The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1892-10-27

NIX HHEbIDENT-FernapS l ought 70
apologize to the senate for attempting on
such Rday as this, and at so late period in
the session, TO occupy any part Of its time
IN the discussion OF a subject which we all
agree cannot be disposed OF; but the recent
report maze by the committee on hnanes
IN relation TO the prices OF commodi-
ueS' the rateS OF wages ana the cost OF Nv
ing In the United states has been 30
thoroughly misunderstood or no grossly
mhrePresenteo In the pnohc p5ess and
eisewhere' tnat nave teit IL 70 be the DUTY
ol sOthS OneOu TINS size OF tine ehAmDer VINO
AssiSeed IN making that investigation to
state our views OF us results
ltnlnk II the unanimous opinion OF
economists ana statistlcians VINO have In
xestlgated tne suplect mat ior many years.
IN al Cne great lhduStrai ana commercial
countries OF the world the prices OF COM
mouIIles nave Oeen decreasing ana the rates
OF wages especially In those occupations
wn,Sn IequES cOns,uerAOie oegree OF
skill ana lnteingence' nave ShAen increas-
ing Oh course there are very many and
very eousPiououS anu eegENatinR eAcep-
LIONS 70 TINS general RUE Dut they are All
Att,loutaDIe' IN my OPINION 70 aOnormal
ana artlnciAi eondltions' created oy IN
equal and unjust TAX laws and BY improper
governmental NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. he priVAte
aualrs OF the people, discriminating In
favor OF some anu against otnen'
The Folly Of Protection.
Whatever makes 1t easier for the people
TO live decently and comfortably, what
ever makes the necessarieH Of life which
the people are bound to buy and use cheap
er and less expensive to the masses, IL q
blessing TO mankind, and l have never
been able to appreciate the wisdom Of that
policy which compelS men to work longer
and harder in order to procure food. raj
ment and shelter for themselves and their
families; have never been able to appre-
ciate either the economic truth or the hu-
manity Of the proposition that the people
can be made happy and prosperous by tax
alton, whether the purpose Of that taxa
tion be to defray extrayagant expenditures
on the part Of the government, or TO in
crease the prices which the people pay for
what they eat, drink and wear.
Mr.. President, any one who contends in
this day, As the senator from Nevada (Nr
Stewart) apparently has this morning,
that high prices Of commodities are ben
eflcial to the community at large, is at
war with the spirit Of the age in which he
lives, at war with the genius Of discovery
and invention which during the last half
century more than during any other like
period In the history of the world has
Hmeliorated the. condition Of mankind by
bringing all the necessaries Of life, and
many Of Its luxuries, within the reach Of
every man who is willing to work.
speak Of production and distribution
together, because cheap and easy distribu-
tion Is just as important. both 10 the prC-
ducer and to the consumer, as CHEAP and
a.
imposed upon commerce, every restriction
upon honest trade, every interference with
the free exchange Of products in the mar
kets Of the world increases prices and de-
prives the people Of the benefits which
they have a right to enjoy, and which they
otherwise would enjoy. resulting from i'm
proved industrial and Commercial methods
But, Mr.. President. Il il unnecessary to
pursue this line Of argument further. be-
cause at last Il appears TO be admitted by
the friends q the protective system that
eheap commodities for the use Of the peopIe
are beneficial, and the senator from Rhode
Island CMr. Aldricb). speakinQ here three
DAYS ago as the chosen champion Of that
system, bases his defense Of the tariff act
Of 1890 almost solely upon the ground that
ei0n Commerce n The coDntrv
That mot the Rurnoaa NJ the anNbaI1
and SnnnorteTs az tbSt law a. the tjToS n
naSsrd convreSa, M II concinsjveIy sboIvn
bv the renort which WaS mSde h ~
bouSe Of renrrsentatIvea when tbe mi was
nrespnted h that bodv, In tbat rrnort Nj
Mckinley. speaiing for himSeif and ali
the Republiean member Of the oommittee-
aid.
ave have not bepn 40 mueh oonerrDod
abont tbe nriceS Al the artieIeS W. eoDIume
n We have been 10 eneoura0e a H1Stem N
homo production which Shall give fair re-
Enumeration to domestic producers and fair
wages 70 American workmen, and by In
creased production and home competition
insure fair prices to consumer"
And again, the report says:
"YouF committee has not sought BY the
proposed legislation to further cut down
prices At the expense Of our own prospen-
ty, but to provide with certainty against
that increasing competition from other
countries whose conditions our people are
unwilling to adopt. We have not believed
that our people, already suffering from
low prices, can or will be satisfied with
legislation which will result In lower
prieea."
It's Advocates swept Aside.
Here u clear and emphatic declaration
by the authors OF the measure, that 10 was