The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-12
SCOIT'S SECRETARY
Writes a Speech Made by the
Pennsylvania Congressman
TO THE GREAT EDIFICATION
or,hc House orI;eprcscntatives-Hc
pi,rour.cs In II Grandiloquent
and Fine Phrascy Manner ON
the TariH-A Weak Effort.

Scott, Ol EFlc' "', "''u' N'''N'' '''S '''e
ii. Mills tariff bill this afternoon. II
,oIj thc reporters that he would Civ
III, members a solid hour and half o
democratic tariff doctrine, and promise'
make things as lively for the House n
any member who had gone before. Nh
S,u'. private secretary is understood
n rcriyc salary Of about $1,000 yea
and. 4, a consequence, the speech nigh
~ c,pactcd to he a model OF pure die
,;on Scott Las decidedly weak voice
and hi. speech did not fill the chambei
wi,bthundcr tone, but it will fill n goot
MANY pages OF the Record tomorrow
morning.
Congressman Scott said:
Shall the United States, with their
mirntv bound of nature and giant in
Jn.trirs. shrink from the struggle for
nT,.rS.ion Of the worlds markets
sball We, the tccming republic OF the
mat Wcst-G0,OOO,0OO strong, with in
yrntiyr genius keencr, with labor more
skilled. than any other people on the
olohe. decline to compete for supremacy
IN tLr marts OF mankind, and continue
forever 10 trade among ourselves under
lhr insane dclusiOn that we are growing
rich by the process? This bill, and the
subject OF tariff taxation which it neces-
sarlly brings before the House, are vast
theme. A very small part OF it Only y can
br fairly discussed within the compass
al an ordinary speech, and ] have there
fore deemed Il proper to select for exam
ina,ion in detail several OF the most i'm
portant articles upon which existing du-
lies are changed by the committees
Mll, using these as illustrative OF the
whole.
WANTS TO RE DECISIVE.
But | wish here, Mr.. Chairman, to say
in the most decisive language can COM
manI, that every alteration OF duty
effected by this bill has been matured
by the majority Of the committee with
the same equal, conscientious, dclibcr-
atr, rainstaking care. Nothing has been
done in haste; nothing withOutthe most
exacting scrutiny. have personally Mt
tended every one OF the meetings de-
voted TO the consideration OF the bill
with. perhaps, five exceptions, and every
line and word has had from me the most
minute attention | was able to bestow.
The same am sure can be said OF every
other member Of the majority of the
committee. The bill isa fraud in the in
trrest Of the people-of the whole peO-
ple. We intended in the first instance
10 stay the mountain surplus in the
Treasury, threatening overwhelming
and possibly immediate disaster even
now wildly impending; and second to
relieve Us iar ~ prudence would permit
ut this time, the Over-burdened indus
trirs Of the country from excessive taxa
ton, the proceeds OF which do not pass
into the Treasury, but go directly to the
support OF grasping mOnopOlies, which
are, iOr the most part, combined III utter
" indeicnsihlc and atrOciOusly oppres-
sive trusts. We sit here under written
constitution, exercising only those pow
cB which are expressly granted, and no.
where in that instrument do We find the
power to tax for any but public pur-
pose, and even u tax for public pur-
pose must be uniform in operation. |
hold:
POINTS OF HIS DISCOURSE.
Fint.-That We have no power to lay
tax which, by excluding the article
taxed, defeats the object OF taxation,
namely, revenue for the economical sup
port OF government.
Sccond-That we have no power to
lay Il tax which carries nothing to the
treasury, but which draws money from
one mans pocket To put it in the pock-
cts Of another. 4 tax with this avovcd
object is as maniiestly unconstitutional
as would be Il law taking the life Of one
man because his existence was incOn-
vcnicnt 10 another man.
Thirl-wC have no power ont OF
moneys actually collected and in the
treasury to grant licenses, or to make
gifts to any man or class OF men, and
still less can We by the use Of the taxing
power constitutionally transfer the
earnings Of the many 10 the few.
These are cardinal principles OF the
Democratic party.
\ bill has been introduced by u mem-
btr OF this House and referred to the
committee which provides large reduc-
ton Of internal taxes and deals very
curiOusly indeed with customs duties.
Taking ii item by item We find this re-
suit: That for every dollar Of reduction
Of duties in the iron schedule, S2G are
added to the burdens OF the public al
ready too oncrOus to be borne. An eX-
animation Of the changes discloses tho
startling fact that the aggregate reduc-
tions amount to but S3j3,O0O, while the
increase OF duties on iron, etc, proposed
by the bill, aggregates over S9,OOO,OOO.
In short, this bill benefits nobody and
injuries everybody. 1t finds the duties
on iron and steel on nm average OF about
iorty per cent, and it raises them by
probably fifty per cent, or to nearly six
typer cent advalOrcm. From whatever
point You look at il it is n misbegotten,
uI'Shapcd, portcntous, unjustitiable mon.
Aer, with no excuse for existence and
nnopnrpose in its life but to obstruct the
Democratic party and to delay the jus
i'ce which the country demands.
srEcious REASONING.
After tracing the history of ftariirlcgis
lation, Mr.. Scott said:
The majority Of the committee OF
Ways and Means realize and appreciate
Tue condition OF affairs existing in th'
country to-day and however desirou'
They might bc to extend that full meas
urc OF relief to the wage worker and thu
great agricultural classes OF the country
10 which they are so Justly entitled, III
vested capital has its claims upon them
They appreciate the fact that during thu
past twenty-five years under the presen
system Unprotected industries, immens,
sums Of money have been invested II
,he various manufacturing industries o
hecountry, and that any bill which tn
committee might introduce should hay
due regard for the capital invested u
such manufactures; that It would b
ghNiSc for any great political part
having the power TO do so to Z
once attempt to readjust the cond
u0ns OF to-day, which would undoub'
edly cause serious loss to those who ha
invested their capital undera previou
condition oil affairs. Keeping these. oil
lScts in view, we sought first to reliey