The Wahpeton times., 1888-05-31
The Right Voice.

The Right Voice.
Sam Randall and VIM. Scott are
two representatives of Pennsylvania,
the former elected as a democrat.
but always supporting the republic
can cause in matters of national i'm
portance, while the latter supports
Democracy in the true sense of the
word. On the Mills bill Mr.. Scott
said:
"Shall we decline to compete for
supremacy in the open markets of the
world, and continue to trade for
ever among ourselves under the in
sane delusion that we are growing
rich?" And continuing, "But /
wish here, Mr.. Chairman, to say i'm
the most decisive language l can
command that every alteration of
duty effected by this bill has been
matured by the majority of the COM
mittce with the same equal, con-
scientious, deliberate anu pains
taking care. Nothing has been done
in haste; nothing without the most
exacting scrutiny. have person.
ally attended every one of the meet
ings devoted to the consideration of
the bill, with perhaps five excep-
tions, and every line and word has
had from me the most minute at
tention l was able to bestow. The
same am sure can be said of every
member of the majority of the com
mittee.''
And was particularly vigorous in
his reference to Mr.. Randall's bill.
ga bill has been introduced by a
member of this house and referred
to a committee which provides IL
large reduction Of internal taxes
and deals very curiously indeed with
custom duties. Taking item by
item we find this astounding result:
That for every dollar of reduction
of duties in the iron schedule S26
are added to the burdens of the pub
lie, already too onerOus to be borne.
An examination of the changes dis
closes the startling fact that the ag-
gregate reductions amount to but
1888, 900. while the increase of du-
ties on iron, ETC., proposed by the
bill, aggregates over $6,000,O00. In
short, this bill benefits nobody and
Injuries every body. 1t finds tile du-
ties on iron and steel on an average
of about 40 per cent, and it raises
them by so per cent, or to nearly 60
per cent ad valorem. From what
ever point you look at it, it is a
misbegotten, ill-shapen, portentious,
unjustifable monster with no ex.
cuse for existence and no purpose
in its life but to obstruct the demo-
cratic party, and to delay the justice
whice the country demands
Mr.. Scott explained the effect of
free wool and was particularly
earnest in his appeal for a reduction
OF duty on iron and steel. He said
"No people. Mr.. Chairman, can be a
greater people who do not sgo down
to the sea in ships With longer
coast lines than any other nation in
the world, producing a greater guam
tlty of sea-borne tonnage. if we
eliminate coal. we are yet dependent
upon other nations for ships to do
our carrying. What has brought
about this state of affairs +? The
wooden sailing ship was doomed in
the year 1860, and the iron and steel
ship. propelled by steam, was destined
to supplant it upon economic
grounds. What is steel or iron
ship, sir 5? What proportion of it's
cost consists of structural iron or
steel beams ? And how was it pos
slble for the individual enterprise
OF this country to engage in the con-
struction of ships when steel beams
could @ be bought in England for
$26.OO per ton, while the same beams
cost in the United States ) cents per
pound, or $66 per ton What has
brought us to this low state {? The
policy of restriction. Protecting a
few sickly ship yards, we turn out
an occasional vessel for the coast
wise trade. We are here, sir-we.
the majority of the Ways and Means
committe. and of this house, in de-
tense of marine industry. We
alone offer protection we seek alone
the independence and aggrandise-
ment OF domestic labor by lberat-
ing it from unnatural restraints.
and allowing it the undisturbed
possession and the complete enjoy
ment OF its own earnings
Thus Mr.. Scott speaks of the great
tariff humbug, notwithstanding lie
is an extensive iron manufacturer
himself. but is big enough and broad
enough and has enough of indepen-
dence to maintain that contraction
cannot possibly be expansion, and
that heavy taxation is not an ac-
of wealth, and it is no
wonder that Mr.. Scott as a Pensy].
vanian, has supplanted Mr.. Randall
in the heart of the democratic partv
the great party of the people.