Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-10-15

Mr. President examination of this measure
will develop these facts, that with the exception
OF sugar and molasses, the articles transferred 10
the tree list under the provisions of this BILL have
only yielded revenue of 3 s4t ,I77.7f. and consist
of acorns. books in languages exclusively other
than English. feathers aud down, cu:rants. dates
opium unnanuiactured, green house plants.
paintings in oil or water colors, and staiuary;
other articles transferred being such as are used
in the manufacturing industries Of our country.
The free list under this bill tends TO reduce the
cost of manufactures, while the dutiable list Is
formed with view 10 increase the protection OF
the manufactured products. II puts no article of
universal use aud absolute necessity upon the
free list, being more generous TO the rich Than
TO the Door in allowing them to import their
green house plants and their paintings and stat
ury free Of duty, while ii requires the lahorer 10
pay an increased tax upon his blanket, his tools
tin bucket. knives and forks. woollen goods, etc.
Upon every article that enters the country, used
by the great body Of the people It demands from
the agriculturist and the laborer and from every
other consumer a higher bounty and more on
erous tax than the present tariff
On all articles composed entirely or in part OF
iron or steel il increases the rates of duty from
sss.24 the 500. 10 s5I76: on all Gotten goods
from Gas 8. on the 500 to IS: on all woolen
manufactures from .ss % on the 500 10 s7o.4E on
paper boxes etc. from $40 81 the 500 10 s73 ST.
making an annual increase, based upon the inn
ports OF 1889 upon those articles which enter into
the daily use and consumption Of the people. Of
sc, ISL. ooo.S9
As an example of the great increase under the
Mckinley Dill VIII quote from the statement OF
Custave Blumenthal before the committee on f.
nance OF the Senate. who. after making full
statement Of the effect Of the provisions OF that
bill upon the tariff on buttons, said:
In conclusion, herewith hand You a state
ment Of a small invoice OF buttons which arrived
yesterday and was entered at the custom house at
New York to day. the market value OF which Is
81 ,5co SO and the present duty sIoo 20, while hg
ired at the rates as proposed the duty on the
same invoice would amount to s., fs7. Co."
Mr.. Walter Fietcher shows the increase OF duty
on cashmere shawls under this bill TO be as fol-
lows:
These goods which now show you what
call cashmere shawls. and they are very cheap
Here is article that costs about "a cents There
IS already z per cent duty on It now Under me
present bill they propose 10 make Il bundled
more per cent II l. pretty much the same thing
all the way through this line OF goods which
have indicated in The table. There Is about $50
per cent. These goods are not made in this
country st all"
Aud Mr. John Egington. in referring to the in
crease Of taxation liquid extracts OF bee! which
j. manufactured only 10 a limited degree in tkis
country and which II used largely as medicine,
said.
..nu late invoice this would shew difference
Of sso5 S.: proposed duty, sl.7o7.ss, old duty
500 S. or an advance Of zoo per cent"
THE CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY
AGRICULTURE.
Mr.. President. it may be true and j, is not my
purpose to question the fact asserted by Senators
during the progress OF this debate, that the bust
ness interest Of the couHiry IS prosperous and
that no fears are ente riained of a change Of this
condition Of affairs. This is not true however Of
the greatest Of all our agriculture.
The low prices Of agricultural products and the
enhanced cost OF all articles Of prime necessity -
affecting most injuTiously this large class Of oar
population, and a result the value Of the farms
have deprecated, large Indebtedness has been ac-
cumulated. hopes that were entertained that re-
lie fwould be given by at least reducing th- bur.
dens OF tsxstOn have been disappointed, md u
this class j. not in depiorable condition. those
engaged III IL fully realize the fact That IN the set
Iemeut Of the annual balance Of debit and credit.
each succeeding year finds them in 2 wore con-
dition than they were II the end OF the preceding
year
The magnitude Of the agricultural industry
must be aDpeciated when we recall the fact that
al least Tot ~ millions OF our population are de-
pendent OF that pursuit; tina, The value Of the
nusl pfOduct reaches oter two and oue-half bill
lions o. dollars. Of which amount nearly 81 600
$4,000 worth i consumed in this county, aud
over 500 ooo. 900 OF its product j. exported.
With thee facts fully understood and known by
the leaders Of the Republican party. who have
controlled the legislation OF this country FOR thirty
years no effort has been made byiheni 70 advance
III development or promote the prosperity OF this,
the greatest of all industries. The legislation
wkica they have formulated. and The laws which
they have enacted. which in any WY could affect
IT, have operated a. restrictions upon its growth
and Of limitations upon it, expansion The bill
under discussion furnishes no hopes Of relief,
although The chairman Of the Commute on ways
and means Of the House admitted. N reportingst
to that body, that there was widespread de-
preston" N this industry. and yet is provisions
but tend 10 sggfavste the evils which have pro
dycrd the conditions under which II Is suffer
ing
heir appeals TO Congress for the passage Of fair
and euuitaDse laws have been unhredcd: the ar
roxsnt demand Of the capt. sst. the fnsnufsc-
tur-r aud the Inonopoi-t. aud the persistent
workings Of their representatives. IN the corridors
VI this Capitol, hose cry - ai~aJs give, give.