cave he
huddles with his family until bountiful
nature gives him a crop which enables
him to pay the timber tribute you impose
upon him for the profit OF the vandals who
destroy our forests.
Last winter, while You were in Wash
ington looking after the interests OF the
public, there appeared in indianapolis a
minister OF the gospel with well-worn gar
ments, soliciting aid for a presbyterian
church OF which he was pastor. He lives
in Nebraska, and the church building in
which he breaches is made Of sod