New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-03
RIDDLING THE MILLS BILL.
AND MEANS MINORITY REPORT

| fhctObEO BlLL-DISASTES CERTAIN TO COUNT
LESS sINDUsrRIss-THE EFFEcT on WAGES
AN INCREASED REVENUE NEW.
TABLE, THE TRUE REMEDY
FOR THE SURPLUS.
fBr TELEGRAPH THE TRrBuSE1
| WASHINGTON, April 2.-rhe Dark-Lanterns
| bill was formally offered in the House to-day BY
Premier Mills, after IL had been tnkercd 10
suit the Louisiana Democrats, who insisted on
the present classification. 1t was also agreed by
the majority that the provision to place worsteds
and woollens the same basis should go into
effect July instead of October /, and that noth-
ing in the bill should be construed to interfere
| with existing treaties.
The Premier. left tho chamber as soon as
Major Mckinley had offered the views Of the mi
nority. few minutes later Acting Premier
McMillin rose and gave notice that tho hill will
be called up on April IA. He remarked that the
time had been set SO far in advance in order to
| give the Appropriations Committee time to get its
bills to the Senate so that the Tariff bill would
have unobstrscted right Of way" He did not
| thus admonish seven other committees which have
appropriation bills in charge.
| The first man to sign the views of the minority
was William ID. Kelley, who heartily approves
every sentence in that document Perhaps this
fact may overcome and silence one free-trade lie
about divisions in the ranks Of the minority.
The Free Traders who have been gleefully pro-
claiming that the minority would be unable to
agree upon anything except perhaps mere mega
tlons" and glittering generalities' will be dis.
appointed. They will read q document which
abounds in positive affirmative arguments,
couched In clear, tersc, virilc language; which
bristles with facts and information stated with
the greatest lucidity and particularly; which
mercilessly exposes the partisan and sectional
nature OF the Dark Lantern bill; which proves
D hnf fha framn nf hat hakFa hrnn nnht
forward partisan scheme, conceived IN lnlgulty
as well as in ignorance--a partisan juggle which,
II successful, w!l be ruinous and destructive not
only to men whose capital IS invested in manu-
featuring, transportation and industries, but 10
farmers, mechanics and workingmen in general;
which will convince every fair-mnded American
that the minority is right and the majority wrong.
While the minority report is moderate IN ex-
preston, considering the provocations to which
its authors and signers have been subjected, and
while 1t is almost wholly devoid CT partisan allu.
slons except in the statement or historical facts,
it is q document which can be used with telling
effect in the coming political campaign Re-
publican committees can well afford TO circulate
1t among intelligent voters in conjunction with
the remarkable production Of the majority IN
The responsibility for the present condition Of
affairs is placed BY the minority where ait it clearly
majority of the House. The minority sought
by amendments in the Committee on Ways and
practical; failing there, they will seek to
mittee Of the Whole House, and IL
their sn efforts there ale nsyang e. sey a w nsss Sfk
tute which will assuredly diminish the revenues
without any impairment OF the American system
Surely that declaration is strong enough and
affirmative enough to satisfy any friend OF tho
protective system; In support OF it every Repub;;
lican Representative in the House can and VIII
stand.
The contrast Of Republican with Democratic
achievements in reducing the revenue in equal
/ M IL
striking. In eleven years during which Repub'
hcanS controlled the House, the annual revenues
were reduced 1852, 504, 553; In the eleven years
Of Democratic asoendancy the annual revenues
werc reduced S6,368, 935.
The minority characterizes in language rather
milder than IT deserves the violation OF the ma
jority OF every precedent in the preparation OF
Revenue BILL and states that The workingmen
whose wages were at stake" as well as manufoct-
a6ayss of Ee WcH IS nay sTea
a radical reversal OF the tariff policy OF the
country which has prevailed for the most part
since the foundation Of the Government" is keen,
searching and comprehensive. The minority finds
that more than one-third Of the free list is made
up from the products Of the farm, the forest and
the mine, and other products which are now dl.
table at rates ranging from seven TO twenty-five
per cent. 1t is true that there are some excep'
tions. The duty on rice, for example which is
now 1l2 per cent is increased. The fact that
Canada imposes duties on many articles which aro
now on the free list and many which II is proposed
to place there, Is adverted to- and the Canadian
ACT winch pcfInIrS the Governor ana council 70
remit those duties quoted together with the state
ment that that authority never has been exercised
for the benefit Of the United States.
The minority assures the majority that the only
danger that the people arc TO be compelled by
Congress to wear cotton goods in the winter or go
without and give bounties to wool-growers and
woolmanufacturerS,' arises from the pending bill.
The whole woollen schedule is disserted and dis
credited. So with the fax. hemp and iute sched-
ule, respecting which the minority shows that
grave injustice is proposed. One after the other
the schedules are analyzed and explained, and the
effect Of the proposed reductions shown. The Tin
Plate Trust and its operations are explained, and
plate industry in the United States the consumers
are compelled to pay from 10 to 80. per cent moro
than they did when higher rate OF duty fostered
the domestic industry.
The minority is unable to understand why hoop
iron used In balng cotton, should be admitted
free Of duty, while when used for any other pur.
The minority declares that it is not manifest upon
any principle of fair play or economic science
why cotton should enjoy this extraordinary
The majority is reminded that If by reduction
Of the duty on steel rails that industry shall be
prostrated, one-half the domestic market for iron
ores and pig iron will be destroyed.
The substitution Of ad vaorem Tor specific rates
Of duty is declared to be fragrant defect of the
defence OF that declaration. All through the
report one finds that facts greatly outnumbef
theories.
The minority says that II it be the purpose OF
the majority to reduce the surplus it begs TO re-
mind them that that purpose will not be accom-
posed A number of examples are then men.
toned TO show that since the tariff was reduced
in 1893 importations have increased so that the
revenue is greater under the present low rate than
il was under the formor high rate
The report Of the minority deserves careful
study.
ABSTRACT OF THE REPORT
The extraordinary ths bill came 70 tho
committee total lack OF consideration
crave measure by those charged its Investigation
demand notice and IL fashioned outside Of
the committee and reached It by the reference OF tho
House. which Is the usual channel through which commit
tees obtain Jurisdiction OF subject IL presented
re adv made by the chairman Of committee framed
completed and printed without the knowledge OF
ity and without consideration discussion In the full
mitteo-
any ennsnl held rninnrItx 4era