The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-04-06
1T CAUSED A SENSATION.
Republican Members Fully Salts
fled with McKinIey's Report.

fled with McKinIey's Report.
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. April 2.-The Re-
publican minority report on the Mills
tariff bill was handed in today and was
the sensation of the hour, for the reason
that it effectually disposed of number
of rurnors set afloat by the free traders.
One of these was to the effect that Maj.
Mckinley, who had been delegated by
his colleagues to prepare the report, was
unable to get up anything satisfactory to
the views of his fellow Republicans on
the committee, and the minority report
was nothing but general denial of the
argument of the free trade majority and
gave no reasons for dissenting from its
provisions. Then again, it was asserted
that Judge Kelley had absolutely refused
to sign what Maj. Mckinley had written,
whereas the fact was he never saw it un-
til the Republican members of the COM
mittee met today and heard it for the
first time, when they promptly affixed
their names. The Republicans are uni
ted, all stories to the contrary notwlth-
standing.
The report fully met the expectations
of Mai. McKinley's friends. It places
the blame for lack of legislation to re-
duce the tariff just where it belongs
upon the Democratic majority of the
House, who alone are responsible for
the overfowing treasury. Sharp thrusts
are given the free trade trainers of the
Mills bill for the "dark lantern" meth
DDS they adopted in disallowing any
hearings to interested parties or even
their representatives on the floor of the
House, and points out significantly the
political complexion of the bill. The
South is cared for as well as it is possible,
the duty on rice being advanced, while
the provisions regarding sugar were even
modified today before the bin was re-
ported, in order to make it less obnox-
ious to the Louisiana Democrats. Thus
the trainers of the bill have looked.after
their party friends, while they assaulted
the great industries of the Republican
North. The discrimination in favor of
the South is shown also in the proposed
change in cotton ties. Many articles
are placed on the free list on which the
Canadians charge duty. The report
reviews the different industries of the
country, the capital involved and the
classes of people interested, and shows
plainly what would be the effect if the
bill now pending we're passed, the pro-
posed reductions meaning either the
closing of factories or relative and cor
responding reduction in wages.
Mills and his friends are strenuous for
ad valorem duties instead of specific,
and Maj. Mckinley answers this with
his mainly by quoting from report by
the late Secretary Manning only to years
ago against such system of assessing
duties. The minority report points to
the fact that the surplus in the treasury
win not be reduced by cutting down the
duties, for such course gives rise TO in
creased importations and adds to the
revenues. This was shown in striking
manner dItoT tue ECuuCSlOu VI 1908 NAOA
the revenue from number of articles,
among them wood and paper, was great
ly increased. But the most striking
statement in the minority report is the
citation of the fact that for the last %
years since the war closed the Republic
can and Democratic parties have each
controlled the House, which alone can
originate bills affecting the revenue, for
IL years. During the IL years the Re-
publicans had control they reduced the
revenues $S62, 0OO, 900. and during the IL
years of Democratic control the reduc-
tons amounted to but $4,000 As
indicated by the minority in their re-
port they will seek to amend the bill.
and failing in that they viii seek as q
last resort TO offer substitute which
will assuredly diminish the revenues
without any impairment Of the Ameri-
can system Of protection.