West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-09-11

hibitory tariff in the interest, of the manufacturer
Hscock -" @oN' at
In eoiloquy which occurred on the floor of IN,
Senate between him and the senator from Kan.
ses, nir. Plumb he frankly admitted that, In ar
rates ofdnty imposed vithout the sl;sh, on the
gard to whether II would increase or decrease the
,syenue," whether he believed that the effect Of
the DUTY was to create or foster a healthy indus.
,ry mere and give market for our own manu-
Mr.. President, the Republican party has been
| shown by direct wei as circumsiantiaI evil.
dence to TO have surrendered Internationally 10
me direction aud guidance OF those whose inter
ests arc identified with the protected industries.
| snu VINO are seeking, by an increase OF rates OF
lies. through trusts and combines, 70 control he
rhsse n which the people are bound to .pur-
grown 50 strong that but 1Is Sop. interest IS have
tained that they can ever be severed
The energies Of the Republican party are d.
dom OF Its statesmen Is guided by those who have
contributed more than three-fourths Of all the
protection" This arrogant. aggressive. and dom.
ineerinK partner, In consideration of the personal
follow success. literally contributed to the fund
, DC nsea IN selecting. controlling and voting
the bonds 81 ays Chat history nigh. cement
sacrince OF cash and principle that party TO day
controls every branch Of the Federal Governme Mt
Inc partnership thus formed has been tempo
rarily successful; the cash partner now demands
settlement Of the partnership and redemption
| US for consideration is evidence Of good faith
on the part Of the partner whose capital was ex-
must be redeemed, though in doing so the consti.
tution be violated. The tariff must be revised
mo mo, win view to raise revenue but ITO cheek
imports OF such articles as are produced by our
people" Territories with population one-third
less than sufficient to enttiethem TO representa-
united into the Union and clothed with ali the
functions. privileges and powers of a State that
the fruits OF this compact may be indefinitely en-
joyed. In few days we will witness the final
S,pnsummation OF this agreement, which will bind
interest of aorieuIture IN anu ,eave the
ton than we find II to-day.
REVIEW OF TARIFF LEGISLATION
Mr.. President, review of the tariff legislation
since 1857 must convince the most incrcduious
that the revenue laws framed by Republican Con.
crosses have been so designed that the interests
OF the great mass of our people who represent
the consumers of all the various products of this
country have been forgotten or purposeiy ignored
In the interest of those few who have reaped the
benefit OF those laws which have Disseminated
against labor and in favor Of accumulated capt.
The average ad vaiorem rate under the revenue
taIin OF ie4o did not exceed ~ per cent which
cent The Morrill, tariff of 1860 was Introduced
with the ayowed purpose of restoring the average
40 Vaiorum rates OF the tariff of 1896 In 1864 the
rates were increased to az per cent and In 1s5t
there was a further increase to AZ per cent and
Of
sne.s were numerous acts passed which affected
particular subjects embraced in the several sched
nles OF the tariff, but one that materially changed
Tue au vaiorein average under that tariff In 1882
the popular ciamor for a revision and reduction OF
tarin taxation became so strong that the advocates
OF nigh protective tariff found II necessary to
apparently yield to the wishes of the people by
the appointment Of commission composed Of the
representatives Unprotected capital some of whom
had large pecuniary interests invested In Ameri-
can manufactures; and yet sir, they were forced
Go ADMIT IN their report, found on page of the
Early in its deliberations the commission he.
came convinced that a substantial reduction Of
tafiH dulles Is demanded, not by a mere indis-
crimnate popular clamor, but by the best con
seIyauye opinion OF the country including that
~hlCh mas IN former times been most strenuous
Tor the preservation of our national Industrial de
lenses such reduction of the existing tariff the
commission regards not only as n due recognition
OF public sentiment and measure of Justice To
consumers, but one conducive to the general in.
auS.Iai 3Eosperty and which though it may be
temporarily inconvenient, will be ultimately ben
shcis 10 the special interests affected by such re-
question. NO rates Of defensive duties, except for
.ne estaolishment OF new industries, which more
than equalize the conditions of labor and capital
win those OF foreign competitors. can be justified
Excessive duties or those above such standard OF
equaHaton, are positively injurious to the in
Serest winch they are supposed TO benefit =
Excessive duties generally, or exceptionally high
duties in particular cases, discredit our whole ma
uonal economic system and furnish plausible
Arguments Tor its complete subversion. .
