Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-17
THE TARIFF BILL.
An Able Presentation of the Democratic
Position on the COuntry's Great
Economic Question.
[By telegraph 10 tho Dispatch.l


port Of the Ways and Means Committee
accompanying the tariff blll begins with
statement Of the financial situation and
estimates that the surplus at the end OF
the present fiscal year will be $4,000, 900,
and, deducting the sum required to make
payments On the sinking fund, the net
surplus of receipts over expenditures Will
be 1851. sS3. The estimated surplus of
the next fiscal year viii be S43 .569. 522,
which, with the amount of cash now on
hand and available Preaching $50, 000.00O),
will Justify q reduction of the revenue in
the sum contemplated by the bill report
ed-S60, $50, 1886, and probably more from
customs, and say l0,327 S75 from the liz
ternal revenue, total of S7l, 264, Ala.
WHAT THE MAJORITY SAY.
The majority report says:
"Tho effect upon the revenues Of the Govern
ment Of tho proposed bill Is difficult OF ascer-
tainment. That there will 10 O substantial re-
duction, as We shall show, admits OF no doubt
II is not believed that the increase OF duties
upon woods and woollen goods. and upon glass
ware will have the effect OF increasing the reve-
nues That would OF course follow II tho I'm
pOriaiions OF the last fiscal year we're hereafter 10
be maintained. whichihoWeyer, Is altogether I'M
probable The result will be that importations
will be decreased, and therefore the amount OF
revenue collected from these sources Will be d.
minished. In every case OF increased duty, ex-
cent that lmpO1eQ upon VII pldbc, AUuiOu NOco
NOT 20 into effect until July /, 1917 aud upon
linen fabrics, the effect will DO 10 reduce rather
than enlarge the revenue, because importa-
tons will fsl oil. IL was the aim OF the COM
mittee 10 tx the duties upon that class
Of manufactured goods and farm products
which can be supplied ct home, 80 as TO discour-
age the rse Of like foreign goods and products
and secure 10 our own people anu our own pro
ducers a home marSet believing that compete
ton among ourselves will secure reasonable
prices 10 consumers In the future, as IL has in
variably done In the past We seek by the H.
creased duties recommended not only 70 main
tain but TO enlarge our own manufacturing
njants and check those supplies from abroad
which can DO probably produced a. home. The
general policy Of the bill IL 20 foster and pro-
mote American production aud the diversinca-
ton Of American industry. we nave not peen
40 much concerned about the prices OF articles
va conaurno az we have been TO encourage Sys-
TEN OF homo production that shall give far re-
Enumeration 10 domestic producers ana fair
wages 70 American workmen, and by Increased
production and homo competition insure fair
prices % consumers"
"cHEAPER IMPoBTA1IoNs MEAN CHEAPER
LABOR"
The report Gays: "Cheaper products from
abroad 10 American consumers mean cheaper
labor ct home and lower rewards 10 Domestic
products, with no permanent benent 70 the cor-
sumer Neither condition would prove piess.
ing TO The United states. That country Is least
nrosperous where low prices and low wages pre-
vail. One Of the chief complaints now prevalent
among our farmers is that they can get no price
for their crops at all Commensurate win tho
labor and capital invested In their production,
Those who differ from us must believe that even
fnTtber AGRICULTURAL depression Is desirable, for
no other consequence could result from their
economic theories"
THE MINORITY REPORT.
The minorite report is signed by all OF the five
Democratic members Of the committee. IL be-
Gins with the following statement:
Upon the question OF collecting such revenue
from duties on imported goods az may DO neces-
sary 10 pay the whole or part OF the cost OF con-
ducting the Government when economically ad-
mintstered, we are now at tho parting OF ways.
Whether such taxes shall DO imposed on the
neople for the primary purpose OF raising money
Tor the payment OF ordinary pubic expenses
and the public debt, or be imposed for the pur-
nose OF increasing the cost OF production and tho
nrlces Of certain articles OF domestic consump-
lion. is q question upon which there Is an ire
coucilable difference OF opinion between mo
TWO great political parties OF the country. and
this question in its plsinest form y directly pre-
sen,ed for consideration BY the bill reported by
the majority.
"The minority, representing for the time be-
ing one Of these parties. copends for the pflnci-
pie OF Just and equal taxation upon al according
70 their ability to bear the burden, while the
majority, representing the other party, mas IN
this bill thoroughly committed Itself 70 the policy
~ unjust and unequal taxation OF the many ior
The benefit OF the fow. We are ~ anxious as
the majority can possibly be 70 promote ana er-
courage American industries and advance tho
Interests Of American latorers, and those WHO
impute 70 rs any other purpose or design either
misunderstand or misrepresent our pcsitob.
Put we believe that both these objects can DC &C
compished BY reducing the burdens OF taxaron
and not by increasing them and that the pene-
fits thus secured will be far more permanent sn1
far more satisf actory 10 those directly concernou
than any supposed advantage mat can result
from different policy"
DANIEL wEBsTER's PASEUIL-HALL PROPHECY.
The minority declare that Daniel We5sts srs
prophecy IN hts great FensuIi-Han speech mas
been verified. BIS words were pfopnsIic Ing
prolonged discussion before the committso
during the present session Was not between hui
yiduals ana corporations who receive INC tsAes
and the consumers VINO pay them. tof very 10"
Of those were heard, bat bs,ween tne rspie son
tatyes Of the ynrious protected industries. can
class cortsnding'fcr higher rates on is own pro-
ducts or for lower rates on tho products OF osnst
Except in cases where combinations were Haao
between Interested parties. the conflict eon-
tnued as long - the bill remained IN me soln
miftee, and the majority AFTER monfns OF pnssoas
and isoorious investigation hes been able 70
satisfy part only Of tho demands msde upv s
r. The oniy remedy ID 70 remove - fsr - ~,
sible artidsiu burdens and resfricuons, ~
give to AL our industxtss an equal chance 10 'n'
Held OF composition az home snd abroad: ,,-
According 70 statements made before We eons-
mittes he protootad industries OF tno COUNTY, Z,
have never becu az any time In our history ~
such depreseed and discoufnsing cona''''h -
they ere NON.
Afyxn Thirty TEARS or PROTECTION.
Amer nearly thirty yesrs OF continuous proseo.
! ton BY gOverpmont tAxokion for their suppo.s
great many q nem axo reported 70 Dc on ms
| very verge - bpnkfup1cy and ruin. wnile w.
iss,t'ns 4 fS5r c-'s y 49, ~ =, ssssi tossefsd