The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-03-29
HON. G. W. ATKINSON
Talks to the lnte|ligencer About
the Mckinley Bill. n
VIRGlNIA'S INTERESTS
VIII Not Sutler-Whccllng and Her
Industries How tho Farmer will
be Bcnctlttcd-Thc Bills Dc.
fccts and It's Merits.
Special Dispoieh to The Inttl!icener,

view OF tho great interest which attachc
to all questions affecting the tariG
throughout West Virginia, your cores
pondcnt has obtained from Representa-
tive Atkinson m expression OF his views
upon the pending Mckinley bill. Mr.
Atkinson said:
"Thc tariff bill is not Just what wonll
have it, but it is Ms near the right thing
ms our diversified industries will allow.
What exactly suits Wheeling and West
Virginia does not lit tho West, nor in all
respects does it fit New England. Our
committee has done the best 1t could,
and on the whole has done we'll. =
wnEELlSo's INTERESTS.
"Our own people at Wheeling arc
more interested in iron, steel, glass and
pottery than anything else. The pres.
ent bill Is an improvement on the pres.
ent law in iron aad steel, and l sup
pose, therefore, Wheeling people will be
in tho main satisfied. The growth in
the iron production Of the country the
last year is amazing, and 1890 starts out
still more vigorously. | notice that We
are now turning out pig iron at the rate
Of nine million tons per annum. This
even heads England in the production
Of crude iron, and at the same time the
price to the consumer remains even be-
low it's normal level. All this ia the
natural outgrowth Of protecting the man.
utacture Of this leading industry Of our
country.
THE reduction OF 81 ton on steel
rails aud substantial increase of duty
on soft steel, while not all that Wheeling
manufacturers might desire, is, never
theless, in the nature OF an acceptable
compromise and will be OF the greatest
benefit to our home steel men. The
duty on glass, earthenware and pottery
remains substantially as it now stands,
which, in the main, I am informed is
to those great industries.
THE FARMER BENEFITED.
"The proposed bill benefits the farmer
because it increases the duty on many
articles that are imported in great guam
titles because OF the present low rate OF
duty on such articles. know the west.
ern farmers have been restive for some
time, and not without cause. The pro.
duets OF the farms OF this country run
well up to 5000, 100000 per year. This
vast business should be protected. Only
10 per cent OF our farm products 20
abroad. What the farmers want is pro-
lection from foreign farmers importa.
tions so as to build up the home market
to living prices where they now sell
ninety per cent OF what they raise, and
when,. by and by, they may even sell
more, aud at better prices. TIE present
bill is a long step in this direction. II II
had my way l would shove up the duty
on eggs and potatoes still higher SO that
it would necessitate the English egg to
be eaten on English soil, and thus give
our farmers chance to produce the eggs
and potatoes that our people consume;
but I long ago found out that cannot
always have my own way. Ii can't get
q whole loaf, ! will take half LOAF rather
than none.
II have always been in favor OF pro-
tectiug our sugar industry. For q time,
to maintain sufficiently high duty on
sugar to encourage its production in
large enough quantities TO satisfy the
wants Of our people, will work hard.
ship on the American consumer OF this
standard commodity, but in the end it
will more than pay. II is all false for the
free traders to cay that We cannot pro.
duce, in our own country enough sugar
for the demands OF our people. It can
be done, and will be done, ii tho duty is
placed high enough to encourage its
We send abroad hun
dred millions a year for sugar alone.
Why do this? Why not keep this i'm.
menss sum at home? Why not employ
our own people in producing it on our
own soil? Now is good time to en-
courage production Of this great com.
modify, and l am in favor OF doing it.
Another reason why I am in favor Of
sugar is because believe in
protection. .as a principle. How can |
ask member Of Congress to vote to pro.
tect iron and steel and glass and wool
and coal, il ! refuse to vote to protect
sugar? won't do it. am for the all
around principle OF protection. | regret
that the duty was lowered fifty per cent.
In my judgment it is a mistake"
U.... rtfr rnny cc,1ppt,r ,H.a'. ..l. 80. r