Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-10-16
REDUCED Is per cent.

SENATOR HISCOCK, OF NEW YORK.
Mr.. President, l have examined with
great care the charges that have been
so confidently made by Democratic
newspapers, and reiterated on the floor
of the Senate, that American manu-
facturers were selling their goods to
foreign dealers and consumers, offering
them freely at the large discounts given
from the prices at which the same
goods were offered to the same class of
American dealers and consumers. The
misunderstanding, if it is that and not an
attempt to falsify and deceive the pub
lie, is occasioned by the fact that the
retail price-lists, less the discoun is, are
given as the cost of the goods to foreign
jobbers There is no foreign retail trade)
and the retail price-lists, without dis
counts, as the cost to the American job
bers, when the most casual investiga-
ton would have satisfied Senators on
the other side that equal or greater dis
counts were given from those retail
prices to the American trade. 1t has
been made very material question.
confess that 1 do not know of an
article that has received tariff protec-
ton for series of years that it is not
now sold for a much less price than IL
was before ii was protected In the
general reduction of the prices of manu-
featured goods the large amount of the
American products and the great num-
Der of useful inventions to which Amer
lean genius has given birth are the
potent factors of large reductions
throughout the world.
The charge, if true, would prove either
that the manufacturers do not require
the protection they have, or that on &C
count of a combination among them
they sold their goods in the domestic
market at the enormous profits indicated
by the large discounts to the foreign
trade; for it is fair to assume that only
in exceptional cases. where the manu-
facturer finds on his hands surplus that
he cannot dispose of at remunerative
rates, or through bankruptcy, goods are
forced upon the market, would they be
sold abroad except at profit, and 1
concede that the charges made, If true,
were as trenchant against many customs
rates now existing as they are vicious
and even criminal In debate, Senators
upon the other side have lowered
around and concentrated their forces
around this point to launch their elo-
quent vituperations against the tariff
question more than any other.
1t is a remarkable fact, in this connec- |
ton, that in many individual instances |
manufacturers charged with this great |
crime against American consumers-for
If the charges were true it is crime
have written to newspapers and gentle |
men making charges explaining their
methods of business and refuting the |
charges and in no instance that can
recall have the writer's received the |
benefit of their denials, but on the con- |
trary they seem to call forth louder and |
more constant and specific assertions of |
their truth 1 confess to surprise that |
Senators who should discuss this great |
economic question, basing their argu-
ments upon facts and the logic of facts, |
have consented, as it seems to me, to /
descend to gross misstatements and to
misrepresent honorable men in their /
efforts to excite prejudice and hostility |
to great economic policy. In this dis
cussion, sir, we can not be too careful
either side-in guarding against calling /
to our aid in support of our theories any
matter that will not stand the highest |
crucial test in respect to its verify. / /
sir, have nothing but commiseration
for party leader in this debate who
finds it necessary to supply his constit-
uency with erroneous or incomplete
statements to hold them in party lines
upon this great issue that now divides
the two great political organizations.
SENATOR CULLOM, OF ILLINOIS
will take occasion to read the letter
Of this gentleman:
PITTSBURGH, Feb. 9, ISoQ
DEAR SIR inclose you list OF wages
paid In Europe and America. The wages
are still about the same; they were given
noe by the workmen themselves, ana Know
they are correct. Respectfully yours,
JAMES CAMPBELL.
Mr.. THOMAS n BATNE, " Washington, D. q
simply desire that the table 70 which
I hare teEerled my 81 in2 the Rs0S&