The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-10

and gathered on the Democratic
side, to be near the Tennessee
gentleman while he arraigned their party
from Democratic standpoint and de-
Tended the justice of the Springer wool bill
and the various other measures reported
from the ways and means committee to
reduce the duties on imports When
Dlngley, although not q member of the
ways and means committee, opened the
discussion IN behalf of the Republican
side, less fiattering was the attention paid
nm by his Democratic opponents.
Senator Carlisle found the occasion of
such charm that he left his seat in the up
per body and was an attentive listener to
the argument of Representative McMillin.
No less vigilant was the attention with
which ex-senator Reed noted every argu-
ment. not only of his friends, but of his
political opponents as WELL now and then
there being twinkle in his eye as he med
itated on and stored away in his memory a
response to be made to the Democratic ar
guments when his day should come. Both
speakers were frequently applauded by
their party colleagues, and as each resumed
his seat he was the recipient of warm con-
gratulations and mammoth bouquets.
of the whole on the revenue, McMillin
spoke in behalf of the majority of the
committee on ways and means.
Referring to the work of the last congress he
declared that it had imposed the highest tariff
taxes ever levied in this country and made the
most e1travagant appropriations ever made in
time OF peace. This congress was sent here
to correct both evils by imposing less taxes
and by spending less money. The tariff law
has now been in operation for year and five
months. Where are the beneficial effects that
we've to follow it? Where are the magnificent
prices the farmer and wool grower were to
realize from il? Where are the increased wages
OF the labori1g man? The farmer realized
from to cents less a pound from
his wool than he did before, aud | challenge any
representative here to point to u single line of
manufactures in which the laborer's wages has
been increased by that law The bill was passed
under ;he pretense OF desire TO benefit the
laboring man, but what benefit has it been to
him. The whole matter may be summed UP in
the fact that after two years experiment with
high rates OF duty on wool, the result has been a
reduction OF oue-half in the number of sheen
in the states east OF the Mississippi and Missouri
rivers, and a reduction OF about one-half in the
prices OF wool. Nor have the results been en-
couraging to the WOO! manufacturers They
have been restricted as to the quality Of wool
crease IN price by reason Of the tariff They
have been restricted in the markets substantially
10 their own country. They have been forced to
use shatdy as = substitute for wooden goods, and
sheep husbsndnen have derived no substantial
benefit.
Now that more than two-thir3s of the expenses
incurred during the late war have been paid
every legitimate excuse for an increase IN rates
Eas disappeared, but not only has there been no
reduction in the tariff rates, but they have been
vastly increased.
The authors OF the bill take much credit to
themselves Tor having placed sugar on the free
list Tuey did, il is true, pace some and most
of the grades Of sugar on the free list. out the
auer grades are still taxed heavily for the ben
edt OF the manufacturer and he is lett with
more protection by that bill than by the
rates imposed in the Mills bill. Ii
Is true that dfty-odi million dollars were
tlken oil the sugar tax, but this was no free
viii Offering, for the same measure provided for
the payment OF SI2, 900 TO producers OF sugars
as b3Cuties. Again. while fifty odd millions OF
dollars OF the tax was taken OF .ugar. an in
crease IN duties amounting to about s65,OO0 90
was put on other things, and generally on the
necessaries Of life. They removed the sugar tax,
which yielded eight-niuths OF its benefits TO The
treasury and but oae-uinth 10 the manufacturer
only to place many millions more than the sugar
tax on other thi1gs waere but oue-iourth OF the
avs exsctious went into the treasury
and thtee-fourths went into the prfya,e
goffsgs OF favored manufacturers I, will
ue seen ths. the tax IS still burden of SIS 90.
HJ9 indirectly TO the people, and instead OF their
getting stg600,O10 relief by this change OF taxes
saey hardly obtained 100000 net benefit
Iue whole bill is characterized b. Conscience
.sss isvuritlsm fo- few and rncrciless crp-es-
,i N Cor many. In the consideration OF the bill
t-e manufacturer alone was favored, but the
.lJsIE3eF was ueve; considered. The ex;ren-
.tes OF the preceding campaign had required g
r.s; amount Of money 10 carry on the elections.
5; was raised BY arousiEg the aQprehensions OF
ne and promising benefit to others The
somises OF that oa.a2aeG were put into a
.aiutory form. Every class. except those who
need il worst, has been benefited by the various