The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-04-17

sway of such oppressive competition,
depressed and obstructed by various
ruinous measures OF restriction. with
foreign agricultural products crowding
our home market your committee have
recommended an increase upon aRricul-
tural products, with q view TO increasing
the number OF Rainful occupations open
TO the farmer. The committee has recon-
mended bounty to the growers OF silk.
Az q duty of 81 per pound would he ne
quired To protect American silk and
reeler, the committee decided 80 high
duty would embarrass the silk weav-
reason. and TO secure the industry rs
speedily as possible offers the necessary
differential bounty of 81 per pound, or
about 20 per cent, OF the protection ON
reeled silk. The report says: ITO pro-
duce our annual importations OF reelcti
work TO over 1000 persons in different
branches OF the industry. To produce
cocoons necessary To supply this silk will
give temporary but remunerative employ
ment to the families OF half million
farmers every season. To encourage the
production OF cocoons and give direct
encouragement To producers the commit
tee has also provided bounty OF cents
n pound on fresh cocoons; bountIes tn
continue ten years. OF internal revenue
sections the committee says II recon-
mends repeal Of all the statutes impos-
ing restrictions upon farmers and grow
ers of tobacco, so that they may sell with
freedom. In conclusion the report said
of the advance Of duties ON agricultural
products, this they are fbr the most
part articles which this country can pro-
duce to the extent of our wants, the i'm
creased duty will reduce the importa.
tions so the revenue will not be increased
and our farmers will hold their own mar
kets. The same result will follow in
other cases of increase, and where the
revenue i'm special cases is increased the
increase will be far less than indicated
by computation based ON the theory
that importations will continue as large
The minority report, signed by all the
democratic members OF the committee
says the minority contends Tor the princi-
pie of just and equal taxation upon all,
according to their ability TO bear the bur
den. while the majority has in this bill
thoroughly committed itself to the policy
of unjust and unequal taxation OF the
many for the benefit OF the few. We are
as anxious as the majority can possible he
to promote and encourage American in.
dustries and advance the interests OF
American laborcrs, but believe both OF
these objects can bc accomplished by re-
ducing taxation and not by
increasing them. The majority after
months of laborious investigation
has been able To satisfy part only OF the
demands upon il. The only remedy is to
remove as far as possible artificial bur-
dens and restrictions, and give to all our
industries an equal chance in the field OF
competition at home and abroad. Ac-
cortllng to the statement made before the
committee the protected industries OF the
country had never been at any time I'm our
history in such depressed ana
III lfslr
nearly 10 years Of continuous protection.
A great many parties engaged in these in
dustres declared that the slightest reduc-
ton in duty would compel them to close
their works and discharge their employees,
and others have even gone so tar as to as
sert that they will be forced To go out of
business il the rates of taxation are not
decreased. At the same time laborcrs i'm
those industries are complaining OF I'M
sufficient wages, repeated SUSPENSION OF
work and the general condition of inse-
curity. These laborers fully realizing the
fact that this system has wholly failed to
increase their earnings or improve their
condition i'm any way, have been COM
pelled TO organize trade unions and to
resort to other methods of combination and
cooperation for self-protection, and these
various organizations now Afford the only
efficient means at their command for the
preservation of even the existing rates OF
wages. The report states that the rem
edy proposed by the majority is the inn
position 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 cotton
| which they cannot spin, corn and wheat
they cannot consume, coal they cannot
burn and many other productions.
The majority bill is framed upon the
assumption that as our industries grow
older they grow weaker and more depend
1 r. ...a
/ II devolyes upon these advocates now Ia
explain IL they can why il is that after the
low tariff policy has been abandoned
| more than a quarter of "A century and n
high tariff policy substituted in its place,
the manufacturing and mechanical in
dustries of the country are less able to
| mainta n themselves than they were when
the change was made; and when this IL
done il will still remain for them to show
| upon what principle OF Justice or policy
consumers can be periodically subjected
to additional taxation for the exclus
i've benefit of priva tc business enter
| prises. The silk bounty is severely crit
cized. The report says the bill will in
| crease taxes on wool woolcns Sl5,JDW'
per annum according To last years inn
portations, but really To a much greater
| sum. while taxes on tobacco To the amoun
of IS, so. .994 are abolished. The minorit,
| cannot agree TO do this at the price OF az
increase ON the necessaries. The report
attacks some of the details OF the bill
| Among other things ID says one grade o
coarse cheap blankets will he required {,
pay 106 per cent, but the finest blankets
pay ~ per cent. The coarsest and cbcapcs
| woolen hats will be subjected To "A duty o.
III per cent, and the finest To G6 per cent
women's and chillren's cheapest dres
goods with cotton warp are To bc taxed
los per cent, and the finest 13 per cent
The lowest grade woolen cloths will pa!