The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-16
A LIVELY TARIFF TILT.
PROJECTIONS EFFECT ON wAGES
AND EMPLOYMENT

The Questions Given a Local Interest
by Turning on the t;tce Industry
Mr.. Butler Asserts that South Caro-
lima is Able to Hold Her own against
India.
WASHINGTON. Jan. I5,-The Senate at
IL 20 a'ciocS to-day resumed consideration
Of the tariff bill. the pending question be.
ing on Mr.. Vests aplendment to strike from
the free list ''ottar of rosesn and to substi-
tute salt" A long debate upon protection
generally and tie effect Of protection upon
the salt manufacture in this country fol
lowed. Tue speakers were Messrs. Vest,
Morrill,, Hi cock, Hale, Frye, Palmer,
Plumb aud Teller. The discussion having
drifted into the effect of the tariff on wages,
Mr., Butler declared his disbelief that taxa
tion, high or low, had anything to do with
wages He regarded that as most fragrant
proposition aud faIlacy.
Mr., ldrich:-Does not the senator from
South Carolina think that the duty on rice
ena led the laborer of South Carolina and
Georgia TO produce rice in competition with
the coolie labor of India.
Mr. Buter.-I doubt it very much.
Mr. Aldrich.-CJuld lAborers in
South Carolina and Georgia produce rice
in competition with India, without any
tariff!
HAD NOT ASKED FOR A DUTY.
Mr.. Butler. Yes sir. l have not asked
you for duty on rice, aud l will never ask
you, Let my friends on the other side un-
ders.aud that When the senator from
Rhode Island say, he is attempting to pro-
tect all the indu ;triss of the country under
this bill, uniformly, without regard to
locality, and then Increases the tax on cot
ton ties 100 per cent, and reduces the tax on
imported rice so per cent he will pardon
me If question his sincerity and that Of the
finance committee.
Mr. Aldrich-If the duty on rice is not
necessary at all, and If it is still retained at
| SO per cent. al valorem, we certainly have
done ample justice to the senator's consti-
tuents.
Mr.. Butler-I am not complaining about
| that.
Mr. Dawes-What effect does increase of
| employment have on wages?
Mr.. Butler-Increased employment in
| creaseS the wages of labor, of course. No
body but an idiot would think otherwise.
DAWES SATISFIED.
Mr.. Dawes-That is Ill the theory Of the
protective tariff in regard to labor. Nobody
claims that protective tariff increases the
wages of labor in any other way than by
increasing employment
Mr. Butler-But do not believe that the
protective tariff does increase employme t.
On the contrary, from a certain point it
restrains employment and makes trusts a d
| combinations possible, which shut down and
| put labor out OF employment.
This question was discussed further and
az considerable length by Messrs. Teller,
Butler, Reagan and Hiscock, and it drifted
into the question Of the alleged depreciation
hat do
New York, Messrs. Vest and Butler claim
ing this depreciation refuted the claim that
| manufacturers were benefit to agricul-
ture, and Messrs. Hisc)ck, Dawes and Hoar
denying the fact of any such depreciation.
THE NEW YORK ELECTION
In the course Of the discuss on the results
of the election in the state of New York
came up, and Mr.. Butler reminded Mr..
Hiscock that, although the result was
against President Cleveland, it was in favor
of Gov Hill.
"Oh, yes" said Mr.. Hiscock, wherever
rum was on the banner, democracy was
successful"
Had 'Romanism' nothing to do with
| it," Mr.. Butler asked, "or 'rebelliouq "
"Gov. Hill," said Mr. Hiscock, "under
the banner Of rum carried tue state; and
Gen. Harrison, under the banner of protsc-
| ton, carried it." ,
did Gov. Hill indorse the Mills billp
| Mr.. Butler asked.
"Gov. Hill." Mr. Hiscock replied, "is to
| have no voice on the Mills bill. He is to
confine himself to the question Of license
| high license, low license. or no license"
Mr.. Butler-Did not the Chicago conven-
tion ind rse free whisky!
Mr. Hiscock--It did not. l ask the sena-
| tor from South Carolina if be is not quite
ready to repeal the internal revenue tax on
| whisky, whether protection goes or uOte
MIR. Butler-I would retain the tax on
whisky.
Mr. Hiscock-Then you do not indorse
the Mills bill.
Mr. Butler-Ths Mills bill does not pro-
| pose free whisky.
IN THE MILLS BILL.
Mr. Hiscock-The Mills bill contains a
provision which practically allows the free
distllaton of whisky.
| Mr. Blair came into the discussion with
remark that labor in the south was cheap,
| because it was ignorant and that wages
there would be increased 80 per cent. if the
| laborer was able to read and write. He
presented statistics claiming to show the
relation between degrees of education and
the value Of labor.
Mr.. Hoar in reply to Mr.. Butler sub
mitted figures to show that the average
value of farming lands in Massachusetts
| was SAB an acre as against s. an acre in
South Carolina. AS to mortgages on farms
! in Massachusetts,, he said that the existence
of such mortgages was sign Of life and
| health
After FIVE and half hours Of discussion
! the bill was laid aside without a vote on the
| pending amendment The Senate then pro-
ceeded to executive business, and at 5:55
| o'clock adjourned.