EhteftaininR these views, the commission has
| sought to present scheme OF tariff duties ia
which substantial reduction should be the dstin
4
including that from the enlargement OF the free
list and the abolition of duties on charges and
commissions at which the commission has aimed
Is not less on the average than 20 per cent and IL
Is the opinion OF the commission that the reduc-
! ton VIII reach IS per cent"
| Mr.: President the recommendation Of the com
mission that the reduction should on An average
eIusi rom 20 TO IS per cent had but little iniu
Snse on Congfe ss, as the reduction made by that
yi as passed congress was but per cent. less
than the war tariff OF 1864 Many ofthe most i'm
portant schedules, such as those relating 10 cotton
coths, ready'made clothing aud iron were mate
rally increased.
The work Of this commission Is entitled only TO
sneh credit az IS usually given to the evidence Of
Witnesses who testify against their own interests
i II was constituted for a particular purpose and
i its recommendation -
This criticism Is not only warranted by the re.
| SUITS which have followed their recommendation
/ Dui us influence upon Congress Is clearly illus.
, rated By toe following observation made by the
/ aisunguished Senator from Iowa mr.. Afisonl
| who, on February J, 1854, said.
| a., Now want to say one word In regard to the
The ruth is that the tariff commission aid not ex
amiue this cotton matter at all; Il may as we'll be
s so on tne moor OF the senate nor did they make
| tnis sehedule that Is called the tariff commission
/ report schedule. II was made by cotton manu-
iae. s rom Boston, with an expert appraiser
| T. When the knowledge Of that fact came To- me
had no particular faith in the tariff commission
report on this cotton schedule aud therefore cx-
i amined u rs best could for myself hearing the
wlteesscs, reading the testimony. aud hearing
ppgSpS VINO. supposed knew something about 4
In this, a. In all other Instances In which the
Il pubic have been taken into the confidence Of
/ tnose who have managed aud controlled the policy
o. our tsfiu legislation, We find that the arrogant
uelnanus OF the representatives Of those interests
/ and the agents employed by them are the iustru.
L ments which dictate the details which fasten upon
| me people tnis burdcnsome taxation.
mf: President, again the public sentiment
/ Which demanded a reduction or taxation was de-
leatea ~ the manipulation OF those ia the inter
ests OF the protected industries. For seven years
| we people have borne this onerous faNation. the
/ accumnlations Of their labor have been taken
Il rom tnem BY forced cxactions under authority Of
/ law when the public needs did not require this
/ eAelihce 90 enormous surplus was annually being
Il aecumuiated in the vaults Of the Treasury. until
We a9ininistration with view Of restoring to the
! Sfeniau9n ot the country the money unbecessar.
/ ~ Whbdtawn from IL, was forced in addition To-
tn@ amount required Tor the sinking fund 10 uttr.
l chasc et premium bonds that were not due or
payable, aud which could My be obtained bv ~
! payment Of the price demanded by The holders
/ fvf twenty-five years, sir. the powers Of fftfa
government have D. en- used by n small nliuoffty
/ on is citizens to check by artificial means me
growth prosperity auddcveiopfucn Of orifuftu~e
/ Try. " wy ''""-
/ The taxes paid 20 the Government BY CON.
suintis oi the imported articles and the bouffiee
/ haiot me manufacturer by the consumer under
VIC afih rates for this period would average over
/ biihon 81 dollars annually, and furnishes snf.
I eIent explanation why The great aprfruffuraf H.