The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-16
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
rbe Weeks Doings ut the Seat of Govern.

Tho Tariff Bill Discussed.


The Tariff Bill Discussed.
wAs1rTNGroN, October 9.--'The senate at
70 10 proceeded TO the consideration OF tho
tariff BILL the reading in full being dispensed
With, and the senate'S substitute being ordered
10 be FIRST considered
Mr.. Allison then proceeded with his state
ment as to the bill. He said that the sen;t 10
biu differed from the hoase bill in fact that
/. proposed to deal with all schedules of the
tariff while the house bin did-not. The house
Bill did not deal with the tobacco schedule, the
s;lks schedule or the wines and liquor sched-
ale, and had dealt but slightly with the sugar
schedule. TIE senate bill had been made
hpon the principle of protecting American la
b6r and American industry. That was its aim
snd purpose. The senate committee on
finance hed sought to G farSS for every
Of revenue by the house bill had been calcula-
led at sri 100000; those by the senate bill
would amount to about 81, Zoo, coo. The latter
computation had been made upon the idea that
where the rates OF duty were increased, there
reduction of importations and that thus the
revenue would be reduced. But the manifest
burmese and intent of the house bill was to in
Grease the importation of articles placed on tho
free list and OF articles where the rates of duty
were reduced, and of course it was question
whether or not that increase Of importations
would not more than counterbalance the
reduction of rates and increase the
revenue rather than diminish it,
sheTe was no question. however,
but that the senate bill would reduce the reye-
hue between Sol 100000 and $73,000,C00, and
Ia his Judgment the reduction would be sub
stantially between those two points. Tho re-
Guction would be not merely from import
Duties. but also from internal revenue.
Reiorring to the question OF tobacco, Mr..
Allison said that he had not been very vigor-
Gus and urgent in removing the tax ON that
article, but lie supposed that there was prac-
neally a universal sentiment in favor of taking
pff that tax. 1t had been reduced at various
times from thirty-eight cents q pound to eight
ssntS pound, which was said to be an onerous
imposition on many of the agricultural states.
He had yielded, aud the committee on finance
had yielded to that supposed sentiment. The
pnly difference between the house bill and
the senate bill in regard to tobacco was that
the senate bill made reduction Of $3.50 4
thousand Oh manufactured cigars, and also
took OF the tax OF SI.00 on retail dealers in
tobacco. The senate bill increased tho duty
ON imported cigars from $3.50 thousand and
20 per cent ad vs,loreln, 10 a specific duty of
$3.50 q thousand. Tho effect of>the change
tvnuId be, no thought, to increase the duty on
imported cigars, but as they were a luxury, he
did not think that tho increase would be very
much felt A change had also been made in
the senate bill as to duty on cigar wrappers,
which was fixed at rs cents pound.
In comparing the two bills AIr. Allison said,
that tho senate bill was a clear and distin ct
measure to the protection of American indus
tries, while the house bill was step, and a
long step, in the direction of what was COM
monty known as free trade.
In conclusion he said that it was his purpose,
and the purpose Of the senators on his side of
the chamber, to proceed, as fast as possible.
with the discussion Of the bill. AT
some future time he might have
occasion to make some further observations in
respect to it, but his only desire today had been
10 state the general provisions OF the bill as
plainly as possible, so that they might be un-
kerstood by those who had not studied it.
Mr. Vance, one of the minority members of
the finance committee, next addressed the
fenate. He drew an imaginary sketch of the
partnership entered into at the close of the
war between the government OF the United
States and the manufacturers Of the United
States tho terms OF the partnership being
that the government was to enact a law and
subject foreign products TO taxation for its own
benefit, while home products were to be taxed
for the benefit of home manufacturers. He
described this as an unholy and iniQuitouS
system Of taxation upon many for the benefit
of a few. Tho house bill, lie sald
made n total reduction of $78,000,
900, but how had the favored
classes responded to that fair proposition?
Every republican member OF the house of
representatives had voted against it; and it
had been rejected by On equally unanimous
vote Of republican senators on the finance
committee. And how, he asked did the SEN
ate substitute divide the reduction OF duties as
between the government and people on enc
aide, and the favored classes on the other? 1t
took off the tax on tobacco $25, 100000, and the
tax ON alcohol used i'll the arts 100000, and
reduced the duty on sugar, nearly all of which
taxes (amounting in all to 65,000,G00) were
pure revenue. In other words the senate bill
took 50 from the government for every $40
that it took from tho manufacturers.
Mr. Vance proceeded to discuss, in consider
able detail, the provisions Of both bills on the
various schedules, arguing that the house bill
had in view the interests of the people and of
the government and that the senate bill was
specially in the interest Of the manufacturers
and favored classes. AS to the claim that
manufactures furnish homo market for
abe farmer, he instanced as a refutation of that
claim that nowhere in the United States was
she decay of agriculture moro noticeable and
lamentable than in New England, where man
pfactories most abounded. The effect of pro-
section was to convert an independent Yeo
many into dependentsfactory operatives. The
annual cotton product of the south was seven
million bales of which 100000 were surplus.
What was to be done with that surplus, and
with the surplus of wheat, corn and meat, ii it
could not be disposed OF in foreign markets?
II the American producers were confined to
home market they would have to do what the
American manufacturers did when they found
themselves in the presence of an oyerstocked
snarket-Shut down their works and turn the
blessed American laborer into tho streets, to
Deg DfeaQ iOf ilnSel1 ana MS CHlldlcn, Inc
democratic party, he said had for the last ten
years made honest efforts to reduce the taxes
TO the requirements of the government and
had been, ut every step, thwarted by
the republican party. The finance committee
acknowledged the imperious necessity of re-
6ucton, but blamed first, the president of the
United States, for the existence of the surplus,
and said that he could have expended il in
paying premium of 90 per cent TO their
Friends, the bondholders. It is very true that
he could said Mr.. Vance, or could have squan-
6ered it, as countless millions have been squan-
deTed under the administration OF his predeces-
sors, but he did not choose TO do it. They say,
In the second place, that tile responsibility
sests on the party that controls the house of
Representatives, and that this is the first bill
which the house has sent to the senate for re-
ducing tho revenue in several years. Nobody
vii derive benefit BY that, for it is well known
10 the people, as it is to senators who make
lhe assertion, that almost the entire body
Of republican members in the house have re-
sisted, at every step, every bill that the demo-
Gratis have tried to pass within that period and
were able with the help of handful of demo-
ats to defeat every such bill. And they
1sw that those democrats who aided the re-
ems to defeat tariff reduction, were APP
"a and made patriots and moral heroes
aYet on the field of battle. They know
r