Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-05
General Congressional News

The minority report of the Senate finance
committee on the tariff bill complains that
none of the minority were consulted or in
formed about the provisions of the substitute
reported by the republican ma jority until it
was reported to the full committee Sept.
25. 1t also asserts that in the hearings be-
fore the sub committee since last May the
interests benefited by the high protective
tariff were fully heard and had much infr-
ence in sha ping the substitute, while tie
great body of the people who are tax payers
and victims of this policy, have not been
heard. In criticising the substitute the mi
nority say the essential difference between
the House bill and the Senate substitute is
apparent and radical at the outset in the mat
ter of revenue. One is framed in the inter-
est of the public treasury and the other in
the interest of private pockets. One is
framed in the interest of the whole people
and the other in the interest of three hun
dred thousand manufacturers. One is de-
signed to reduce both the government reve-
nue. and taxation the taxation especially
which bears the heaviest on the necessaries
of life; and the other is intended to raise
public revenue indeed, but to maintain pri-
yate revenues by increasing and retaining
taxation on all the necessaries of life. Prac-
Aitdll1 lilt SUBSTITUTE OutEs W tiit ptoDle Tree
whiskey and free tobacco, leaving all expen-
siye machinery for the collection of revenue,
and the enforcement of the law in full force
while il increases taxation upon the
actual and indispensable necessaries
of life, and this too. when there is large
surplus in the Treasury, and under the ex-
isting laws that surplus is being increased
at the rate of over $4,000, 900 per month,
thus removing and withholding from the
channels of trade, commerce and business of
the country, money absolutely necessary for
their successful operations. The substitute,
the minority say, not only retains the duty
on raw wool, but increases the duty from 10
to ! / cents pound on clothing, and combin-
ing wool and the existing duty is retained on
carpet woods, which all parties agree are not
produced in this country, and the change,
made in the manufactures of wool increases
the taxation, and to that extent increases the
| cost of the manufactured article. and es-
pecially the cheaper grade of clothing of the
poor. In no instance is policy upon which
substitute was framed, more clearly dem
omstrated than in that of railroad iron. II
cost to produce rails at the leading mills OF
| the United States in 1887 less than s21 a
/ ton, of which less than 81 25 per ton was
| paid in wages. The present rate Of duty or
\ rails is sl7, and by the present substitute is
reduced to Sl5.6s per ton. The question
arises whether this will reduce the wage,
of operatives 81. 80, or whether the l1.4S
bounty above the whole cost was paid fol
labor and will satisfy the manufacturers
I the labor cost in ton of steel rail-
being 81 25. Commenting on the connection
between the tariff and trusts the minority
say the present tariff is nursing the mother
trusts. 1t il wall behind which these com
binations are formed by which the peopl,
are plundered. The tariff has kept out for
eign competitor and the combinations sup
press the domestic, and the whole peopl.
are at their mercy and must pay whatever i
demanded They are not private affairs
as mas been insinuated, but public evils o
the gravest character, affecting the price o
every article which contributes to the com
fort and support of the people The provis
ions of the substitute favor them greatly an,
will serve to encourage their formation il
still other branches of manufacture. The
are all opposed to the House bill whic
should commend it to all who condemn thei
method. Free wool is discussed and tn
minority are firmly convinced that beside
the incalulable advantage to the Who'll
. country which would result from placin
wool on the free list it is easily demonstra
able that no class will suffer but that eac
will reap his share of the benefit. II tn
tax were taken off Of wool our manufactul