The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-18
The McKinley Bill.


The frequent changes that were made in
the Mckinley bill during the preparation
OF it, and the radical and very important
changes that were made in it few hours
before it was reported to the House, justify
I the conclusion that it has not the full ap-
| prevail of all the republican members of the
ways and means committee. They all
signed it, however, and they did So doubt
less, because they recognized their inability
to frame bill which would be anywhere
near just to all interests, and which, at the
same time, would satisfy the great
monopolies that have grown stroag under
the high protective tariff policy of the Rs-
publican party. The vaclllating course of
the majority of the committee was due to
some extent, no doubt, to a desire to frame
a bill that would strengthen the Republican
party, aud hence. the action that was taken
one day was often rescinded the next. 1t is
probably safe 20 say that those who signed
the majority report have no very clear idea
of what the effect of the bill would be
! should it become law.
A very superficial inspection of the bill is
sufficient to show that it reduces the duties
on a very few, ana increases them on
great many, articles. Ii it were not that
sugar and molasses are placed on the free
list the bin would very greatly increase the
revenue, and the minority members of the
committee express the opinion that, even
with free sugar, the effect of the bill would
be to increase the revenue.
There is no doubt that the bill discrimi-
mates against the poor, because the duties
on low grade goods are placed higher than
on goods of higher grade For instance,
the duty on the lower grades of wooden
yarn, worth not over 80 cents pound,
Is fixed at 100 per cent, while the most
costly yarn would have to pay duty of
only ~ per cent The duty on cheap blan-
kets is fixed at 106 per cent, while that
on the finest blankets is placed at ~
per cent The duty on cheap wooden hats
is fixed at "A l per cent, and on the fin
est hats 40 &C per cent Evidences
of the discrimination in favor of the rich
are numerous throughout the bill. 1t seems
somewhat remarkable that the republican
party should favor the rich rather than the
Door, in view of the fact that it constantly
asserts that its tariff policy is mainly for the
benefit of the workingmen. That the work.
iIgmen are not benefited by that policy,
however. is very clearly shown by the fact
that the laboring masses are constantly en-
gaging in strikes to prevent the protected
monopolists from reducing their wages to
the starvation point.
A curious feature of the bill is the bid for
the farmers vote. A great many farm
products are placed upon the dutiable list.
Even live stock finds place there. Doesn't
everybody know that only sugar and rice
planters have reason to fear competition
from foreign grown farm products. 1t is
true that along the Canadian border live
stock may be imported, and also eggs and
vegetables, but no considerable number of
farmers suffer from these importations.
The truth is, the showing which the bill
makes in behalf of the farmers is only for
effect.
The point which the minority
members of the committee make in their
report with respect to the Central and South
American trade is very strong one.
Mexico and the Central and South Ameri-
can states were invited to participate in a
congress with the view of bringing about a
closer commercial relation between them
and this country. The bill can hardly be
considered by them otherwise than as a
slap in the face, for it makes articles which
some of them export and which are now
admitted in this country free, dutiaDIe. 1t
is probable that they will retaliate, and the
result will be that this country will get less
of their trade than it does now.
II is extremely doubtful that congress
win agree to pay a bounty of Q cents
pound on sugar. There will be very pro-
nounced opposition to giving government
aid to one class Of farmers and Withholding
it from other classes. To the argument
that sugar cannot be cultivated, except at
loss, if it is not protected, the answer
will be made that corn cannot be
grown at profit. The corn farmers
of the west are being forced from their
homes BY their burden of mortgages, and
the wheat growers of Dakota do not live in
luxury.
Speaker Reed wants an early adjourn
ment of congress. He talks about an
adjournment in June. If the discussion of
the Mckinley bill were to begin next week
the House would not be ready to vote on
the bill by June. 1t never will be ready to
vote upon it In its present shape.