Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-13


routine business, went into committee of the
whole-Mr. Payson Oil J in the chair-on the
tariff bill
Mr.. McMillin (Tenn.) moved to reduce the
duty on ammonia. He could see no reason
why this article of necessity to the farmer
should be so heavily taxed.
Mr.. Mckinley (Ohio) opposed the amend
ment and stated that since the tariff had en-
couraged competition in this country the price
OF ammonia had been reduced from 20 10 =
cents per pound.
PROTECTION DEFENDED.
Mr.. Butterworth (Ohio) suggested that while
he knew nothing of the case under considera-
tion the price of an article was not reduced on
account of competition alone. 1t was reduced
on account of improved methods of manufac-
ture So far as he was capable of doing he had
trie0 to understand the tariff question and he
never doubted that the protective system was
wise. humane and beneficent and had scat
tered blessings on the land from shore to
shore. If there was any danger to the protec-
tive system it was in its oscillation between the
extreme of free trade on the one hand and on
the other the extreme which created inequali-
ties among Americans themselves. The coun-
try, in the election of Harrison and the repub-
lican Congress-, had declared unequivocaiiy in
favor OF sustaining and upaolding the protec-
tive system. He insisted that
THE PROTECTIVE SYSTEM DEALrwIrH CONDITIONS
and not with national boundary lines except
when the presence of those national boundary
lines indicated the presence of those condi-
tions, against the influence of which it was
necessary to interpose the barrier of protective
tariff If the tariff did not deal with con-
ditions then a tariff was good in the abstract:
and if it was, the fathers of the republic had
paid themselves poor compliment when they
provided that as between the states there
should be no restriction of commerce. Com
petition never created a new indust ry-they
were created by the work of the brain, by in
yentors The committee had tried to do the
best II could in forming the bill but it was not
always safe to rely altogether upon the testI-
mony OF the beneficiaries under a law ip-
piause on the democratic side He had indi-
Gated his belief respecting the
PROPER FUNCTION OF A TARIFF ACT
and would sooner resign his seat than depart
one hairs breadth from that belief OF course
he respected the wisdom of the committee. but
why was Paul favored and Peter turned down?
Why increase the profits of certain classes? He
could name capitalists whose profits had ex-
ceeded those of all of the agriculturists in anv
state of the Union. Applause on democratic
side.
NOT DISTURBED BY DEMOCRATIC APPLAUSE.
He was not, he said disturbed by the ap-
plause on the other side. He was exceedingly
grateful that they began to realize in any sense
that our countrymen deserved protection. IT,
VIII en- we had protected equally and lifted up
all our industries and the time should then
come when We could not hold our own-being
the most intelligent, the freest and ablest
people on earth-then we had better retire
from the field. Democratic applause
Mr.. Butterworth then proceeded TO expound
his views touching reciprocity with Canada.
He said that we were endeayoring to cultivate
relations with 50.0O0.000 people to the south
ward and yet were afraid OF Canada Abraham
Lincoln and Ulysses Grant were not suspected
Of lack of patriotism, yet they favored reci-
procity. There was
SOMETHING IN THE BILL he DID NOT LIKE.
He had known of an industry that had been
able to make so, 900, 900 dividend on a capital
of 81 ,25e, 900. Protection. Why the country
could in such cases better afford to keep these
men in the Fifth Avenue Hotel, pay their
board and expenses and set them up
in the banking business. He favored
proper protection, but these men
held the world in their grip. When
he said that he did not favor that kind of pro-
lection be was told ''you are not sound ON the
tariff" The time is come when some little
concern should be shown to American homes
and American firesides. great body of en-
ployes IN this country was foreign-in some |
great IactOTles IN the east tDey were kOWn on /
the rosters by numbers because of unfamiliar
ity with their names.
He did not believe il was wise or prudent to |
make such a sweeping reduction in sugar to be |
supplanted by bounty.
PARTING WORDS.
In conclusion he said that the gentlemen |
were very much mistaken if they thought \
that the greatest desire of his heart was
not to pass a bill rejecting in the l
highest degree q protective system. That /
he wanted to avoid were such features as he |
had pointed out in this bill-there such |
thing paying too much for an industry.
Such was the case with tin plate. The duty 1
would be tax on every farmers patch: on /
every can of goods. That tax would amount /
to $50, Zoo before the manufacturers
of tin plate could declare a dividend /
He was anxious that his party
should not take a false step. He did not ex-
pect to participate much in the deliberations
Of the House hereafter He was quite as ready
to go out as his democratic friends were to get
nd of him when they gerrymandered him out.
He was already out before they took that action.
Mr.. Hatch (Mo) said the pending amend |
ment proposed to prevent an increase of duty
on an article used fertilizer on every farm.
an increase made for the benefit of two MANN
facturers and against the interest of 80, 600 600
farmers
Mr.. DingIey (Me.) said that the debate had
proceeded upon the theory that the muriate
and sulphate Of ammonia were used for pro-
ducing fertilizers, but tho fact was that not q
r,ound was so uaed