The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-02
A MODEL TARIFF BILL.
A Senate Substitute that viii
Give Entire Satisfaction
PREPARED BY REPUBLICANS.
Big Red uction in Revenue and Every
American Industry Protected.
Inequalities orthc Present
Law Corrected.

from Washington, concerning the pro
posed Senate substitute for the Mill
bill:
II any doubt as to the intent existeC
the Mills bill is evidence that free trad
is the ultimate goal Of its trainers. Th
free list OF this iniquitous measure i
only limited by the possibilities OF pass
ing the bill. Coal, iron ore, pig iroi
and dozen other important industrie
were originally doomed, but finally hat
to be abandoned, as the idea OF rendint
in twain the great wool and woolen in
dustries by free wool commended itsel
to favor us q quicker and more praCtica
method to bring about disintegratioE
and ultimate destruction to the pro
tective system.
A close examination OF the Mills bill
does not disclose single clause favor
able to protection. There is no har
mony, no attempt to improve ol
strengthen the present law, no attempt
to correct inequalities. TO pass such q
bill would be destructive TO every prin'
ciplc OF Protection. Such is the bill that
has come over from the House and is
now under consideration by the Finance
Committee OF the Senate. Such, per
haps, should say the majority OF that
committee after q careful examination
find it To be. The aims and purposes
for which this bill was prepared by
Roger Q. Mills, man utterly unfit by
training, experience or education for
such a task, are 80 radically opposed to
sound legislation that even the frame
work OF the Mills bill could not be used.
To altar or patch such bill would be
impossible, and would only end in con-
fusion and perhaps in the passage OF Il
measure injurious to the business inter
ests and ruinous to labor.
Three months ago the Senate was
able TO forecast this bill, and after several
conferences it was almost unanimously
decided that while the Republicans in
the House, being in the minority, were
not responsible for tariff legislation, the
Senate, having n Republican majority,
was responsible for some legislation Look
ing toward reduction OF the surplus.
A PERFECT hill.
Then it was determined that bill
must be prepared. A consistently Pro-
tective bill. A bill that would be
thoroughly protective to all interests,
A bill that had been prepared with care
and after consultation with those inter
ested in the smaller manufactures, often
utterly ignored, as well as those inter
ested in the staple industries usually
well cared for. Step by step this COM
mittee, with precision, and always with
the idea that it must be n protective
measure, has built bill that will aston
ish those who think 1t is "mere bun
combe." 1t is an earnest endeavOr to
revise the tariff with fairness to all in
terests and with view OF reducing the
surplus revenue. 1t is bill which,
in my opinion-and l have II
pretty clear idea OF all its
provisions-will commend itself to any
conservative business man who really
believes in Protection, and its passage
would revive the industries OF the coun'
try. 1t destroys nothing but seeks to
build up American industry aud give ad-
ditionat work to American labor. Where
importations have been excessive means
have been taken to put the duty in har.
mony with the rest OF the schedule.
Where the duty is too high it is slightly
lowered. The free list will be important
and reduce the revenue SG5, ,000, 900, but
in doing this care has been taken not TO
interfere with commodities produced ut
home. This is the bill which the Senate
has prepared, and rs soon as it is per-
fected and the labor interests have been
given the opportunity OF u hearing il
will be given to the public.
Fair minded protectionists, who be.
lieve that all industries should be treated
alike and who are not interested in some
special selfish legislation, will approve
this bill, while the country cannot fail
to appreciate the stirring report that is
to accompany it and which will make the
issue clear.
WILL PROTECT ALL INTERESTS.
There is no truth whatever in the ar
gument that the Republican bill is Il
measure hastily thrown together; on the
contrary, it has been calmly and deliber,
ately prepared, and is probably as il
stands to-day the most thoroughly har'
monious tariff bill ever presented to
either Senate or House for consideration
II passed it will greatly benefit all small
industries, rs care has been taken tC
amend the minor schedules and thus
prevent the influx of-VariOus lines oi
foreign goods made by cheap labor
which have literally destroyed many
home industries and robbed thousands
OF American workmen OF employment.
Having looked over the ground care
fully and after convcrsing freely with q
dozen leading Senators and several lead
ing members OF the House OF Repre-
sentatives, including Major Mckinley,
there would appear TO be but one con
clusion, namely: There is nothing left
for the Republican Senate to do but TO
bring forward, and ii possible, pass this
bill. For twelve years We have been
chiding the Democrats on their in.
capacity to deal with important fiscal
legislation. The Republican party has
taken the ground that il the House
would only pass bill, and thereby put
the Senate in position where 1t could
act on a revenue bill, the Republican
majority would produce u measure that
would satisfy all American interests
Having done this not for mere buncomb
but in compliance with the party plat.
forms OF 1854 and 1855, the people would
have chance to decide between Q
bill framed in secret, at the soliCita
ton OF British interests and undel
the guidance OF agents OF English
manufacturers and bill framed in
broad daylight in accordance with tht
avowed wants OF American interests ant
American labor. The minority OF tht
House OF Representatives are in favor o
this plan, though some individual mem
bers may at one time have thought dif
ierently. The Republicans OF the Hous'
would have agreed on and reported bill
had it not been for the fact that the Sen
ate bill which they knew would be pre-
sented substantially met their approval
Several leading members Of the Hous
have examined the Senate bill, and de
clare that it is n thoroughly protectiv,
bill, which has been framed in direct &C
Cordance with the Republican platform
II the Democrats refuse TO pass the bill
tbn -nf,,n,I 10 .n,Unn tho a., rt,lt,u tr,i