The Portland daily press., 1888-03-30

| repeal taxes on whiskey, beer and tobacco,
he expressed himself as entirely opposed to
| it, Under the system of protection the
| foreign trade Of the country had been ruin
| ed, so that now the American flag could rare
| ly De seen in foreign ports; labor had been
arraigned against capital, strikes had been
encouraged and a species OF government
paternaiism established which threatened
| to buildup strong consolidated government.
He favored an income tax on all incomes
over $1,000.
Among the 81 bills passed to-day was one
to ratify and confirm the agreement with the
Grosventre and other tribes Of Crow Indians
in Montana. This was House bill and an
amendment having been made looking 20 a
treaty for the removal of the Southern Ute
Indians from Colorado, a committee of
conference was ordered. Senators Dawes,
Daniel and Stockbridge were appointed, and
the Senate then adjourned until Saturday.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Elnoe, of Tennessee, reported adverse
ly the resolution calling upon the Postmaster
General for information as to what instruc-
tlons. if any, have been given to the subordi-
nate officers of the Post Office Department.
intended to prohibit American citizens from
Using the United States mail on the same
terms as Canadian citizens, living in the
same vicinage and competing in business
with such American citizens; whether any
statute law prohibits mailing in Canada Of
seeds plants and bulbs grown by Americans
on American soil, whether by provisions of
recent postal treaty the postal service OF the
United States are authorized 10 place espion-
age ON the Canadian malls for purposes Of
determining whether citizens of the United
States are availing themselves OF the bene-
fit of the provisions accorded to Canadian
citizens by postal treaty.
- ANN a m yVVfn
states that the resolution partakes more OF
a criticism of the existing law than a pro-
test against its enforcement and is more OF
an arraignment of the Postmaster General
fol. enforcing the law than Of proper reso-
Mr.. Allen, of Massachusetts,, thought the
position was unique one of the majority
Of the committee of the House, bringing in
an adverse report upon the resolution ask
ing official information from the head of the
great department of the government He
did not think the House would endorse an
adverse report upon the resolution calling
for information on subject which bore up
on the interests of thousands of farmers,
who were anxious to know what Congress
Msssrs. Blount, of Georgia, and Reed, of
Maine, followed. Mr.. Peters, of Kansas.
moved to amend the resolution by striking
out the words considered to reflect upon the
post Office department, but was not permitted
to present the amendment. The resolution
was then tabled-yeas. 125; nays, 122
Mr.. S0wden, of Pennsylvania, rose to pre-
sent resolution bearing on. the same sub
ject. Mr.. Reed demanded the regular order
and Mr.. Randall moved to reconsider the
vote by which the resolution was tabled.
stating that his object was to get in re-
respectful resolution of inquiry.
Mr.. Reed then demanded the yeas and
nays, saying that he did not wonder his
brethren wanted TO explain. The Ia otion to
ci6Qr W. c 1Ost-VQaa 1D3. 117
The House went into committee OF the
whole on the Indian appropriation bill. Mr..
Nelson, of Minnesota TODD advantage OF the
general debate to speak on the tariff. 1t was
not honest, he said, to call men who favored
tariff reduction free traders. The men who
opposed all forms of tariff reduction were
not the only friends of American labor, nor
were they the only guardians OF American
enterprise. The question ofprotection or free
trade was not fairly involved In the problem
Congress had to solve. The question was
whether the surplus should be got rid Of by
extravagant expenditures or the reduction OF
the taxes. The great body OF the people
agreed that the surplus should be reduced
by the reduction of taxation. The question
was whether the reduction shonld be applied
to the tariff or to the internal revenue taxes.
As to the tax on alcoholic liquors, the ultra
protectionists and ultra prohibitlonists were
the only ones who desired the reduction. A
large reduction of this tax was not practical
BILE. The tobacco tax, by the judgment Of all
nations was the best kind of tax. 1t was
growing one, more cheaply collected than
tariff taxes, and there was no serious clamor
for its repeal. The tariff taxes were revenue
taxes, like that on tea and coffee, and protec-
tive taxes, like that on commodities not for
eign to our own county. Only so high duty
should be laid as would fairly cover the
difference in the cost of production here and
abroad. That was q low tariff, any rate
above was a high tariff.
CIt had been the fashion to ascribe higher
wages In this country to the tariff. That
was a false pretense. England had free
trade, and Austria, Germany. Italy or
France. protection; yet wages in England
were much higher than upon the continent.
The main cause of the lower wages in Eu-
rope was the density Of population and the
greater supply of labor. The speaker here
read a letter from Charles I. Pilsbury, of
Minnesota, prominent Republican, warmly
commencing his course In Congress upon
the tariff question and declaring that 90 per
cent. of the Democrats and 75 per cent OF
the Republicans Of Minnesota agreed with
MI. Nelson referred to the bill introduced
by himself placing sugar, MANILA, hemp,
jute, coal and sisal grass on the free list, and
said that taking sugar, all in all, every
dollars worth used in this country PAID W
cents in taxes. Hemp. jute, sisal grass and
the last fiscal year on imports Of $9S, ,000, ,000i
the average ad valorem duty being S6.478
per cent. Did not these figures speak for
themselves? He read a letter from prom
inent farmer in his section saying that bind
ing twine cost 161 cents per pound, which
amounted to two cents pushed on wheat
and some relief should be afforded.
Mr.. Wade of Missouri, interrupted the
speaker to declare that he bought his twine
at IL cents pound
Mr.. Nelson had read extracts from Minne-
sofa newspapers and private letters to him
self favoring tariff revision. The reading
was received with great applause on the
Democratic side.
One man wrote that the bill was good
enough as far as 1t went, but for Gods sake
put wool upon the free list.
Mr.. Nelson said that it made him sick at
heart to think there were leading men on
his side of the chamber who, in this juno
ture, could not think of any means for tax re-
duction besides whiskey and tobacco. Surely
these were not the things on which the poor
laboring mau kept his family. Would 1t not
be better to give them cheaper clothes, food
and shelter? He would put free sugar, free
salt and free lumber against free .whiskey
and free tobacco, and so would the great
mass of American people.
Mr.. Funston of Kansas, attempted to put
some questions to Mr. Nelson, but tine
latter remarked that he could have the floor
to himself and took his seat, not replying to
Mr.. Funston's challenge as to why he did
not put wheat on the free list. The commit
teesthen rose and the House adjourned.