Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-10-11
THE MINORITY REPORT.

Report of the Majority of the Senate FL
nance Committee on the New Tariff
Bill.
WASHINGTON. Oct 5-The rerOrt of the mi.
nority o: the Senate Finance Committee on the
substitute Tariff bill makes document of
twelve printed pages 1t begins with the state
ment that in the preparation OF the substitute
for the House bill no member Of the minority
Of the committee was consulted or informed as
10 its provisions until il was reported 10 the
full committee September 25 It recites the
work Of the subcommittee in hearing the
statements, arguments ana appeals of manu-
facturers and others who demand that the pres
ent high rate Of IaTin taxation shall be main
tanned and in me - instances prompted not by
any revenue nece ssities but alone for tn" pur
pose Of Increasing IN cir own profits at the ex-
pense OF G3,OJO,C0O tax PAYERS"
Continuing, il says: 1t is safe to say that
all the interests benefited by higher protect
i've tariff have been fully heard and have had
rauch influence IN shaping this substitute,
while the great hody OF the people-the tax
payers and the victims of this pollcy-have
not appeared ana have not been heard" 1t is
said that the short time that the substitute
has been in the hands Of the majority they
have found It difficult 10 ascertain its ef-
feet, but the difference between the
House bill and the Senate substitute is appar-
ent and radical ct tie outset in the matter OF
revenue. The one is framed in the interests Of
The public treasury: the other in the interest of
private pockets. The one is framed in the ia
terest Of the whole people; the other in the in
terest Of 3O0U manufacturers The one Is
designed TO reduce both Government revenue
and taxation-the taxation especially which
bears heaviest on the necessarics of life: the
other is intended 10 raise public revenue, in
deed, but 70 maintain private revenues, increas-
ing and retaining taxation on all tn: necessa-
ries of life.
The minority say the substitute bill IS framed
at the expense mainly of the farming class, and
the bill is full of tricks by which this is &C
comphshed, though not apparently so. In
stances are rccited and the report says: Can
ingenuity 90 furtherf That taggers iron should
be raised from 80 per cent. 10 e. per cent: that
table cutlery for the poor should be raised by
specific rates added to ad yalorem; that knives
should be heavier taxed and made cheaper for
the <2i0 grade and dearer for the SIS grade by
making each pay 80 and - per cent. ad yalor-
em--alI these and more are no longer startling
and prepare the mind for I thousand other in
constituencies and Determinations hidden by
neat and obscure claSsitcatioas that only time
and patient investigation will reveal
The minority critIcise the lumber salt and
provisions schedules. and then discuss the sub
jects OF trusts" rs follows: THE present
tariff is the nursing mother of trusts Il is the
wall behind which these combinations are
formed, by which the people are plundered.
The tariff keeps out the foreign competition
and the combination suppresses the domestic
and the whole people are at their mercy and
pay whatever is demanded Language IS mad
cquate to describe the iniquty OF these comb
nations against the rights OF the people, or to de-
pct their disastrous effects upon the general
welfare. AS the tariffs, which render trusts
special instance OF those who form them. il
would seem but simple justice as well as good
policy TO tear down as much as possible of their
cover and refuse 10 longer aid them il wrong
doing.
They are not private affairs as has been as
serted, but public evils of the gravest character
affecting the price OF every article which con-
tributes TO the comfort and support of the peo-
pie. The provisions OF the substitute favor
them greatly and will serve to encourage their
formation in still other branches OF marufac-
ture. Many of those belonging to trusts ap-
peared before the Finance Committee, cIamor.
Gus for such legislation as would promote their
interests They are all opposed to the House
bill which should commend it to those who
condemn their methods. 1t is bad enough TO
permit those who are most interested (lnanu-
facturers) TO appear before our committees and
suggest the legislation they wish, but surely
VIC should not listen 10 the trusts and aid them
to rob with both hands"
The minority deny that the House Tariff bill
IS Il free trade measure and say that no one can
propose the reduction. OF taxation without be-
ing subjected TO the charge OF being free
trader by the opposition.
The minority deny that tariff revision will
reduce wages. and conclude their report with
the following remarks concerning free wool:
THE minority are firmly convinced that be-
sides the incalculable advantage to the whole
country which would result from the placing
OF wool upon the free list, it is easily demon
strated that no class will suffer. hut that each
will reap his share of the benefit With a
consumption of G00,G0l.GOJ pounds of raw wool
IN 1887 and population of 6l,O9i0OG the
average per capita cons umption is easily reck-
oned al eighteen pounds, or fifty pounds to the
average family c: five persons, and the North
ern farmer constantly exposed to the rigors OF
our winters, consumes something more than
the average. 1t requires from three 20 four
pounds to make \ pound of cloths, so that
twelve to sixteen pounds of W. oil in clothing
for the family Will be seen to be a low average.
This is now taxed from 81 TO nearly
81 per cent. The manufacturer is not benefited,
because his finished product comes into COM
petition with the foreign product made not only
from untaXeo wool but cheaper wool. II the tax
be taken of wool we viii import more wool. of
factories prosper, because their capacity is be-
yond our own wool production. When the
factories are turning out more product the
employees have steadier work and better wages
and indirectly, of course, the whole country is
benefited. Under the House bill the
manufacturers with free wool secure
even a higher competitive advantage
over the foreign than under the
present law of the substitute. The manufac-
turerS will export WOODEN goods as We now ex
port cotton and leather, and the demand for the
gool will better the wool market and encourage
an increased production, while the average
wool grower himself will reap from cheapened
clothing more benefits than he ever did from .
tax OF his product which he must pay himself.
The minority, therefore, dissenting from the
report OF the minority, commend TO tie Senate
and the country the bill OF the House of Repre-
sen;atves No. e,njl, rs a message for the re-
duction of taxes based alike upon JUST e and
good policy"
The minority report is signed by Harris,
vance ana Voorhees,. Mcpherson concurs in
respect to the articles upon the free list, but
wants some notifications IN the dutiable list
Beck has supplemental and individual report.
in which he indorses the Mills bill and eulogizes
the President.
DakOtgns In Distress.