Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-05-15
THE TARIFF BILL.
Debate on tho Measure Opened In
tho House.
MIR. Mckinley speaks In Favor Of His Biii
ane Mr.. Mills Argues Against it--Iiow
the Bnl win Afiect the
Revenue.

Ways and Means Committee.
Mr.. Mckinley took the floor II
support OF the bill. In the last politica
campaign the tariff had been the absorb
ing question before the people. i
seemed to him that no extended discus
sion of this great principle was expected
or required or necessary under existing
conditions, for If any one thing was set
tied by the political contest OF 1883 II
was that the protective policy as promul'
gated by the Republican party in the
platform, as maintained by the Repub
lican party through long series ofyears,
should be secured in any Legislation
which was to be had by a Congress chosen
In this great contest and on this mas
tering issue. He interpreted the vic.
tory to mean, he interpreted the major
ity in this House 10 mean, he interpreted
the incumbency OF the Presidency OF
the United States by the present Execu-
tive to mean, that revision OF the
tariff was demanded by the people, and
that that revision should be along the
line and in full recognition Of the prin-
ciple and purposes Of protection. Ap-
plause. The people hal spoken and
they asked this Congress to register
their will and embody their verdict into
public law. The bill presented by the
Committee on Ways and Means to the
House was thorough answer TO that
demand, in full recognition OF tho prin-
ciple and policy OF the protective tariff.
Tho bill, Mr.. Mckinley said, had not
abolished the internal revenue tax, as the
Republican party had pledged itself to
30 in the event that abolition was
necessary to preserve the protective
system, because the committee had
found the abolition Of the one was not
necessary to the preservation OF the
other. The bill recommended the aboli-
ton OF all special taxes and the reduc-
ton OF the tax on tobacco and ii re-
moved tne' restrictions Upon tfre grow
ers Of tobacco. With these exceptions
the internal revenue laws stood as at
present II these recommendations
we're agreed TO, internal taxation would
be reduced little SIS, 900, 900. The com
mittee also recommended provision
requiring all imported articles TO bear a
stamp or mark indicating the country in
which such articles are manufactured.
The reason that actuated tho commit
tee was that it had become too common
among some of the countries Of tho
world to copy some Of the best known
brands and sell them in competition
with America's home made products.
The next provision recommended was
one extending and liberalizing the
drawback sections OF the law. Under
the existing statute any citizen OF the
United States could import an article,
pay duty upon IL, make it into COM
plete product, export 1t and the
Government refunded 90 per cent.
of the duty paid on the raw ma
terial. The committee recommend
ei that hereafter the Government
should retain only one per cent instead
OF 10 per cent This would give 10 the
people OF the United States practically
free raw material for the export trade.
The committee said to capitalists of the
country: III you think you can go into
the foreign markets with free raw ma
terial, we give you within one per cent.
OF free raw material and you try and see
what you can do" Laughter. This
provision completely disposed OF what
had sometimes seemed an almost un-
answerable argument, urged by gentle
men on the outside that II the manu-
facturers only had raw material they
could compete in the markets OF the
world.
Mr.. Springer, OF Illinois, inquired
whether this provision applied TO wool.
Mr.. Mckinley replied that it applied
10 every thing. 1t was asserted by the
that the bill would not reduce
the revenues of the Government, but
that on the contrary IL would increase
the revenues. This statement was mis-
leading. 1t could only be valuable on
the assumption that the importations OF
the present year under this bill would |
be equal TO the importation Of like arti- |
rles under existing law. The instant |
duties we're increased 10 fair protective |
point that instant the importation |
No one could dispute that |
II the bill should become |
/ law the revenues OF the Government |
would be diminished from $50, OOO, 600 to |
I6O, OOO, 900.
After discussing the bill more in de- |
iail Mr.. Mckinley said that under the j
luties fixed by the bill the annual i'm
ports OF SIS, 900, 600 of agricultural prod
icts would be supplied the people Of 4
he United States by the American /
armer rather than by the Canadian
armer, and that S25, 900, 600 distributed
lmong tho farmers would relieve some
II the depression prevailing among
hem and give confidence, courage and
ability 10 raise the mortgages
lpon their farms. Applause. During
he twelve years Of reciprocity with
,ag.ada the United States had bought
much more than it had sold. What
'anada wanted, what other countries
wanted, was free and oren market in
he United States. What the United
itates wanted. if IL ever had reciprocity
vas reciprocity with equality, re
iprocity that vas fair, reciprocity that
Tas just, reciprocity that would give
Ier her share in the trade OF
he bargain she made with the old
of the world. Whenever the
United States had free trade. reciprocity
r low duties it had always been the
Dser. But he would not discuss recip-
Ocity. This was a domestic bill; il was
OF a foreign bill lApplause.
Mr.. Mckinley explained and defended
be wool schedule and the paragraph in
be- metal schedule concerning tin-plate
nd passed to the consideration Of the
zee list lie said that the committee
ad taken from the free list and placed
n the dutiable list eighteen articles, /
N Of which were articles Of agriculture.
the same quantity should be imported
iis year as was imported last year. this !
ould increase the revenue s.. 900. 900. ,
had taken from the dutiable list and .
NJ upon the free list forty-eight arti- /,
es which last year paid into the treas ]
" s5l, 500. 900. SIS, 900. 900 Of which was ,
.qm sugar alone.
Referring 10 the growth Of the carpet 1
dustry in tbs United States. Mr.. Nc +
inley said that the price Of carpets had {
me down while the ad valorem equiv '
ent had gone up. il was the hign al i
ilorem that gentlemen on tle other 4
de saw, while they shut their eyes 20 1