The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-08-30


Free Whisky-The Tariff Left Twice as
High as the Wages Paid-FaIsity of the
Cry of Free Trade"
The house having under consideration the
bill Ii r. 9O50 to reduce the taxation and
simplify the laws in relation to the collection
of the revenue
Mr. Mills said:
Mr.. Speaker: The report of the treasury
department shows that we have now in the
United States over 81 900, 100000 in gold,
silver and paper money. OF this amount, ex-
elusive of bullion, there is securely locked
within the vaults of the treasury the sum of
$500, 10000 After all demands against tho
government have been provided for, there is
left balance of s129 COO, ,OOO, which repre-
sents the sum wrung from the people by ex-
cessive and unjust taxation.
Under the rates of taxation now existing,
the excess of receipts over expenditures is
increasing over $9O00,0 ,000 per month To
take from the people this large excess not re-
uuired for any just and necessary expendl-
ture of government, even if donc by just
and equitable system OF taxation, would be
vicious and hurtful enough but when we re-
member that taxation is levied not upon tho
wealth Of tho country, but upon the products
of labor and that the amount required by
law is so much taken from the annual supply
that must satisfy the necessary wants OF lie,
and that the sum of the exactlOn SO required
is equal to &47. 10 on every 500 CT taxed ar
ticles, it is enough to startle the country and
arouse it to action.
/ But this is not all Of the vicious conse-
/ uuences that flow from unj just and excessive
taxation Wrongs never so alone. This
| large sum of money extracted from the chan
rels of business circulation and locked up II
the treasury is constantly lowering the price
Of the products Of labor not protected agalns
competition. and while increasing the dc
rnands OF the tax Cathercr 1t decreases III
ability to comply with those demands.
Those who have means, and who have beel
excused from sharing with their fellow citi
Znns the burdens OF taxation, find their Tor
tunes improved, while the less favored cit!
zen, who must live by his daily toll, find
himself an1ously iEquirirS how he is to OBJ
tain employment and support fCr himself an'
! those dependent on him. Depicting the chan
: nels of circulation necessarily arrests con
4 sumption When ability to buy the thing
+ that want requires is decreasing the deman
Il for them will decrease in the same propOl
It ton, and when the demand decreases tn
production will correspondingly decrease
Then employment is restricted, laborers ar
reduced or discharged, and suffering, distre:
and discomfort are seen on every hand.
Sir, that is question we must consider
IF this contraction continues at the preseT
:, rate it can not be long before the threatene
l. disaster reaches US; but the time Of its con
70 ing none can tell. 1t is enough for us
D. know that the country is in perilous situ
Il. tion and that it is yet in our power to ave
the peril. ADtly and well did the prcsidel
in his message define the situation when
said it was not q question Of theory, but
question of condition, that confronted U.s.
On this side we have made an honest effo
to relieve this condition of affairs. We ha
brought before tho house bill which "
MS lessen the inflow of money into tho publ
ne treasury and permit the excess to 'rcn2
llt where it rightfullv belongs, in the pockets
ne the people. By existing law the average "a
y of taxation on dutiable goods imported
S47. 10 on every 800 worth.
The bin now pending, when reported
the committee on ways and means. reduc
the average ratio from S47.10 to $40. 3
the amendments which have been adopted
the committee Of the whole have restored
J., the dutiabie list many articles which
~ had placed upon the free list and rails
of the duties on other articles which we had
duccd, so that the average rate of duty
dutiable goods by the bill as amended is n
S42. 20 on every 800 worth imported. T
is $4G1 reduction On the present avera
rates on each 800 worth imported.
The total reductions on tho revenues
rived from imports by the bill as amend
amounts to sol. .59l $50, of which So, So,
-;Fo are reductions on the dutiable list, and 81
,ial 95S, ,645 are reductions from articles placed
of the free list These arc exceedingly n
nd crate, vet this bill has been stigmatized q
free trade measure. proposition to m;
q reduction amounting to less than So i:
hundred Is met with storm of denunciati
and characterized by the combined inter
protected against competition as a free tt;
PROPOSE. ion that is to ruin all tho 1nanuf
turing industries of the country Is So
ade of taxation on every 500 worth of dutia
III, ,l'e goods imported free trade' 1t seems to
an enormous rate OF taxation 1t is ratt
taxation that if levied on the wealth Of
country would not be permitted TO stand
one hour What state III the Union inp<
q rate OF taxation equal to 5 per cent?
In majority of the states the rate Of t
alton does not reach 81 on the 500 for 81
and county purposes, and there are but
,,,. cities in the United States, extravagan
'F'' they generally are in their municipal adm
istrationS, that support taxation of 5
cent.
And yet this bill, carrying a taxation
f249 Per cent, is characterized cs "
trade measure The terra free t-s
seems TO have double meaning Some
teTnen seem to understand that free Il
means an absolute exemption Of our for,
commerce from all taxation. Gcatlcrcci
I. this side of tho house and the Demon
- party IN all its history have used the t
free trade to mean freedom Of our for
commerce from Gl obstruction save Tx
Just and necessary taxation for the sup
l. X Of an honest and economical adIniaistra
OF the government IApplauscl
The tariff Of 1916 was framed to raise
enuo and for that purpose only, and it
inGS, called 6y both parties u free trade tariff.
Will tarlH OF loJ7 was Il still lower tariff
"'eF framed fer revenue purposes clone, aIl
was called Z FREQ trade tariff BUs Ecl