Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-04-26
The Minority Report.

Mr.. Carlisle, on behalf Of the minor
ity, submitted report on the Tariff bill
1t is signed by all the Democratic mem.
bers OF the committee. Itsays:
1.-THE minority contends for the principle
OF just and equal taxation upon ALL accord
ing to their ability to bear the burden, while
the majority has In this bill thoroughly COM
mitted itself to the policy OF unjust and un.
equal taxation for the many for the benefit
OF the few. We are as anxious Us the major.
ity can possibly be to promote and cncour-
age American industries and advance the
interests Of American laborers, and those
who impute to us any other purpose or de-
sign, either misunderstood or misinterpret
our position, but we believe that both these
objects can be accomplished by reducing the
burdens OF taxation, and not by increasing
them.
According to statements made before the
committee the protected industries OF the
country have never been at any tins In our
history In such depressed ard dscouraging
condition as they are now. After nearly
thirty years of continuous protection by
Government taxation for their support.
great many OF them are reported to be on the
very verge of bankruptcy and ruin, while
very few Of them, according to the testl-
mony, are yielding n fair profit upon the
capital invested. A great may Of the parties
engaged In these Industries have declared In
the course of our investigation that the
slightest reduction In duties now imposed
upon competing foreign products would
compel them to close their works and dis
charge their employees, and others have even
gone so fur as to assert that they would be
forced to go out of business II the rates Of
taxation are not increased. At the same
time the laborers in those industries
are complaining OF insufficient wages,
repeated suspensions OF work and general
condition OF uncertainty and insecurity In
their relations to those who give them en-
ployment. The laborers fully realizing the
fact that this system has wholly failed to in.
crease their earnings or improve their con-
dltiOn In any way, have been compelled &C.
organize trades unions and resort to other
methods of combinations and co operation
for self protection and those various or.
ganzations now offer the only efficient
means ut hand for the preservation even o.
the existing rates OF wages"
The report states that the remedy pro
posed by the majority Is the imposition OF
more taxes upon every article of foreign
origin which the people OF this country de.
sire to buy and for which they are ready and
anxious TO exchange the cotton which they
can not spin, the corn and wheat which they
can not consume, the oil and coal which they
the farms, the forests and the mines. These
surplus products must ind n market some
where outside Of the United States.
The silk bounty Is severely criticised In
the report.
Continuing, the report says the bill will
increase the taxes on wool and woolens
$i5,5'0 90 per annum, according to last years
importation, but really to a much greater
sum, while taxes on tobacco to the amount
% 20 Gag0a af al,nIf ha mi riff
not afford to do this ut the price OF an In.
crease on necessaries.
The report then attacks some OF the de.
tails of the bill as follows: 1.-The lowest
grades OF wooden yarn, worth not over 10
cents per pound, are to be subjected to
duty Of ll2 per cent, while the most costly
yarn will pay y per cent. One grade OF
coarse, cheap blankets will be required to
pay 1O6 per cent, but the finest blankets VIII
pay 70 per cent. The coarsest and cheapest
wooden hats will be subject to duty OF Ill
per cent. and the finest to 66 per cent.
Womens and children's cheapest dress
goods with cotton warp are to be taxed 100
per cent. and the finest 7S per cent. The
lowest grade OF wooden cloths will pay l2S
per cent and the highest grade Us per cent
The cheapest qualities OF knit goods for un-
derwear range from 1l2 to lSs per cent, but
the finest and most expensive Will pay 7eper
lowest grades, used by the poorest people.
will pay Isl per cent duty. and wOrsted
goods OF the lowest grade Will pay I'D per
cent, while the highest grade win pay 90 per
cent"
Continuing, the report says: 1--WE have
for long time been endeavorlng to Increase
our trade with the people OF Central and
South America and Mexico. and ut our re-
quest, an Internal ional conference ls being
a. To- Nha mil al
ment OF this result The people OF all these
countries have the right to suppose that this
Government was acting In good faith when
II invited them to send their delegates here.
and that nothing would be done by us to dis
turb the harmony OF their deliberations
or prevent the success OF their mission; but
In the midst of their consultations and when
It was earnestly hoped that some practical
plan might be agreed upon forthe establish
ment of closer commercial relations, this
bill Is reported containing provisions which
will not only retard reciprocal arrangements
for the future but will destroy large part Of
the trade now existing between this country
and those OF our neighbors on the south.
ssFor the further purpose OF inducing the
farmers OF the country to believe that they
can and will derive some beneht from the
protective policy, this bill imposes rates OF
duty upon certain important agricultural
be imported to any material extent with or
without duty. It ls impossible to protect
the farmer against foreign competition In
his home market, for he has no such compe-
tltIon, and the insertion or retention OF these
articles In q tariff bill is device which
will deceive no one who gives mo-
ment's thought to the subject. During
the last fiscal year we exported 69.692,9 $50
bushels Of corn and imported only 2rsSS
bushels, not more than can be produced on
$50 acres OF good land In this country. We
exported 81, ls6 barrels OF corn meal and I'm
ported sg6 bushels. Our exports OF wheat
amounted to Il, lll, l29bushels and our imports
amounted 20 l,9l6 bushels. This statement
shows how futile Il Is 10 attempt 10 AFFORD
protection 20 the farmers OF the country BY
imposing duties upon the imDortatiOns Of
these products and this large and tntenigent
class Of citizens can not be reconciied In tnis
way 20 a policy which increases tAxes upon
their clothing, tableware, carpets, earthen