, 1890-04-17

refined sugar will be subjected to a duty
of only four tenths of a cent per pound.
Coming to agricultural products the
report says the committee hiss given most
of its investigation to the existing con-
dItions of agriculture and of kindred mat
tiers. Referring to the widespread de
preston in this industry. the report
says the enemies of the protective
system have no word of criticism
Tor the real causes Of the a~gricul-
tural depression; no suggestions OF
relief from the real burdens which are
weighing it down today; but, scizing the
present as a favorable time, they solemnly
charge the decline in our market Is solely
due to the tariff. They are pleased to
ignore the fact that one of the purposes
OF the protective tariff is to hinder a still
larger importation of foreign produce and
thus save the market from still greater
depression. But your committee are
sensible TO the importance of this in
dustry. Prompted by the single motive
to lift it to a higher level OF profitable
employment. they believe they offer
in the bill all the relief which
tariff legislation can give to it. A critical
examination of the subject shows
that agriculture is suffering chiefly from
damaging foreign markets. The increase
in the importation OF agricultural pro-
ducts since 1850 has been enormous.
amounting from 40. 900 900 to more than
1856 900. 900 in 1890. The worlds mar
ket, to which the advocates of tariff for
revenue only invite the farmers of this
country. is to day crowded with the pro
ducts of the cheapest human labor the
earth affords. All over the old world is
this rush OF surplus to that market, and
it is to such a contest as this that free
trade would allure American agriculture.
The minority report is signed by all the
Democratic members of the committee.
IL says: The minority contends for the
principle of Just and equal taxation upon
all according to their ability to bear the
burden. while the majority has in this
bill thoroughly committed itself to the
policy of unjust and unequal taxation of
the many for the benefit of the few. We
are as anxious as the majority can
possibly be 10 promote and encourage
American industries and advance the in
terests of American laborers, but we be
lieve both OF these objects can be accom-
Pushed by reducing taxation and not by
increasing them. The majority. after
months OF laborious investigation. has
been able to satisfy only a part OF
lHt ueIndnus mdue upDu IT, i ne
only remedy is to remove, as far
as possible, artificial burdens and
restrictions and give to all our industries
an equal chaace in the field of COMPETE
ton at home and abroad. According to
the statement made before the committee
the protected industries of the country
have never been at any time in our his
tory 10 such a depressed and di>eouraging
condition as now, after nearly thirty wears
of continuous protection. A great many
parties engaged in these Industries de
clared that the slightest reduction in the
duty would compel them to close
their works and discharge their employs
and others have even gone so far as to
assert that they would be forced to go out
of business if the rates OF taxation are not
increased. At the same time the labor
ers in those industries are complaining of
insufficient wages. repeated suspension of
work and a general condition of insecurity.
These laborers, fully realizing the fact
that this system has wholly tailed to in
crease their earnings or improve their
condition in any way. have becn com
PEELED to organize trades unions and re-
sort to other methods of combination and
co operation for self protection, and those
various organizations now afford the only
efficient means at their command for the
preservation of even existing rates OF
wages.
The report states the remedy proposed
by the majority is the imposition OF more
taxes upon every article of foreign origin
which the people of this country desire
to buy and for which they are ready and
anxious to exchange the cotton which
they cannot spin. the corn and wheat they
cannot consume, oil and coal they cannot
burn and many other productions.
The majority bill is framed upon the
assumption that as our industries grow
older they grow weaker and more depend
ent upon the bounty of the government.
1t devolves upon these advocates now to
explain, if they can, why it is that after
the low tariff policy has been abandoned
for more than a quarter of a century and
a high tariff policy substituted IN its place,
the manufacturing and mechanical indus
tries of the country are less able to main
tain themselves than they were when the
change was made, and when this Is done
1t will still remain for them to show upon
what principle of Justice or policy the
can be periodically subjected
to additional taxation Tor the exclusive
benefit of private business ente rprises.
The silk bounty is severely criticized
The report says the bill will increase the.
taxes on wool and woolens s.. $50, 900 per
annum. according to last years importa-
ton, but really to a much greater sum
while the taxes on tobacco, to the amount
of IS, $50, 99i. are abolished. The min
ority cannot agree to do this at the price
OF an increase on necessaries. The re.
port attacks some of the details of the
bill. Among other things it SAYS one
grade oil coarse, cheap blankets will be re
quired to pay LOG per cent but the finest
blankets pay ~ per cent. The coarsest
and cheapest wooden hats will be subject
to a duty of Ill per cent aud the finest
to &C per cent. Women's and children's
cheapest dress goods, with itton wraps,
are to be taxed l06 per cent and the
finest 10 per cent. The lowest grade of
woolan cloths will pay 1875 per cent and
the highest grade sc per cent, etc.
On the metal schedule the report says
there are many increases and scarcely any
reduction. The report says: We nave
for a long time been endeavoring to in
crease our trade with the people of Cen
trail aud South America and Mexico aud
an international conference is now being
held to devise means for the accomplish
men of this result In the midst of con
situations and when it was earnestly
hoped some practicable plan might be
aeieed upon for the establishment OF
closer commercial relations, this bill is
reported as containing provisions which
will not only retard reciprocal arrange
ments for the future, but will destroy a
large part of the trade now existing.
The bill proposes to make large in
creases in the duties on carpet woods and
subject lead contained in silver ores to a
inty nnt haronSa us naal tIa ouon,