The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-19

!3ng the duties to a pEohibitory standard,
but this only increased the burdens OF taxa
tion- The repeal of the entire internal
revenue law would also reduce the revenue
to point where there might be an annual
deficit of $50, 600, 900; but this deficit could
not work harm for the present, as the sur
Mus remaining in the Treasury June 30,
1888, would be sufficient to comply with
the requirements Of the sinking fund until
1891. when the Al per cent. bonds fall due
But no large section Of the American peo-
pie really favored plan which removed
taxation from spirits, beer and tobacco, and
left the necsssaries of life burdened; nor
wa the committee willing in arranging a
schedule of taxes and in an attempt to give
substantial relief from the present unneces-
sary taxation, TO adopt plan which did
not light single furnace, cause a single
wheel to revolve, give TO labor a single
days wages, remove from commercial ac-
tivity any burden nor from manufacturers
any annoyance.
ADVANTAGES OF THE PLAN.
This plan simply took from the public
treasury that amount of taxes which were
voluntarily paid in a mode which distrib-
uted those taxes equally, impartially, and
not by burdens upon the necessities of lie
Rejecting, therefore, the proposition to
increase duties for the purpose of reducing
the revenues Of the government, and in
CIeaSIng the revenues Of manufacturers, and
the proposition 70 repeal the internal reve-
hue system. the committee attempted to
frame u bill which would reduce revenues
BY safe amount, and would relieve, a. far
a, a moderate bill could DO, the evils Of the
pre,elt tariff, ana promote American IN
dustry by giving to American labor the
hope Of permanent. stable and profitable
market 1t recognized that the system
which bad been in existence for over
quarter o. century could not be hastily nor
IecklesslY overturned. II desired to harm no
industry. /; constantly leaned in favor Of
established rates Of duty, and in case Of
doubt proposed a rate which it believed TO
be entirely safe No one can appreciate
more than we that the Dill reported by us
d IS not answer all the cond tons Of TO-DAY:
that many duties are left at rate entirely
TO high; that relief which ought to be
s ven has not been granted tn the extent
which the condition of the country and Of
labor required; but / venture 70 affirm
that under all the circumstances which
surround us-trying to perform an onerous
public duty with an eye single to the public
good-we have reported bill which every
fair-Tninded man in America may accept as
wise, moderate and proper legislation and
upon this statement, for one, | am willing
10 go to the country, and to submit to it,
judgment"
ANSWERING MR.. BURROWS.
Referring to the criticisms of Mr.. Bur
rows, Of Michigan. upon the Committee On
Ways and Means, and its manner of framing
the bill under discussion, when he stated
that in his criticism he was vIo-
lating no secrets of the committee.
room, Mr.. Breckinridge said: with wit
which was equailed by courtesy not much
greater than the desire for accuracy he ex-
ldbited, the gentleuRl from Michigan it,
sinuated what he would not be reckless
enough TO directly assert, that
not only was the bin not pre-
pared by the Comm ttee on WAYS
and Means, which reported it, but that
there was no member Of the majority 50
lost TO all sense Of personal pride as to admit
It's parentage. | trust that it is within the
most rigorous bounds of parliamentary Ian
fuage to say that this is absolutely without
foundation, in its length, breadth
hight, depth and thickness, it is creation
OF tire gentleman's fancy except that he vio-
lated no secrets Of toe committee room in
making the statement. What he violated.
leave TO him to determine At no meeting
IN that committee room, or elsewhere, at no
time or place, IN no manner whatever, ha !,
the majority Of that committee ever given
any one any pret6nce to say that it denied
its responsibility for this bill, or
that any one but tho members of
that majority was in any degree
whatever responsible for it: but
it is proper that this House and country
should know what doubt not is known.
that this bill was the result of great labor
OF an earnest desire to reach fair and con-
servatlve compromise measure; and that
every item Of it underwent the scrutiny Of
every member Of the majority of the com
mittee. As whole, it Is compromise of
the independent and earnest opinions Of
earnest men, bent on practical legislation.
DOESN'T CHANGE THE SYSTEM
at does not pretend to change the sys-
tenn, to set aside the present system and
substitute in lieu of it another and different
system IL leaves the average rates of duty
higher than they were under the Morrill,
tariff, and It is protective tariff bill The
committee did not believe that it was its
duty 70 DO more than to propose a moderate
reduction OF taxation by increasing the free
list, reducing certain rates, and removing
as far as practicable, unnecessary restric-
tons, and to make an effort to render the
administration of law more efficient to the
protection Of honest importers and the de-
lection and prevention of fraud
Referring to tine internal revenue system
he said: 1T was determined, in Response To
what seemed TO be the sentiment of a large
part OF the country, to propose repeal Of
the taxes on manufactured tobacco for
pra rtical Craftsmanship is the art of a wise
compromise, and in free country the de.
sire and judgment Of large portion of the
people whom we represent must be accept
ed as sufficient reason for legislation. Our
belief was that to exempt fruit brandies
AMI alcohol used in the arts was indirectly
and bypocritically, but efTectually,
70 stroy the internal revenue
system; and if this is 70 be
done, we preferred 10 do it or have it done
openly, and thus fix the responsibility for 1t
upon those who accomplished ii. Those who
vote 10 exempt alcohol thus used will do so
with the knowledge that it is a vote to
destroy the tax on distilled spirits
WHERE THE RESPONSIBILITY RESTS.
"The bill is before Congress; the RESPONSE
bility Of its preparation was upon us; the
responsibility Of legislation is upon you,
No sneers as to its authors; no charges,
however offensive or discourteous,
as TO the manner of its
preparation; no abuse of those who
were concerned in its preparation can re-
move from you the responsibility of action
nor change the issue made by the bill itself.
The surplus continues 10 grow; the evil
effects Of it are daily exhibited; schemes
without number TO squander the public
money, TO distribute 20 any Of the States, TO
cultivate the habit in the American people
Of looking to Washington rs the great aims
giver, can be defeated only sby your action
as 20 this bill and it is no answer
10 say that it was prepared in
secresy, that its authors are incompetent,