Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-16

WASHINGTON, February 15.-Mr. Mills,
of Texas, from the Committee on Ways and
Means, to-day reported back the Mills tariff
bill with the Senate amendment, and by
direction of the Speaker it was referred to
the Committee of the Whole. Mr.. Mills
also reported the following resolution, which
he said presented a question of privilege,
and the consideration of which, he said, he
would ask the House to enter upon on Tues
day next:
Resolved, That the substitution by the Sen
ate, under the form of an amendment for the
bill of the House No. 9O5l 1.-THE Mills billy, of
another and different bill containing general
revision of the laws, imposing impost duties
and internal taxes, is in conflict with the true
intent and purpose OF section z, article l, Of
the Constitution, and that said bill be returned
tothe Senate with the respectful suggestion
that said section vests in the House of Repre-
sentatives the sole power to originate such a
measure.
Mr.. Mckinley, of Ohio, said the Consti-
tutional objection raised by the majority of
the committee to a reduction of the revenue
had been called to the attention of the COM
mittee only this morning. He therefore re-
served the minority right to file their views.
WHAT THE REPORT CONTAINS.
The report of the Committee on WAYS and
Means upon the Senate amendments raises
the Constitutional point that the bill, as it
came from the Senate. is a violation of the
provisions of the Constitution allowing the
House of Representatives power to origin
ate reve.u ue bills. Therefore the accom-
panying resolution directs the return of the
bill to the Senate. The remainder of the re-
port is devoted to an explanation of the
points of difference between the Senate and
House bills and an argument intended to
prove that the Senate bill is in no sense q
proper amendment of the House bill.
The committee, at its meeting this morn
ing, practically decided TO report q bill
making an estimated reduction in the reve-
nues of about $4,000, 000 After reading
the report on the Senate tariff bill, submit
ted this morning, the committee took up for
consideration revenue reduction bill
offered BY Mr.. McMillin, of Tennessee. The
bill was read through, but pending q vote
the hour of adjournment arrived and the
committee adjourned.
SIMILAR TO THE MILLS BILL.
The McMillin bill is substantially the
same as the Mills bill, with the exception
the latter bill are struck out, as is also the
iron schedule with the exception of the pro-
visions relating to pig iron, railroad ties.
structural iron and tin plate. The free list
in the McMillin bill is almost identical
with that of the Mills bill. 1t does not in
elude molasseS, laoes for hats and sponges,
which were perhaps the principal articles
placed on the free list by the Senate Finance
Committee. One or two articles which were
on the free list in the Senate bill and were
not included in the free list Of the Mills
bill are added to the free list of the latter,
but it is said by member of the majority
of the committee that there are only very
few articles on the Senate bills free list
not on the free list of the Mills bill.
SEVERE ON THE SENATE.
The report of the committee, in referring
TO the Senate Finance Committee, SAYS:
They no longer contend, as in former years,
thar Congress, in laying duties. should dis
criminate IN favor of the home producer to
an extent sufficient to cover the difference in
the cost of production, but they now demand
that the tax shall be so high as to prohibit the
importation of foreign goods in order that the
home market shall be kept for the home pro-
ducers where they may combine and sell to
the home consumer at prices as high as the
call protection TO American industry" The
industry they are protecting is the industry of
robbing the taxpayers limiting production
locking out. discharging and starving labor
The policy o. the party represented by the
Finance Committee is policy of restriction
not only against importation of products, but
restriction against the distribution of wealth
among the masses by permitting them to buy
where they can buy cheapest and sell where
they can sell highest. 1t is restriction against
of lob
demand for employment and better wages. 1t
is contended by them that if we exclude for
eign imports our own manufacturers and their
workmen will supply them, and that will give
employment to our own people.
FIGURES MADE TO TALK.
The report then adduces figures and
statistics of the operation of the tariff law in
past years, to meet the Senate's contention,
and declares that those years which showed
decreasing importations were among the
darkest in our industrial history. 1t is con-
tended that reduced duties mean larger ex-
portatlons, and that increased importations
mean increased prosperity; that 80 per cent
of the goods consumed in the United States
are produced al lower cost than in foreign
countries, which is a sufficient answer to the
scarecrow that free importation would result
in running our industries and labor.
II is said that reduction in rates will in
crease the importation of the articles now
imported, constituting less than per cent
of the consumption, but it would not bring
to this country any Of the articles now pro-
duced at home, because they can be and are
produced and sold here cheaper than thev
can be produced abroad, and imported and
sold here in competition with our own.
Manufacturers favor high duties because
they enable them to combine upon prices far
in excess or ordinary profits.
AID FOR THE CONSUMER.
The lowering of duties will not increase
the importation of any of the articles which
we manufacture ct home. But it will lower
the price of these articles to the consumer.
1t will increase the importation of certain
kinds of raw materials or partially manu-
factured materials, and of such manufac-
tured articles as can not be produced here.
The committee say:
We therefore cannot consent to ''the barri-
ers" which have been so unhesitahngly erected
by the substitute of the Senate. The policy
defined and declared by the Finance Committee
is destructive of all American industries ex-
eept that of the building and privileged
classes who are to be enriched and Kept SO by
aprostitution of the taxing power of the Gov
eminent, 1t prohibits importation, prohibits
expectation, prohibits employment locks out
ana distresses labor. and promotes destitution
and suffering throughout the land.
The Senate bill has changed the ad yalorem |
rates Wherever it could be done. and substi- |
tuted SPECIFIC rates in their stead. This change |
will reduce and simplify the laws, but increase |
md mystify them. 1t is for that purpose that |