Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-05-31

A few DAYS since the gentleman from 10
wa. Mr.. Kerr. said The duty on imports
is primarily to raise 4 revenue to pay eN-
pcnscs Of Government, and s~ocOndarily to
protect American labor Now, II the nrSt
and greatest object he TO collect money To
pay the necessary expenses OF government
why does the tariff law refund TO certain
manufacturer and importers millions of
dollars every year? During the fiscal year
ending June 10, 1889. this government re-
turned to the class of capitalists have men.
toned the magnificent sum of !: ,&6.+iS,H,
ami this vast amount does not include about
SlOO,O0 given as a bonus TO the fisheries OF
New England, in the remission of all import
duty on salt FOL the same year.
II the first object of the Republican par
" i to raise Il revenue to rnn the Govern
mcut, upou what theory does the party d.
vert annually SS,HN.0d0 from the legitimate
expenses OF the Government TO the pockets
OF 4 fayorite class of exporters and 10 the
owners of fisheries along the New England
coast: OF course this amount IL annually
recouped from the people in the shape OF
higher tariff taxation. and in the main from
the poorer people. both because they are
the most numerous and because the articles
of their use and consumption are those upon
which the higher duties are levied. IL the
second object is 10 protect American labor,
by what process Of reasoning will the Re.
publican party explain to the laboring l,eo-
pie of this country that a law 4, enacted in
their interest which annually hlches from
their pockets $4,000. o00 to he covered into
the pockets Of the rich in the way Of draw
7 I-I- s,l.t.a mot 80 -,a.l al tho tInfnlt
millions indirectly donated to some parties:
These laws. for which your party is res
pon,ible. expose you to the se,ercst criti-
cism and subject YOU to the charge Of utter
insInccrity III dealing with the great ques-
ton Of tariff taxation.
In ISSg the Government collected In duty
on tin 81 $50. $50. What was done with
this money! Ninety per cent. Of it. that is
81, 1914, 1910 was paid back TO the import
crs. snd only 10 per cent. that is St6t.0S 30
retained by the Government. In tins mag
%niiicent. an 1 1 might say muniiicent trans
action, transaction, who were the beHeiicia.
ries-the poor wage workers or the wealthy
importers: | have an abiding faith that the
intelligence Of the labOring people of this
col ntry Is sufficient to give 4 correct an
swer to this question.
The incorporatOrs of the standard Oil
Co, are the chief beneiiciaries of this wide.
spreading statute because they export their
coal oil in tin cans incased In wooden box.
es, on both of which articles they receive
30 per cent. of import duty as a drawback
or rebate. This gigantic and merciless
combine. after having driven to bankrupt.
cy and despair the individual owners OF oil
wells In America. are enabled by this I'M
righteous bounty. wrung from the toiling
millions. to seize the markets Of the world.
Next. perhaps, In the catalogue Of bene.
f~ciaries would stand Armour 4 Co., anoth.
er omnipotent combine, who, by dealing in
futures in 1881, advanced the price of pick
led pork iron Sl3,1 rs to $40 per Dbl, and 9th.
er forms of hog meat accordingly, by which
they extorted irem the laboring people Of
this country more than a million of dollars.
For several Years this firm and all export
ars Of meats have been allowed to receive
salt absolutely ires of duty with which to
cure their exported meas.
Now. why should these fisheries have free
salt wiea the farmers, mechanics and arti.
sans all over the country. must pay a duty
on foreign salt. or It's equivalent In price on
domestic saltt The present tariff bill re-
peals the law Of 1888. allowing free salt to
exporters Of meats. but preserves intact the
statute granting free salt to fisheries. which
Is class legislation of the most malignant
type. If the Republican party is sincere in
professions u friendship to the laborers and
solicitous for their welfare, why does it in.
crease to an exhorbitant amount the duties
on articles in every day use by the laborers,
and at the same time increase to the point
Of free trade the rebate on articles import.
cd by manufacturer to he Manufactured
and exported ny them, If this is q fair ex-
bibition Of your friendship towards the Ia.
borers, they have good reason to pray to be
saved from their friends. doubt not they
will appreciate your unselfsh devotion to
their interests and will reward you as you
deserve when they next cast their ballots
for Representatives to Congress.
