Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-02
TARIFF FOR CAMPAIGN
Is the Way Dalzell Sizes Up the
Kind That Democrats Prefer.
In HIS REPORT OF THE MINORITY
Of the Ways and Means Committee He
Rubs 1t Into the Majority.
BIG DAMAGES DEMANDED BY SAILORS

WASHINGTON, March 1.-The report of
the Republican minority of the Ways and
Means Committee against the bill placing
cotton bagging, cotton ties and machinery
for manufacturing the same upon the free
list has been prepared by Mr.. Dalzell, OF
PENNSYLVANIA, and fled with the COMMITTEES.
OF cotton bagging the report says: This
manufacture was created by a protective
tariff policy, and is dependent upon the
same policy for its preservation, because OF
the difference between the rates of wages
paid here and abroad, and for other reasons.
1t is perfectly apparent that any reduction
of the duty below the protection point
would be q serious blow to the laborers of
this country employed in this industry.
There are now invested in this industry in
this country over SS,000,00 There are 16
mills in the United States conducting busi-
ness independently of each other and in full
competition. There is no combination to
dominate the product or fix prices, or for
any purpose, between them. The policy of
protection to the cotton bagging industry
has resulted in building up an American
manufacture sufficient in extent to supply
the home market, thus benefting home cap
ital and home labor, and at the same time
has lowered prices to the consumer.
No Time to Change the Policy.
sWhy now change that policy? To drive
our own manufacturers from the field is to
give the domination of our markets to
foreign manufacturers who will then dictate
prices at will To encourage home manu-
facture is to encourage competition, as e1-
perience shows, and thus TO reduce prices to
q minimum"
In regard to cotton ties the report says:
'sThe measure recommended by the majority
proposes to admit cotton ties free, but to
preserve the duty on barrel hoops of iron
or STEEL No reason has been given for
making such distinction, and it is as diff
cult to imagine any as it is to imagine why
either should be put on the free list Why
q crude article of iron OF steel should be
subject to duty, and a more finished product,
of which the crude article is the raw
material, should come in free, is one of
those things difficult to be understood
Such an illogical proposition could only
come from the advocates of a policy which
would deal in spots with great measure of
legislation which, whether it be good or
bad, is at least built consistently upon
plan.
Law-Making for the Campaign.
"Nothing more mischievous can be con-
ceived, and not even the necessity of max
ing laws for campaigning purposes of the
Democratic party, irrespective of the needs
of the country, can justify such action. Nor
will the proposed measure result in tine ad-
mission free of cotton ties only. Under the
language of the proposed law, hoop or band
iron or steel Of any and all sizes to the di-
mensions of wagon tires, and even to the
kind of iron or steel that might be made
into blooms, will come in without payment
of duty"
The minority also combats the PROPOSE
tion to place machinery for manufacturing
cotton ties and cotton bagging on the free
list. 'fNo reason has been suggested by the
majority" says the report, 'tfor providing
one kind of legislation for machinery re-
lating to the cotton industry and another
for all kinds of machinery; and we are sat-
isfed, therefore, to dismiss this part of the
bill with the remark only that it is of
piece with what seems to be the mischiev-
Gus policy of the majority, to deal with
tariff legislation in spots and without re-
gard to consistency"