Evening journal., 1888-10-05
MINORITY REPORT.
The Senate Bnl Condemned and tn
Mills BHl Recommended.

The Senate Isill Condemned and the
Mills BIN Recommended.
The minority at the outset complain that
none Of them We're consulted or informed
about the provisions Of the substitute re-
ported by the Republican majority until Il
was reported to the full committee on the
2sth Of last month, and OF the hearings be-
fore the subcommittee since last MAY. they
assert that it is safe to say all the interests
benefited by high protective tariff have
been fully heard and have had much influ-
ence in shaping tho substitute. while the
great body Of the people, the taxnayers. and
victims Of this policy have not appeared and
havenot yet been heard Criticising the substi
tute the minority say the essential difference
between the house bill and the senate substi-
tute is apparent and radical at the outset IN
this matter Of revenue The one is framed in
the interest Of the public treasury the other
IN the interest Of private pockets The one is
framed in the interest Of the whole people:
the other in the interest Of 100000 mauufac-
turers The one is designed to reduce both
government revenue and taxation. the taxa
ton especially when roars heaviest on the
necessaries Of life; the other is intended ID
raise punlic revenue, indeed, but to maintain
private revenues by increasing and retaining
taxation on all the necessaries Of life. Prae-
tically, the substitute offers to the people free
whisky and free tobacco, leaving all the ex-
pensiye machinery for the collection ~ tbe
revenue and enforcement Of the law in finn
force, while it increases taxation upon tbe
actual and indispensable necessaries Of lie
and chs, too, when there is a large slrplus IN
the tNasury, and under existing laws TINT
surplus is being increased at the rate Of over
Sl0a, 100000 per month, thus withdrawing
and Withholding from the channels Of trade
commerce and business Of the country money
al<olutely necessary to their successful opera-
tions
The substitute tho minority say. not only
retains a duty on raw wool, but increase
the duty from 10 70 II cents a pound on
clothing and combing wool, and the exist.
Ing duty is retained on carpet weols. which
oil parties agree are not produced in this
country, and the changes made in the manu-
factures Of wool increases the taxation. and
to that extent Increases the cost OF the
manufactured article and especially the
cheaper grades-the clothing Of the poor
IL the cotton schedule they say, the great
process Of 'leveling up is called into requisi-
tton. BY changes in classification and by
new subdivisions still further complicating
in effect principally increasing taxes nosf
glaring Inconsistencies and determinations
arc peTpetrated in this so-called revision
Commenting on the connection between
tho tariff and trusts, the minority savl.
Tho present tariff is the nursing mother of
trusts 1t is the wall behind which these
combinations are formed, by which the
people are plundered. Tariffs keep out the
foreign competition and the combination |
suppresses the domestic, and the whole people /
are at their mercy and must pay whatever
IS demanded Language is inadequate 70 |
describe the inequity Of these corporations /
against the rights Of the people or to depict /
their disastrous effects unon the general vel +
fare. As the tariffs, which render trusts
possible, are established and maintained at
the special instance Of those who form Them
it would seem but simple justice as well as
good policy to tear down as much as possible
Of the cover and refuse TO longer aid them
in wrong doing They are not "privase
affairs as has been asserted, bnt public
evils Of the gravest character, affecting the
price Of every article which contributes to
the comfort and support Of the people. The
provisions Of the substitute favor them
greatly, and win serve to encourage their
formation in still other branches Of manufac-
ture. Many of those belonging to trusts
Rqpeared before the finance committee.
clanorous for such legislation as would pro
mote their interests. They are all opposed
70 tie house bill, which should commend
il 70 oil who condemn clique methods
II is bad enough to permit those who are
most ed-manufacturers-t appear
before our committee and suggest the legisla-
tion they wish, but surely We should not
listen 70 the trusts and aid them to rob us
with both handsn
The absurd accusation that the Mills bin
means free trade,n ''the ruin Of industry
and the degradation Of American labor,n
the minority say Is as false as misleading.
How the flow Of surplus money into the
treasury can be stopped without reducing
the taxes which produce il no man can de
wise, how these taxes can be reduced with
out taking off from the top toward the bot
tom no imagination can conceive. There
fore, II would seem, no man can propose to
cut of excessive taxation without suniecting
himself to tine charge Of free trade,n be-
causo any reduction whatever ''loolss toward
iree trade irsa governmerr revenues
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