You will not be able to disguise the fact
that your legislation is not to raise Il reye-
nue., not TO benefit iaborers, bu, to increase
the wealth of tue manufacturers. Perhaps
it would not be bad nomenclature to style
this a bill to reimburse the manufacturers
for the millions they contributed TO pur.
chase the Presidency in less, and for no 9th.
er purposes. Possibly YOU NAV consider II
your conscientious duty TO restore the adj.
pose tissue you fried out of them in that
year OF blessed memory, quickened by the
comforting thought that you can then sub
jectthem 10 4 similar process in order 20 OBJ
tain the grease wherewith to lubricate the
machiner! of %nationa! politics in lsa?.
Mr.. Chairman. let Us see what the pres.
eut bill proposes T. do for the masses Of the
people. on woollen and wOrsted cloths, ar.
ticles of most common and general use. the
duty, now 20 per cent. is raised TO 100 per
cent. A pair Of Jeans pants that would cost
81 without any taIif, now costs Sl.I8 and if
this bill becomes a Law the same pants will
cost $3.50. The same can be said Of ladies'
dresses and OF all garments made Of mate.
rial manufactured wholly or in part of wool.
Blankets. wool hats and ~fiannel-. now 80 per
cent. are raised TO 10. Women's and chill.
dren's wooden dress goods, nov s. per cent.
are raised 70 10 per cent, Ready-made
clothing and wearing apparel. composed
wholly or in part OF wool. Ia advanced from
"a 10 n per cent. 1t i, needless TO recount
each article upon which the duty hs, been
increased. The I'D yalorem TAX has been
raised from an average Of A. per cent. to not
less than IL and perhaps TO ca per cent.
BY this bill quite a number of articles
have been transferred TO the tree list; but
sugar and mola.ses are the only articles Of
any particular responsibility or importance
A. far IS the people generally are concerned.
during the fiscal year 1889. the value Of SUI
gar and molasses imported was ss3.3 Ss. Isl,
~. and the duty on SAME wa. SIS 81 .94.32
Now, under the provisions Of this bill. the
duty /. taken of or sugar. but we will be
taxed 10 psy a bounty OF , cents per pound
on an the sugar maze IN the United states,
which viii amount annually TO about !. 30
90. This i. a beautiful exemplitication of
the doctrine Of equal rights to all and spe-
ciai privileges 10 none. Could any viola
ton Of the genius and spirit Of our govern.
ment be more fragrant or freighted with
consequences more dangeroust II it is
proper to pay a bounty on sugar. why no,
also pay a bounty on lespediza strata. mel.
iilotus alba. teOsinte. oranges, bananas, or
any other product peculiar to certain lati.
tude.. Fairness and candor compel me.
however. to say ] can discover no inconsis.
tency In this measure, in 80 far as the Re-
publican party 10 concerned. for the reason
that the outrageous, Ubiquitous and insult.
fersble pyotectiye tariff. laid upon the peo-
pie Of this country with Increased weight
o. the years roll by. IA but another form OF
bounty 10 the manufacturer. and differs
from II only In name. oh hut you say, be-
bold our free list. See the magnificent ar.
ray OF commoditie, for the every day use Of
the people that we vouehsafc TO them abso-
lutely free Of tariff. In order that the bar.
ty sons Of toll may appreciate the boon 70
graciously granted unto them, l will cata-
lozue some Of the prominent articles on
your free list
tNr. Lewis then gives 4 list Of articles but
little used. among which sre, aeorns, bees
wax e~hiekory, coal tar. grease. sand, sui.
T.hnr, tar, arsenic, ashes, stuffed birds. DO