The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-10-11
, MAJORITY AND MINORITY REPORTS.

POmSA'
, MAJORITY AND MINORITY REPORTS.
The argument of the senate majority
in defense of their substitute tariff bill, at
least so much of it as has come over the
wires, is the specious plea of wages de-
pendent on high tariff and the cry of
wreckage of American manufactures if
the tax rate is reduced. 1t deals very
tenderly with the wool interests, but cuts
deep into the southern product-sugar.
1t classes the Mills bill "a sectional bill"
and then proceeds to take the largest
figure in any deduction off sugar,
peculiarly southern product. Wool is
grown in northern states as we'll as in the
south, and is protected; sugar is found
only in the south. Yet, the Mills bill is
the sectional instrument Irrefutabe
reasoning and logic! But in the light of
the announcement in the ma
tional republican platform dec
laring for free whisky before
custom duties shall be lowered, the clos
ing paragraph in the majority report is
most remarkable. 1t reads:
Your committee have coneidertd numer-
Gus suggestions for the repeal of all
internal revenue taxes and the abolition
of the entire internal revenue system, but
they deem the adoption of this course at
present both impracticable and unwise;
~ only hn III IS Nn.y
would create large annual deficit, but
for the further reason that the taxes levied
on distilled spirits used as beverages, and
on beer should be retained until legisla
ton to protect American dairy products
from fraudulent imposit;ons should be
enforced.
The arts y are assisted by tax repeal, but
whisky is left taxed, while many custom
duties are lowered. Either the national
convention or the republican senate is
wrong. Which is it:
In contrast with this majority report,
inst OF the minority is boldly aggressive,
srd commands attention and concurrence.
Il argues the sound policy of the Mills
I'll. and contrasts that measure with the
1g.o-!iy substitute, as follows:
one Is framed in the interest of the
p1blic treasury, the other in the interest
Of private pockets. Que is framed in the
interest of the whole people, the other in
the interest of the manufacturers. One is
designed to reduce both the government
revenue and taxation, especially that
which bears heaviest, of the necessaries of
life; the other is intended to raise public
revenue indeed, but to maintain private
revenues by increasing and retaining tax
alton on all the Eecessaries of life. O. The
substitute relieves non necessary tobacco,
in all its forms, except cigars, cheroots
and cigarettes, from internal taxation, and
gives free alcohol to the arts. The sub.
stitute offers to the people free whisky
and free tobacco, leaving all the expensive
machinery for the collection of revenue
and enforcement of the law in full force,
while it increases taxation upon the actual
and Indispensable necessaries lof fife.
No better arraignment of the majority
report could have been written. Stripped
Of all side issues and not following out
into detail the separate items dwelt par
ticularly upon in that report, the few sen
fences above in terse language give the
gist, the marrow, of the controversy
point out the breakers upon which the
inespun theories of the republicans go to
pie Afterwards seriatim the ma iority
report is analyz and refuted by the
minority report; but as a general sum-
mary of the present status of the Issue as
now joined between republicans and dem
ocrats on the great principle OF tariff re-
form that divides them, the paragraph
quoted is clear cut epitome of the
whole matter, and will stand TO the people
as an easily understood summing up of
the question. On that paragraph alone,
as backed by the facts in the case, demo.
Gratis could go into the battle with every
assurance OF victory.