The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-10-05
WHAT THEY SAY AGAINST THE BILL.
The Democratic Minority stu Clam
orIng for Free Wool.
Senators Taking Steps to Investigate
the Benet Matter,
And How He Ascertained the Politics
of Women and Children.

tariff bill complains that none of the inori-
ty were consulted or informed about ,ae pro-
visions of the substitute reported by the Re-
publican majority until it was reported to
the full committee September %, and also
asserts that in the hearings before the sub
committee since last May, the interests ben
efitted by high protective tariff were fully
heard and had much influence in shaping
the substitute, while the great body of the
people, the taxpayers and victims of this
policy had not been heard.
Criticising the substitute. the minority say
the essential difference between the House
| bill and the Senate substitute is apparent
| and radical at the outset in the matter of
revenue. One is framed in the interest of
the public treasury the other, in the interest
OF private pockets. one is framed In the IN
interest Of 100000 manufacturers. One is
| designed to reduce both government revenue
and INSTRUMENTATION especially which
bears heaviest on the necessaries OF life.
| The other Is intended to reduce the public
revenue indeed, but to maintain private rev.
enues by increasing and retaining taxation,
| on all the necessaries Of life. Practically
| the substitute offers to the people free whis-
key and free tobacco, leaving all the expen
| sive machinery for the collection of revenue
and the enforcement of law in full force,
/ while it increases taxation upon the actual
and Indispensable necessaries of life, and
| this. too, when there is large surplus in the
| treasury and when. under existing laws,
that surplus is being increased at the rate Of
| over 100000 900 per month, thus withdraw
| ing and Withholding from the channels OF
| trade. commerce and business OF the country,
money absolutely necessary to their success
| full operation.
| The substitute, the minority says, not only
| retains the duty on raw wool, but increases
| the duty from 10 to IL cents per pound on
| clothing and combing wool, and the existing
| duty is retained or. carpet WOODS, which all
| parties agree are not produced in this
| country. The changes made In manufac-
| turers' wool increases taxation. and to that
| extent increases the cost of manufactured ar
ticles, and especially the cheaper grades of
| clothing OF the poor.
| In no single instance is the policy upon
| which the substitute was framed more clear
| ly demonstrated than in that OF railway iron.
| The cost to produce rails at the leading mills
| in the United States in 1887 was less than
| S27 per ton, of which less than S4.25 per ton
| was paid in wages. The present rate OF duty
| on steel rails is SIT, and by the substitute 1t
| is reduced to $15.68 per ton. The question
arises whether this will reduce the wages OF
| operatives 1.32, or whether the $114 bounty
above the whole cost paid for labor will
| satisfy the manufacturer, the labor cost in
ton of steel rails being $4.25.
Commenting on the connection between
| bu6 JdIlH anu Tue tIuSLS, tnt mluOEltf cdJ5.
1.-The present tariff is the nursing mother of
trusts. 1t is wall behind which these COM
binations are formed, by which the people
are plundered. Tariffs keep out foreign COM
petition and combinations suppress domes-
tic, and the whole people are at their mercy,
and must pay whatever Is demanded They
are not private affairs. as has been asserted,
but public evils Of the grayest character, al
fecting the price Of every article which con-
tributes to the comfort and support Of the
nq0nla The nr0viQi0uG Of the SuhStltutl
favor them greatly and will serve and en-
courage their formation in still other
braches of manufacture. Many OF those be-
longing to trusts appeared before the finance
committee clsmorous for such legislation as
would promote their interest. They are all
opposed to the House bill which should COM
mend it to all who oppose their methods"
"The absurd accusation that the Mills bill
means free trade the ruin of industry
the degration Of American labor" the mi
nority say, lis as false as 1t is misleading.
How the flow of surplus money into the
Treasury can be stopped without reducing
the taxes which produce it, no man can de-
vise How these taxes can be reduced
without taking off from the top toward the
bottom, no imagination can conceive. There
fore, it would seem that no man can propose
to cut off the excessive taxation without sub
jecting himself TO the charge free trade,
because any reduction whatever looks tow
ard free trade 1t is true the government
revenues might be reduced by making the
uuLl6S SO llSu as 10 pTOnlDlI lupOrLdtlOuS dl-
together, but that is the other end of the
road which increases taxes paid to private
persons. If the first method of reduction
leads to free trade, the other leads to free
plunder, which is worse.
Free wool is discussed and the minority
are firmly convinced that besides the meal
culable advantage to the whole country,
which would result from placing wool upon
the free list, it is easily demonstrable that
no class will suffer, but that each will reap
itc share 0f hQuqft II the taY he taken off
woods, our manufacturers at once become
bidders for wool against foreign manufac-
turers, and as certain consequence, the
price will rise, and this will operate doubly
against the foreign manufacturer. He will
buy his woods dearer, and meet untaxed in
European markets the corresponding grades
We would import more wools, of course, and
in no other way can our great factories pros
per, because their capacity is beyond our
OWL wool production.
The minority close the report by recon-
mending to the Senate and the country the
Mills bill as a measure for reduction Of
taxes, based alike on justice and good policy.
The report is signed by Senators Harris,
named qualifying his endorsement OF the re-
port with this statement: 81 concur In the
above report endorsing the House bill, in re-
spect to the articles placed upon the free list,
list"
In the Senate.
WASHINGTON, Oct Ain the Senate, to-
day, Senator Chandler offered a resolution,
which was laid over until tomorrow, desiring
the Attorney General to inform the Senate
whether or not during the present year there
has come to the knowledge of the depart
ment of justice any violation of the 11th
and 14th sections of the civil service law Of
1888 and, If so, whether any prosecutions
have been instituted to punish such viola
tions.
The Senate adopted Senator Hale's reso-
lurion relating 10 the Benet circular and the
order calling on the Secretary of War for a
statement of the circumstances under which
it was issued. The amendments adopted in
clude in the request information concerning
any other order of similar character issu ed
by the department and statement of what
measures have been taken under the Benet
order to ascertain the politics of women and
children IN the employ OF the ordnance de-
partment.
The Senate bill relating to the classifca
tion of post Offices and amendatory of the
act of March Sd, 1883, to adjust the salaries
of postmasters, was taken from the calendar
and, as amended, so as to take effect July
1st, 1889, the bill was passed.
1t was agreed by vote of "a yeas and 10
it be to Monday next.
Senator Chandler's resolution for an in
quiry into the recent Louisiana election was
| then taken up and Senator Blair spoke upon
it. The resolution went over until Monday
| and the majority and minority reports on
| the tariff bill, as well as Senator Beck's
views, were presented and ordered printed.
| A further conference was ordered on the
| deficiency bill and Senators Allison and
| Cockrell were reappointed conferees. SEN
ator Mitchell desired to submit some re-
marks next Monday on his bill to reduce
letter postage to one cent and Senator Alli-
| son gave notice that at the earliest possible
| moment. he would ask for consideration of
| the tariff bill After short executive ses-
| sion, the senate, at ABS p. m, adjourned
until Monday.
The Chief Justlceship.
An event which has happened but seven
times in the history of the nation will be re-
peated next Monday. when the eighth Chief
Justice of the United States will be sworn
into Office. On that day Melville W. Fuller
will take the two oaths prescribed by law.
He will be the second Democrat who has
filed the Office. The period which has
elapsed since Roger b. Taney was sworn in
is 90 years.
1t was in 1886 and during the last year Of
President Jackson's second term that Mr..