Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-10-24
MORE FOOD FOR The PEOPLE
Colonel Bird Tells How the Republi-
can Pledges of 1888 Have
Been Broken.
The Mckinley Bill the Only Attempt
at Fultillment, but it Increases
Tariff Burdens.
Taxation Augmented in Twelve of the
Thirteen Schedules - Higher
Duties on Poor Mans Needs.

1hAs was ueuoCTdI udy mere Inc
people who believe in tariff reform fiocked
t. the place from all the country round
and they were rewarded with a great
speech, which made rift after rift in the
republican doctrine of protection. The
speaker was Col. G. W. Bird of Madison
who said among other good things that
the canvass of 1888 is fresh in the minds
OF all. 1t was 50 recent that none can
have forgotten the questions involved OF
the attitude of parties at that time. How.
ever much they may have differed in other
respects, they were at substantial agreement
in this, that the interests of the people de
manded material reduction of tariff taxa
ton ON the necessaTies of life. True,
there were sharp differences of opinion as
to how that reduction should be secured.
Some believed it might be best attained
by the Mills bill. Others opposed that
measure, asserting it was framed by the
enemies of the protective system, and that
the securement of the needed reduction
should be entrusted to the friends of pro-
lection, not its enemies. Thus both parties
were then agreed upon the necessity Of a
reduction of tariff taxation on necessarieS
of life, and both went before the people
committed to and agreeing to secure it if
entrusted wit. control. As recently said
by Senator Plumb, if it had been suppos-
ed a reform of the tariff as advocated by
republicans in that canvass meant an in
crease of tariff, General Harrison would
not have been elected The result, there
fore, of the election of 1888 was a demand
by the people for such reduction, and a
solemn compact with them by their chosen
officials, that, whatever else occurred, it
should be secured. How has that compact
been kept by those elected on the aith of
the promise?'
The speaker declared that ''the only
measure they have presented looking to
its fulfiIment is the Mckinley bill 1t is
entitled, "a bill to reduce the revenue and
equalize duties and imports, and for
other purposes From this title one
would naturally infer that reduction of
taxation was the main purpose sought
and secured by it. A careful examination
of it, however, shows its title 10 be sin
gularly deceptive It fails to reduce the
rates of taxation on dutiable commodities,
but in many and marked instances
increases them. 1t is very vOlumin-
Gus, dealing with many articles
and com olicated figures. 1t was known
the people could hardly stop to read it
much less to thoughtfully consider and
compare its figures and percentages; that.
instead, they would only read the title and
be satisfied with the assurance it gives
that the bill itself is what it is there rep
resented to be. But let US go a step fur
ther and briefly look into this measure and
see whether its title correctly represents
its contents.
Taxation Increased in IL of its / 3 SEIZED
ules.
The articles upon which taxes are i'm
posed are embraced in thirteen separate
schedules, made part of the bill. In twelve
of these thirteen schedules, in all but one
the rates of taxation have been materially
increased. Here then, is bill passed in
response to the popular demand for a
reduction of taxation, which ma
terially increases taxation upon twelve of
the thirteen schedules of which it is com
posed. Without considering any other of
its features, may we not ask, does such a
bill fulfill the promise to the people made
by those elected in the canvass of 1888 !?
On the contrary, in view of the fact that
twelve thirteenths of it show increase of
taxes, have we not the right to confidently
assert that this bill is most stupendous
breach of faith with the people2
Taxation Increased, Revenue Reduced.
"A surprising feature OF the bill is, it
largely increases taxation, while its au-
thors claim ii decreases revenue. Just
think of it-reduction of revenue and in
crease of taxation The distinction be-
tween the two is important. Revenue is
the amount received by the governE cnt,
and taxation is the amount paid by the
people. Revenue IN this connection is the
amount of tariff duties on imported arti-
cles paid to the government. Taxation is
the additional amount paid by the peo-
pie for both imported and domestic articles
because of the tariff duties If importa-
tions be checked, the duty remains un-
changed; the revenue will be diminished,
while taxation will remain the same If,
however. the duty be raised so high as to
oe prohibitory, or nearly so, the revenue
will be diminished and taxation increased.
This vs. just what the trainers of the bill
indicate it does-that by raising the
duties it checks imports. reduces the reve-
nue. and raises prices of domestic manu-
factures. Here then is a measure which.
as claimed by its authors, increases taxa
ton but diminishes the revenue-increass
the burdens on the people, but diminishes
the benefits to the government.
1T is certain, and not seriously disputed,
that it increased taxation. A careful COM
putation of its schedules makes it reason
oily certain that it will increase the rev.
enues also, as well as taxation. But is it
not astonishing that men will prepare a
measure. whose chief excellence they de-
clare to be its reduction OF the revenue
while it increases taxation2 This is states.
manship run mad. And yet the men who
have done this are now before the people
demanding approval Of their conduct
Rates Higher Than Ever Before
Not only does this bill increase taxa
ton on twelve of Its thirteen schedules, -
continued Col. Bird, but il levies upon a
great many articles Of absolute necessity,
higher rates of duty than were ever before
proposed In any measure reported to con-
gress. The country has gone through
ar least four bloody wars Ii has had oc-
casion to collect and use enormous sums
of money. In its extremity it has searched
out and seized upon every possible subject
Of taxation TO meet its wants, and