The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-05-09
THEY ALL take PART
IcKinlsys Tariff Bill Put On The Dis.
sectnS Table.
Showing Up the Bad Points OF the
Measure Versions to
Account for the Agricui-
tural Depression.

the t0rlu Dill. DOckefy, Oh nlibsOur1, soiu
that In the last campaign the republican
party claimed farmers would be benefited
by protection, yet after q republican vic
tory the depression in agriculture was
greater than ever. This depression fol-
lowed d great protective victory. Ii was
not q temporary condition the country had
TO deal with. Farm prices had not re-
covered since the panic of 1873. Con-
slant tendency i'm the west had been
downward since that time. He then pro-
ceeded to argue that il was not in the
power of any tariff to raise the price Of
any agricultural product unless il could
be seen that il was brought into competi-
ton with the foreign article instead Of
having 10 meet competition on our own
soil, American farmers exported their
own produce to supply the agricultural
deficiency of European countries.
Morse inquired whether farmers did
not have to compete with the farmers Of
Canada.
Dockery replied that that question re-
vealed another injustice OF the tariff sys-
TEN. Western farmers had no compe-
titions but the effect OF the tariff ON aRri-
cultural products was detrimental to the
farmers of the east. Eggs, with duty OF
8 cents dozen were brought from
Canada to New York because il was
pay railroad rates from the west TO the
east. Therefore the tariff gave no benefit
TO the farmer of the west and taxed the
eastern farmer to the extent OF the duty
Dockery then submitted an argument in
favor OF free wool and n reduction Of
duty on manufactured products. In his
state there were 100000 more people than
sheep, and between the people and the
sheep sympathy was with the people. Dis.
cussing the subject of trusts as connected
with the tariff, he denounced the dressed
beef monopoly of Chicago as having
plundered the farmers OF the west by I'M
scrIpulous actions. If the farmer was to
be relieved. IL the mortgage was to he
taken off his farm, the government must
speedily reverse its policy in regard to
foreign trade. III the government would
unshackle our gcnius. nnhamper our Ell
terprises, unfetter our resources, we
would soon outstrip England.
Burrows, of Michigan, said republicans
would reduce the surplus by one theory.
democrats by another, and il was this
conflict of theories which prevented the
remedy being applied. In the campaign
of 1888 the two theories were presented to
the American people and after full debate
on The platform and In the press n verdict
was rendered in favor OF the republican
theory. The verdict was so pronounced
as to wrest the presidency and popular
branch of congress from the democratic
party. In the measure the committee on
ways and means presented IL sought to
execute the popular verdic. and crystal
ize il into law. The democratic party
was again going before the people with
the appeal that they reverse their
verdict. The democratic party favored
tariff for revenue. The republican party
favored tariff for revenue and protection,
not incidental, not accidental, but inten-
;ional. Tariff for revenue only was a
step towards free trade. and the republi-
,an party was against IL. Applause.
The bill was intended as a measure of
protection from enactiDg clause to the
closing paragraph. Burrows defended
the tin plate, sugar and wool sections.
Free trade meant unrestricted competi-
ton. Unrestricted competition in cheap
goods meant cheap labor. competition in
cheap labor meant cheap flesh and blood,
competition in cheap flesh and blood was
slavery. Cheap clothing and cheap
food were OF no value II human
labor was cheaper still. Applause. !
Free trade meant cheapness to the
rich and idle, but longer hours and
| harder work for the laborer. In this
race for chcapncss the re-
publicansparty did not propose to enter.
| Whatever might be the cause of the pres
| ent agricultural depression, no one would
be bold enough to assert that il was due
| to the policy which had created a home
market capacious enough TO consume lex
elusive of cotton and tobacco, 30 per cent.
| of the products of the farm. What
ever might be the remedy for
| the agricultural depression one thing was
true, Il would not be found in the markets
| of the world. In this bill, said Burrows.
| we have sought to reduce the revenues to
the basis OF governmental need, without
impairing "a single American industry or
Of dcpriving. single iaborinR man OF the
product of his toll.
NoNf;Ilan of reuuossaa nro,,osad A.,
stretch this bill, this pntrid patient, upon
the dissecting table. In some respects il
was like a man, for IL was fearf,illy and
wonderfully made. Again IL was earth at
creation, without form and all darkness.
There was a general change for ad val
orem to specific forms; prices of commo-
dities were falling all over the world and
this change prevented the consumer from
getting the benefit of the reduction. The
democratic party would take issue with
| the republican party on the new doctrine
OF the country. He also denounced the
increase OF duty on tin plate. The gentle
men OH the other side spoke of the victory
achieved by republicans In 1sss. That
| was n victory when 10000 popular ma
iority was for the democratic candidate.
This provoked political tilt betwt eA
Milliken and McMillen which lasted
some time. McMillen then proceeded to
| an analysis of the bill asserting that
aside from the sugar schedule
| there was not schedule in
which duties had not been increased.
McMillen predicted that when the ides of
November arrived, there would 20 up
from the Republican party wall OF de-
| feat.
nBaync OF Pennsylvania was opposed 10
any general discussion of the bill. IL
should he passed speedily. While this
measure was pending in congress, the
business interests of the country would be
in a restless, uneasy condition, which
could only be relieved when the president
placed his signature on the bill. Referring
TO the agricultural depression. he adj
mitted that in some parts of the country
the condition Of farmers was bad, but he
did not think il fair that the Inference
should he drawn that farmers Of
foreign countries were in favorable cir
| cumstanccs. ON the contrary. he asserted
that foreign farmers were IN much mor,.