, 1890-04-17
AN UNJUST MEASURE.
So the Minority Pronounoes
the Tariff Bill.
SOME OF ITS WEAK FEATURES
It Taxes Cheap Articles Higher
Than Costly Ones-Tho Sugar
Schedule.

WAsHrsoros, April l6 Tho minority
report signed by all the democratic
members Of the committee, says; The
minority contended for the principles
OF just and equal taxation upon all, ac-
cording TO their ability TO bear the bur
dcns while tho majority have In this
bill thoroughly committed themselves
to tho policy of the unjust and unequal
taxation of the many for the benefit Of
the few. We are as anxious as the
majority can possibly be to promote
and encourage American industries, and
advance the interests Of American
laborors, but we believe that both of
these objects can DO accomplished
by reducing taxation, and not by in
creasing 1t. The majority, after months
OF laborious investigations, have been
able to satisfy part only OF the dc
mands made upon them. The only
remedy is to remove, as far as possible,
artificial burdens and restrictions, and
to give to all OF our industries an equal
chance in the field of competition at
home and abroad.
According to the statement made be-
fore the committee on the protected in
dustries of the country, they never have
been, at any time in our history, in such
a depressed and discouraging condition
as now, after nearly thirty years of con-
tinuous protection. A great many parties
engaged in these industries have
declared that the slightest reduction
in the duty would compel them to close
their works and discharge their en-
ployes, and others have even gone so far
as to assert tt at they would bo forced to
go out of business II the rates Of tax alton
were not increased. At the same time
the lsborers in those industries are
complaining of insufficient wages, the
repeated suspension OF work and a gen.
eral condition OF insecurity. The labor
ers, fully realizing the fact that this sys-
tenn has wholly failed to increase their
earnings, or improve their condition in
any way, have been compelled TO organ
lie trades unions and TO resent the other
methods of combination and co-opera-
tion for self. protection, and these various
organizations now afford the only eiii-
Cicnt means at their command for the
preservation of even the existing rates of
wages.
The report states that tho remedy
proposed by the majority is the impo
| sition OF more taxes upon every article
of foreign origin which the people of
this country wish to buy and for which
they are ready and anxious to exchange
the cotton which they can not spin, the
| corn and wheat which they can not con-
sume, the coal which they can not burn,
and many other productions.
The majority bill Is framed, the mi
nority report continues, upon the as.
sumption that as our industries grow
older they grow weaker and more de
pendent upon the bounty OF the govern
ment. 1t devolves upon these advocates
now to explain, II they can, why 1t is
that after the low tariff policy
was abandoned more than quarter OF u
century ago, and high tariff policy
substituted in its place, the manufactur-
ing and mechanical industries of the
country became less able to maintain
themselves than they were when the
change was made, and when this is done
IL will still remain for them to show
upon what principle of justice or policy
the consumers can he periodically sub
jected to additional taxation for the ex-
elusive benefit Of private business enter
prises.
The silk bounty is severely criticised.
The report says that the bill will in
crease the taxes on wool and woolcns Sl5,-
bcO,OOO per annunf according to last
year importations, but really to a much
greater sum, while the taxes on tobacco
To the amount oi IS, $50, Upi are TO be
abolished. The minority can not agree
to do this at the price ofincreascs on the
necessaries.
DETAILS oT THE BILL ATTACKED.
The report attacks some OF the details
of the bill. Among other things, II says
that one grade of coarse, cheap blankets
are to he required to pay los per cent,
but that the finest blankets are TO pay
~ per cent. The coarsest and cheapest
woolen hats are to be subjected to "A duty
OF Ill per cent, aud the finest to one of
68 per cent. Womens anu children's
cheapest dress goods, with cotton warp,
are to be taxed l05 per cent, and the
finest 73 per cent. Lowest grade wooden
clothes will pay 1875 per cent, and high
est grade So per cent, etc, etc.
on the raw material schedules. the
report says that there are many increases
and scarcely any reductions
The report says We have for long
time been endesvoring to increase our
trade with the people OF Central and
South America and aiexico and AN inter
national conference Is now being held To
devise means TO accomplish this result.
In the midst of its deliberations. and
when It was earnestly hoped that some
practicable plan might be agreed upon
Tor the establishment OF closer CONNER
cial relations, the bill ~ reported, con-
tanning provisions which will not only
retard reciprocal arrangements for the
future, but will destroy the larger part
Of the trade now existing. Tho bill
proposed to make large increases OF the
duties on carpet wool. and to subject
the lead contained In silver ores To q
duty, not because we need the revenue,
but for the sole purpose OF preventing
these articles from being Imported into
the country.
Speaking OF tho wool schedule, the
report says; These increases are made
principally upon the demand OF few
large Hook matters in the state OF Ohio.
and are defended by the majority on
the alleged ground that they will be
beneficial to the farmers OF the country
who keep sheep. The fact is, wool Is
one OF our least important agricultural
products In point OF actual value, and
by comparison with others.
Speaking OF other duties imposed on
agricultural products the minority says:
IL Is impossible to protect the farmer
against foreign competition, for he has
no such competition, and the insertion
or retention of these articles in the tarih
bill Is a device which will deceive no one
who gives moments thought TO TINS
subject. During the last season we ex-
ported ~, 6J2, 80 bushels OF corn, and
imported only :, ,3sS bushels. The same
proportion is quoted on wheat and corn
shows how futile II Is to attempt to
AFFORD protection TO tho farmer by i'm
posing duties upon the importation of
these products. and this large and intel
ligent class of citizens can not 10 recon
ciled IN this way to policy which
increases the taxes upon their clothing,
table ware, carpets, eArthen- ware, glass
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