The Iola register., 1890-10-31
THE NEW TARIFF BILL.

THE NEW TARIFF BILL.
Extracts From the Closing speech of Sem
ntor Aldrich, September 3O-Ehect on the
Cost of Living. -l.
Pending the late discussion in the
Senate on the Mckinley bill, Senator
Aldrich explained it's provisions in the
following concise manner:
In the construction of the pending
bill its trainers have sought as far as
possible to cure all defects aud to
remedy all inequalities growing out of a
want of proper relation in rates. and
their action in this regard should be
considered rather as correction of
rates than an increase of duties.
There is another more numerous and
much more important class of articles
upon which increases have been made
more important, not only from their
greater value, but from the ultimate
effect which their prod ion here would
have upon the industrial future OF the
country. These are the articles Of in
dustries which, in, the act of 1855. and
and in prior tariffs, we have surrendered
without question to our foreign compet-
itors, articles which we we're then will
ling to confess could not be made in the
United States, and upon which we have
never lowed protective duties These
include all tho finer and more expensive
manufactures in every schedule of the
bill For illustra tion, as in the cotton
schedule, we have increased the duties on
all the finest cotton cloths-those which
in texture and in cost rival silk fabrics.
We have advanced the rates on cotton
velvets, chenille goods and on all fine
fashioned hosiery and knit goods. In
the flax schedule We have increased
rates on all fine linen goods, on laces,
lace window curtains and embroideries
OF every description.
In the woolen schedule we have ad-
vanced rates on the finer dress goods for
women's wear, on all the more expen-
sive kinds of cloths for mems wear, and
upon fancy articles composed of wool.
In the silk schedule we have raised the
duties on silk velvets, and plushes, and
upon silk laces and embroideries, and
on ready-made clothing composed of
silk. Increases have also been made
on ornamented and decorated glassware,
china and porcelain, On some of the
more expensive manufactures of iron
and steel the duties have been advanced.
Other increases have been made on
musical instruments, on fine tissue and
surface-coated papers, on manufactures
of ivory and shell, and many other mis-
cellaneous manufactures of fancy arti-
cles. From any economic standpoint an
increase of the rates upon these articles
is iustifiable. They are all articles of
voluntary use; none of them necessary
for the comfortable existence of our peo-
pie. 1t was the purpose OF the commit
tee in the preparation of this bill to
formulate declaration that hereafter
they should be produced by American
working men and women. We have now
the requisite skill, taste and the mate
rial for their manufacture, and every pa
triotic impulse dictates that we should
make their production possible in the
United States stl
Our importation of these articles
amounted last year to 5000, 900. 900 of
foreign value, and including duties and
importers profits, cost our people $780,
900, O0o Their production here would
give employment to a million of men
and women, and if we include their de-
pendents four 20 five million people
would be supported by this addition to
our National workshop. These five
millions of people would in turn be
clothed and fed here and would furnish
greatly enlarged markets for our farm
ers and manufacturers.
There has been no increase in rates
upon any of that large class of manu-
factures which our friends upon the
other side are so fond OF calling the
necessaries of life. On many articles
in common use by the great mass of
the people Of the country, including all
ordinary grades of cotton cloth. all the
low grades Of woolen cloth, there have
been reductions Upon none Of these
in any schedule has there been any in
crease, and call the attention Of Sena-
tors upon the other side of the chamber
to this statement and challenge them
10 question It's accuracy in any particu-
lar.
repeat that on all the articles which
Senators upon the other side have de-
scribed to-day as the necesssries of life
there are not only no enormous increases
in rates by this bill, but there are none
whatever. The American manufacturer
is not asking for any increase in the
protective duties on any Of this class of
articles, as none is necessary; he has
the entire American market to-day, and
will retain it whether the tariff is
higher or lower. In fact, If it were not
for guarding our producers against the
surplus product of Europe in periods Of
great depression in prices, existing
rates might with safety be very greatly
reduced. Our manufacturers supply
nine-tenths of the domestic consumption
OF all the articles of iron and steel ex-
cept those which have been discrimin-
ated against by legislation, like tin
pista. They supply the cloths to make
clothing of the working men and women
and all the other great classes Of our
community. Our cotton manufacturers
supply the cotton cloths and all other
manufactures Of cotton in ordinary use
by.uur people. This is also true OF all
articles in common use included in all