Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-08-02

! - the Hoese had done. The House be
beiIevedl had considered sixteen pages OF
the bill one page further than the Senate
had nov got. and il vas expected that the
Senate would take il up and '.bolf IL as the
House had done.
Manufacturers had from Congress hi,h-
er'o precisely what they had asked. They
bad the iariE las nos on a statute 5ouk.
put there by republican Congress. on te-
pert of the republican tariff commission
designed snd calculated to be helpful 10
them which gave them substantially what
they asked. So far from their being sat,
ished another bill for their benefit vas to
bs put through without debate (if il could
be brought about on the theory thA, the
country VAS hunsering and thirsting for
more tariff legislation.
He believed in so distributing the duties
necessary for the purpose of raising re,e-
nue. for the support of the government in
such way As to equslize he conditions
/ existing between tAe manufacturers of this
country sui 81, = abroad. II be VAS in
doubt he would resolve that doubt in favor
( Of american msnaia-tares. If he knew
the exsc, conditions he would put home
and foreign manufacturers on the same
footing precisely. He should be recre-
art 70 his duty if he gave his support TO
such proposition As the chinaware sched-
uie lie knew the pottery manufacturers
Of Ohio were rich, far richer than the peo-
pie whom be- represented. II they could
tske half OF the American market why
could they not take the whole.
IL was evident they did not care to 30 so,
only that part of il which lett them the
greatest profit. They had entered into Ar
rangements with importers, the importers
taking one portion of the market and the
manufacturer, the other. He knew when
the contractors for the State House At To
peka wanted structural beams, the Amerl-
can manufacturers refused to supply them
al a fair rate, and the contractor was com.
pellei to import them, although they were
pay ing duty of l05 rcr cent. The same
was true in regard 10 the Texas State house.
The Senate owed some du to the Amsri
can people as well as 10 manufacturers
There sss a point where political sympsth-
les ended AM business interests began
Tie democratic party had IFS full share of
the responsibility for The iniquities of the
present tariff Law and the duties now pro
posed.
The democrats in the House had an op
portunty for correcting the errors and
wicAedness of the Mckinley bill but
sought to evsde the responsibility of their
votes. when by joining with the republicans
opposed 10 the bill they might have eliml- |
mated many of its errors could they have
seen the game of battle door and shuttle |
cock betseen free trade and protection
con ,tsntly going on for political advantage |
on one side and personal advantage on the |
other. and between the two extremes the |
great body of American people being |
crushed and ground We would apply thu |
rule that who ever demanded tax for his |
own benefit should be ready to shnw con
clusseiy that his interest was the public
interest. The demonstration should be
made that every single penny tax proposed !
was absolutely necessary.
lie suii be woui cast, no vote that did
not represent Informed judgment in that
direction. There has been ns attemp,
made to justify the proposed lncrease IL
duties. which increase (he has been ia
farmed) in ZONE cases 300 per cent as IN
Mckinley bill. Even if such increase only
on some little Items and what a fact it di.
closed. How such a fact opened up the
whole question AID showed hos much
know ledge the Senators needed on the
sut ject. 1t showed that every item should
he gone over carefully, and for the pur
pose of ascerts ming what the precise rat,
of duty ought TO bs. No attempt of that
k nd has been made.
Sherman concurred with Plumb in ,he
state ment tina. no proposition made TO tax
people should b. supported unless there
W As oi ground for it, either for colec
ton Of revenue or some purpose of public
policy such as protection to American ir-
iustry.
lie said the Gro, k ry industry of the
nited States was not to be igdored nor
refused any reasonable demand. 1t never
could have been established in this coun-
Try without prote Prices of china
" are are les snow than he duties levied ou
hem u years ago. The bill went over
without vote on any of the pending
ame ndmepts apparently without discussion
being brought 10 close.
Vesi N J0ited the amendment by making
wo rates on decorated China and PLAIN
China 20 and 40 per cent. respectively.
The Senate at rs 4. NJ adjouraed,