Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-10-12
THE SENATE TARIFF BILL-AN
A WK WARD BOX.

The Finance Committee of the Senate
John Sherman, Chairman, has at last re-
ported the Senate substitute for the Mills
Bill, work that the Republicans of the
House were too demoralZed to accomplish.
The National Republican platform
adopted at Chicago, June 2lst. pledged
that party to reduce the surplus revenue
by ''such a revision of the tariff laws as
will tend TO check imports of such arti-
cles as are produced by our people; the
production of our own labor, &c., and
if that is not sufficient 'we favor the en-
tire repeal Of internal taxes rather than
the surrender of any part Of our protec-
tive system at the joint behest of the
Whiskey Trusts and the agents of foreign
manufacturers.
The bill reported in the Senate Wednes-
day reduces the protection on sugar which is
produced by our own people; the produc-
ton of our own labor" by the sum Of
$27 O00 ,0OO. And SO the Chicago plat
form goes 10 the winds, and the people
will now witness the Valley Virginian and
GuO l1OAs CdCOO l. OoV WIZ VOAO oh Nv iAy
ing the flag of abolishing the Internal
Revenue system before they would sur
render any part Of their protective system,
eating unlimited quantities OF crow.
AS the sugar industry in this
country is confined to Louisiana and is
more than any other industry in the
Union, 1.-THE product of our own (Repub-
lican) labor,' our Republican friends will
have to handle the crow very gingerly.
But the free whisky" is all right. The
bill frees from tax, "alcohol to be used in
the arts to the extent of So, 100000. 70
make this clear to our readers, it may be
stated that when alcohol is withdrawn to
be FUSED in the arts'' it is previously treat
ed with methyl. which gives it the smell of
creosote and prevents it's being used as
beverage. Three weeks ago an officer Of
the Treasury Department brought to the
Commissioner two glasses, one of pure al
cohol, and the other of alcohol which had
been treated methylically and afterwards
chemically treated to remove the methyl.
It was impossible to distinguish one from
the other by smell or taste. SO the
country may prepare to rejoice in free and
cheap whisky, even if it has to pay high
for clothing and the necessaries of life.
The present tariff tax on wool, on wool
en- cloths, and on nearly every manufacture
which enters into the daily life of the pee
pie is increased instead of lowered. The
bill may be summed up as making the fol
lowing reductions in round numbers
Whisky, 81 10000 lin theory, in practice,
free); Tobacco, $24,500,ooo; Sugar, $27,-
0O0, 000 by additions to the free list
Sc 500, 900; duties on manufactured ar
ticles, S., 600, 000-Total, $72, 500 COO.
So it will be observed that the Man that
Keeps the Mill, the Big Manufacturers
who ha re obtained control of the Republi-
can party and have dictated its taxation
of the people, have got in their work we'll.
Whisky and Tobacco make nearly one
half of the reduction; Sugar more than
one-third, and the manufactured articles
and workshop, only one-ndnth. No free
wool. no free lumber, no free tin plate. no
free raw material to encourage and start
up American manufactures again.
Against this, the Mills bill gives free
wool, free lumber, free tin-pIate, free
stone, free bricks. and many other neces-
saries free. 1t reduces no tax on whiskey;
it reduces the tax on tobacco $24 900. 600;
the tax on sugar $50. 1000 600; free raw
material (the Man that Keeps the Mill
couldn't get in his work on the Demo
cratic party, the Man that Works in the
Mill having the preference) 500, 1000, 900; on
dutiable articles generally Sis, 600, Goa
fetal of $74 600. 900.
The people have the two bills before
them.
The Democratic Bill came from the
people through their representatives in
the lower House of Congress, and was
passed with but six dissenting voices. It
is in accord with the National Democrat
ic platform, and has the Democratic pe0-
pie eff the country at its back.
The Republican Senate Bill came from
the Republican Millionaire Senate. The
Republicans last from the people refused
in the House TO touch the subject. The
National Republican platform Is in oppo-
sition to it. 1t has not even the Repub
lican people of the country at its back,
and there is no reason whatever to believe
that this work of the Senators has any
authority of the Republicans. It is not
intended for practical bill, but is merely
prepared as an apology to an indignant
country for the cowaIdly neglect of duty
of the Republican representatives in the
House. About all 1t amounts to practi
cally is that after taking one-half of the
protection off Louisiana sugar, and max
ing it higher in the interest of the man u
ries, we hope to hear less from the Rspub-
lican papers Of striking down" and "des-
troying American labor" 1t is step
back ward, towards free whisky and higher
duties. The Mills Bill is a step forward in
the direction Of taxed whisky and lower
duties. The people can now decide be-
tween the two-that is If they pay any at
tention at all to this stuffed straw effigy
the Senate puts up to initiate Tariff
Legislation.
THE HOME MARKET.
1t would mean a home market for every
product of the farm and a new prosperity to
all classes Vazzey Viryiasian.
This argument by cur contemporary, it
must be remembered, is in support Of the
attempt of Mr.. Yost to fix a tax of $l2,-
900, 600 o. the people of this country, on
the chance of, at some day or other, dig