West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-10-23
TIEE MINORITY REPORT
MCKINLEY TARIFF BILL.
MADE TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
BY The Democratic Members of the Committee
Ways Means
[Mlnority Report on III. r. p,ls.l


The undersigned, constituting the minority Of
the committee ways aud means, being unable
TO agree with the majority Ia reporting and re-
commencing the passage Of House bill No. o4i6.
entitled "A bill to reduce revenue and equaiize
duties on imports. and for other purposes" beg
leave to submit of the reasons for their dis
sent.
Upon the question OF collecting such revenue
from duties on imported goods as may be neces.
sary 20 pay the whole part Of the cost Of con-
ducting The Government when economically adj
ministered, we now at the parting OF the
ways Whether such taxes shall be imposed
upon the people for the primary purpose Of rails
ing money for the payment OF the ordinary public
expenses and public debt or be imposed for the
purpose OF increasing the cost Of production and
the prices of certain articles of domestic consump-
ton, Is question upon which there Is an irrecon-
cilabie difference Of opinion between the two great
political parties OF the country and this question,
IN its piaiuest form, is directly presented for
siderntion by the bill reported by the majority.
The minority, representing for the time being
one of these parties. contends for the principle OF
Just and equal taxation upon ALL according To
tbeir ability to bear the burden, while the major
ity. representing the other party has in this BILL
thoroughly committed itself to the policy of un-
Just and unequal taxation Of the many for the
majority can possibly be TO promote aud eneour-
age American industries and advance the inter
ests of the American laborers and those who i'm
pate TO us any other purpose design either
misunderstood misrepresent our position.
But we believe that both these objects can be &C
eomplished by reducing the burdens Of texation,
and not by increasing them, and that the benefits
thus secured will be far more permanent and far
more satisfactory TO those directly concerned than
any supposed advantage that can result from a
differ ent policy.
No amount Of increase In the rates OF duty can
ever be permanently satisfactory to all the bene-
hciarics, because II will be found sooner later
that rate which is supposed to help one actually
hurts another, and thus controversies are engen-
dered which always result in new appeals to the
Government for additional burdens upon the peo-
pie. Any policy of taxation which under the
pretense of protection imposes burdens upon the
mass OF the people and divides the representatives
Of different occupations into warning classes. each
struggling to make use ofthe power ofegislation to
obtain an advantage over the others is obviously
unjust and unwise aud ought not 10 be continued
What Daniel Webster foresaw when. in the name
Of the merchants and manufacturers of New
England, he DENOUNCED this system IN his great
Faneuil Hall speech in 1920. we have actually
witnessed day after day during the present ses-
ITO individuals, this policy is as injurious as Il
is to government A system of artificial govern
ment protection leads the people to too much re-
lance on government. Ifleft to their own choice
Of pursuits. they depend ON their own skill and
their own industry. But If government essentially
affects their occupations by its systems of boun-
ties and preferences II Is natural when in distress
that they should call on government for relief.
Hence perpetual contest, carried on between
the different interests Of society. Agriculturiss
taxed to-day to sustain manufacturers-comm
taxed to morrow 10 sustain agricuiture-and then
impositions, perhaps on both manufactures and
agriculture 10 support commerce. And when
government mas exhausted it's invention In these
modes of legislation 1t finds the result less favora
bic than the original and natural state and course
Of things He could hardly conceive of anything
worse than policy which should place the great
interests Of this country In hostility. to one
another-a policy which should keep them in con-
slant conflict, and bring them every yenr to fight
their battles in the committee rooms of the House
Of Representatives at Washington"
These words we've prophetic. The prolonged
discussion before tn committee during the pres
ert session was not between the individuals and
corporations who receive the taxes and the con-
sumers who pay them, for very few Of these were
heard, bnt between the representatives q the
NdlfyA5 pIoteStru lutuhtItca, GdCH Class cOuAfn0-
ing for higher rates ON Is own products or
for lower rates the products Of others. Ex-
eept in case where combinations were made
between the interested parties, the conflict CA
tinued as long a. the bill remained In the con-
mittee, and the majority, AFTER months Of patient
and laborious investigation, has been able 70
satisfy pari only Of the deinsnds made upon a.
Even Il the advocates Of revenne reform should
remain silent the agitation rsust be renewed Al
an carly day ~ tine Disconnected bencfciarios 81
the protective policy and these periodical agila-
tiona, with sheir consequent disturbances Of
business, will continue to occug % long as tito
unequal and gninous system Of iaxationis naiis-
tanned. The only remedy for this evil Is TO remov.
os FAR as possible, artificial burdens and restrie-
tioRs and TO give our industries au equal chance
In the field Of competition at hscne aud abroad.
According 10 the statements made before IN.
comriittee the protected industries offhc country
have never bfrn AZ any time in our history g,
such depressed and dscouroging condition a
they are now. After nearly thirty years Of ooa.
tinuous prottction by Government taxation ass
their support. = great many 90 them are reported
20 ba on the very verge Of bankruptcy and rsftn
wisae very lev Of them, according to the testi.
rnony, are yisiding fais pro6t upon the capital
Invested. > grea, many Of tbe parties engaged IN
these industries have decihsed Ia the coura~ Of
FHN AuFNtAl aAAnA AiaA tskntfah reduction On
TIE rates Of duty now imposed upon competing
fDrsiEu products would compel them % close their
works and discharge their employees. aud Others
have even gone 50 fer rs - assert that tiay vii
be forced 80 out % business n the rates Of taxa
ton are not increased. At the same tia.se the
iaborsra 10 those industries are complaining Of
in.umcisBt waRcs repeated suspensions Of work
and general cord ton Of uncertainty and inse
curly ia their relations 10 those who give ther.
employment These iaoorers. fully rcaiiziBR the
fact that this ystsm has wholly failed 20 increase
their earnings OF improve their condition In any
way. have been compelled 20 otganize trades
unions and resort 70 other methods Of combine.
ton and cooperation for self Protection; and
these various organizations now afford the only
efficient means 40 their command for the preser.
walton even Of the existing rates O. wszes
While we have no doubt that many Of the state.
merits made before the committee we're great
eza2gefs0ous Of The actual condition Of Affairs
yet afler making proper allowance for the zeai Of
advocates pleading their own cause. snough
refuaius 90 show dearly that the existing system
81 protection afer trial for thirty years. has
proved e failure and that instead Of being
strengthened and made more restrictive and pro
hlbitive 81 ought 30 be abandoned and more
L u