The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-12-04
The Meeting OF Congress.
The Fifty second Congress, which will as

The Fifty second Congress, which will as
semble at Washington next Monday. will be
remarkable for the fact that in the House oil
Representatives the Democrats will have q
majority of $50. While this is gratifying to
the Democrats of the country and other
friends Of tariff reform, It IL attended with
some disadvantage The first difficulty will
be the selection ofa Speaker. For this exalt-
ed position there are several candidates, all
Of whom have enthusiastic supporters. The
two candidates most prominent now are Mr.
Mills, of Texas, and Judge Crisp, of Georgia.
Messrs. Hatch, of Missouri, McMillin, Of
Tennessee, and Springer, of Illinois, are also
named for the place. Every one Of them is
sound on the tariff question and fully equip
ped in knowledge Of parliamentary rules,
ability and dignity to fill the Speakers chair
with credit. 1t is feared, however, that the
warm contest which has been waged will
leave behind it Q root of bitterness that may
create unpleasantness and mar the harmony
of the Democratic majority.
Then, too, the large majority may tempt
indiscreet Democrats to acts which, recoiling
upon their party, will give their opponents
an advantage in the coming Presidential
election.
The chief issue now before the country, to
which every other question must be subordi-
mated, ia the tariff. The Democrats in the
House, greatly as they would like to prepare
and pass tariff bill that would fairly protect
the interests of farmers as well as manufactur-
ers, will be powerless to do so, since the Sen.
ate Is now in the hands of the Republicans,
who oppose any reduction in tariff taxes, and
President Harrison stands behind them with
power to veto any tariff bill. Itwould there
fore be waste of time for the House to at
tempt the passage of a new tariff bill in its
entirety. It should, however, endeavor to
secure revision of the Mckinley tariff in
some of its most odious and oppressive fea-
lures. For instance. one of the first points Of
attack should be the unnecessary increase in
the tariff on timed plate. Timed plate, as is
we'll known, is merely iron or steel plates
coated with tin. The cheapening of steel, of
late years, has caused it to be chiefly used for
this purpose, and to enable the manufacturers
of these steel plates to increase the sale of
their products the Mckinley tariff increased
the duty on timed plate to point which, 1t
was hoped, would exclude the foreign pro-
duct and build up tin-manufacturing indus
try in this country. The result has been dis
appointing. II has greatly enhanced the cost
of tin to Gamers, while the price of canned
goods has not advanced correspondingly, and
thus their profits have been almost wiped
out. 1t has not, as was expected, resulted In
the development to any considerable extent.
oftin mines in this country, nor has it given
employment to American workmen. Indeed.
it is now shown that the alleged tin-plate fac
tories were myths, and were intended for
campaign purposes merely.
The Mckinley tariff imposes tax of two
and one-tenth cents per pound on imported
tin. This will amount to about At cents ON
every dozen three-pound cans. Altogeth-
er, three-pound tin cans for tomatoes, for in
stance, cost about one-half the net wholesale
price ofthe goods when canned. When it is
remembered that these cans are valueless after
being once used, the injustice to Gamers and
consumers by the imposition of so heavy q
tax upon tin is apparent. Let the House,
therefore, as soon as possible after organic
ing, abolish the duty on tin altogether or at
least reduce it to one cent pound, the rate
which existed before the Mckinley tariff
went into effect. The responsibility for de-
feating measure so obviously just and to the
advantage not only of Gamers but of every
family in the country, would then be placed
upon the Republican Senate.
A reduction of the dHty on tin would les
sen the cost of putting up canned goods and
thereby increase the profits of Gamers.
The reform of some of the worst features
of the tariff might be accomplished in this
way. Whether they consider it possible or
not 1t is the duty of the Democratic majority
in Congress 10 make an honest effort to secure
a revision, in whole or in part, of the oppres-
sive tariff levied by the Republicans upon the
country under the specious pretext of protec-
ton to home industries.
"A plot is on foot in Ohio to deprive Hon.
Calvin 8. Brice, Democrat, of the seat in the
a