Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-12-27
The Tariff Battle On.

i The Tariff Battle On.
Senstor Allison has clearly foreshad
owed the policy of the successful party
bv giving notice in the Senate that tn,
Senate tariff bill would be pressed fo
consideration daily until disp ,sed OF
That means that the tariff, tax ane
revenue reduction issue is the supreme
question in Congress, and that both
parties recognize the imperative pop
ular demand for positive action by Con
gress.
The tariff battle is on, and it will re,
main on until substantial tax reduction
on the necessaries of business and o
life shall be attained. If not attained
this session, the issue will confront tht
new Congress as soon as it meets, anG
|, if not satisfactorily settled during the
first session of the next Congress. il
will go back to the people for fresh in
structions which will be given in nc
uncertain tone.
There is little in the Senate tariff bill
to commend it to the great mass of the
people who pay the bulk of the taxes
1t makes no material advance in chea p.
ening the raw materials needed by our
industries; it makes no pretence oil
cheapening the necessaries of life, and
it greatly increases the cost of some ol
the articles in common use among con-
sumers. It not only increases taxes on
absolute necessaries, but it studiedly
conceals the measure of increase by
cunning classification, well understood
by those who contribute literally to
campaign funds, but not understood
by the multitude.
1t is admitted by all that our woolen
industries need a revision of the tariff
in their interest. The blunder of class
flying worsteds differently from wool
ems, has practically destroyed the
worsted Industry of the country; and
with more than 60 per cent. tax on
woolens, which are consumed by every
class and condition in every section OF
the country, it is admitted that Eng
lands mills are now running on Amer
can orders more largely than aver be-
fore. These facts are an imperative
call for tariff revision in the wooden
schedule, and the correction of that
schedule goes to the very marrow of
tie issue between protection to labor
and consumers and protection to mo-
nopoly.
There are two methods by which our
woolen industries can be fully protect
ed. One is exacting and oppressive
upon the whole people; the other furn-
ishes better protection to industry with
relief to consumers. The Senate bill
prefers to protect classes and to Cypress
masses. 1t increases the tariff on raw
wool, In the production of which there
is practically no labor to protect, and,
of necessity, increases the already op-
pressive tariff taxes upon woolens
which all consume. In all other pro-
lection countries of the world their
woolen mills and labor are given free
wool, chemicals and dye-stuffs, and
thus oheapen woolen products without
cheapening wages; but here raw ma
terials are taxed in the name of protec-
ton, and thus the protection on raw
materials destroys the protection to la
Dor and employees unless consumers are
taxed beyond endurance.
The great battle on the true theory
of protesting labor that has just begun,
has for its vital issue the supplying of
free raw materials to our mills and
workingmen; and it Is an open secret
that large number of the Republican
Senators sincerely believe in the wis
dom and necessity Of free raw mater
ials. 1t is the most important step to
reduce the cost of necessaries of life
without diminishing the wages of
labor, and how long can these convic-
tions aud the necessities which created
them, hold out against party policy
dictated by centralized capital? Now
that distinctive protection adminis-
tration and Congress are assured, why
do not such leaders as Allison accept
the tariff policy they applauded in
Grant, Garfield and Arthur, and solve
the whole question of protection promp-
tly and enduringly by giving free raw
materials to our factories and labor?
If not done now, it will surely be done
soon hereafter; and if not done by the
Republicans, it will surely be done by
the Democrats. 1T is inevitable, aud
why not do it once?
Another very grave defect in the
Senate bill has been clearly dictated
by the odlous and oppressive trust in
terest of the country. The reduction
of tariff taxes on raw sugar proposed
by the Senate committee, would abso-
lutely destroy the sugar-producing in
dustry of the country. That once
done, the foreign countries which pro-
duce sugar would at once bolish the
rebate of home taxes they now grant
on sugar for export, as they would be
without competition In this country,
and cost of sugar to consumers would
certainly not be reduced and more
likely increased. Aud while The Senate
bill aims at the absolute destruction OF
the sugar-producing industry Of the
country, it is cunningly drawn % give
even additional protection to the sugar
trust that is now extortinx over thirty