The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-16

linens.
On many of the articles upon which the duty
was almost prohibitory it was made still higher
seemingly for no other purpose than to enable
those now engaged in operating here to form
pools and organize combines" / remember
well when the bill was under discussion in the
house, republican member from Illinois (Nr.
Hopkins) rose. and. pointing to the gallery.
said: Il see a man in the gallery VINO will 90
from there worth millions more than he is now
il my amendment is not adopted. He IS in
trust which will make millions If this bill is
passed" His amendment was not adopted; the
bill did pass. His is only an illustration of the
hundreds OF jobs and schemes which that bill,
in one way or another, fostered and carried.
The Sugar Tax.
Sir. the authors of the bill take much credit
to themselves for having placed sugar on the
free list. They did, il is true. place some and
most of the grades of sugar on the free list but
the finer grades still taxed heavily for the
benefit of the manufacturer, and he is left with
more protection by the bill than by the rates
imposed in the Mills bill. 1t is true that fifty
odd millions of dollars was taken off the sugar
tax. But this was no free-wlll Offering, for the
same measure provided for the payment OF
81, 600 to the producers OF sugar bOun-
dies. Again, while the fifty odd millions of
tax was taken of sugar IN increase OF duties
amounting to about S65000,00O was put on
other things, and generally on the necessaries
of life. They removed the sugar tax, which
yielded eight-ninths of its benefits to the treas.
ury and but one-ninth to the manufacturer.
only 10 place many millions more than the
sugar tax on other things, where but one-fourth
of the laws exactiOns went into the treasury
ana thre fourths went into the private Golfers
of favored manufacturers.
Mr.. Chairman, when we reflect that the S12,-
GOO coo paid in bounties on silks, sugar etc.
has to be raised by the imposition of taxes on
other things where three-iourths GO into the
manufacturers pocket, and only one-fourth
into the treasury, il will be seen that the tax is
still q burden OF S4S,000,000 indirectly TO the
people and that instead of their getting Ss0,-
coo 600 OF relief by this change OF taxes they
have hardly obtained 100000 of net benefit.
The whole bill was characterized by a con-
sciOus favOr.tism for the few and oppres-
sion of the many. Ia the consideration OF the
bill the manufacturer alone was favored. The
consumer never considered, or if ever
considered at all il was only to ascertain how
much more taxes he could endure. The greed
of the seller and not the need of the buyer was
the measure OF the rate OF duty.
Mr. Chairman, for the first time in the history
Of the country those who passed the law sup
ing imports.
No Disguise Made
In all other laws ever passed on the subject
at least those Saving the measure in charge had
the sense of official prOprety TO profess that
the law was invoked to raise revenues. The
exegencies of the preceding campaign had re-
Quired vast amount of money to carry the
elections. liz was raised by raising the appye-
tensions of some and promising benefits TO
others. The promises OF that campaign we're
put into statutory fern. AS far back as 1888.
the tariff commission. composed exclusively Of
DrOtectionists, part OF them being mRnufactur-
ers after having taken testimony all over the
country reported TO congress that the people
were entitled 10 q reduction OF from 20 to % per
cent, and recommended it. They reported that
the manufacturers could flourish under such a
reduction and should be required to submit
But an increased rate was imposed by the law
of that year. This increase did not salty them
They demanded more. and never stopped until
they got il. When the war tariff was imposed
an internal tax was placed on manufactured
products, and a corresponding additional inn
port duty put on competing commodities com.
ing from abroad TO compensate the manufac-
tureT for what he was thus required TO pay.
This manufacturers tax was released, but the
compensation duty remained. BY this he got
net benefit of 10 per cent.
The Income Tax.
Mr.. Chairman. every class except those who
need il worst has been benefited in vari-
GUS ways. There was tax on incomes, cor
porstions, etc. 1t has yielded the last two
years of its existence about S1i00C0000 but it
was repealed. Thereby the parties most able
to pay taxes were relieved. This was collected
oil those who had q respectable or large cash
income. 10 was collected of legatees and
deyisees who inherited properly without work.
ing for it and could therefore. reasonably
afford TO contribute a moderate tax for the
government through whose protection il had
been accumulated There was a tax on rail-
road corporations, on banking corporations. on
insurance companies, trust companies,
telegraph companies aud other i'm
mense money concerns. There was a
tax on bank checks. Coming from these
classes il came from those who depended
on it alone for neither bread nor clothing. Ii
was a tax upon wealth. and accumula lated prop
erty and therefore not to be endured.
Theselwere allrepealed and the Oppressed rich"
relieved from the burdens of supporting the
government How tenderly the republican
party looks after those who toll not, neither
spin. With what adectionate regard il deals
with and relieves those who areI able to pay,
but when II comes TO imposing a tax con-
sumption. the fact that q man who is worth
fifty millions requires no more cloth to wrap
his body than IL takes TO clOthe the body of a
labOring man does not deter il from imposing
a higher rate OF duty on the poor and common
cloth worn by the one than is imposed on the
purple and fine linen that is the daily apparel
OF the other. Sir, II these incomes and other
taxes / have mentioned had been permitted to
stand they would long since nave wiped out
national debt. improved oil the rivers and
hRrbors appropriated or estimated for. and
built ell the Notifications now asked for our
coasts, and paid oil the pensions.
The Reciprocity Feature.
Our opponents have made great boasts of the
benefit they have brought TO the country by
the tariff bill which they passed, which pro-
vides for reciprocity" with other countries liz
provides for the imposition of taxes and the re-
mission OF taxes by the president of the United
States alone. He may, according to the pro-
vision have control, aud as often as he sees fit
can impose cents pound tax on sugar,
cents pound on coffee. / y cents q pound on
hides. and 10 cents pound on tea. lie may
impose these taxes at will aud remit them at
pleasure. He is not required to control either
cabinet congress. lie may levy $4,000, 600
without converting congress or consulting il
should il be in session. / am astounded that in
a free republic where the right of taxation
through chosen representatives was bought
with blood such thing is possible as the sur
render of this right TO one man. The most
sacred right the free man has is to determine
the extent of this taxation. But il is sad to
reflect that IA years after the right of self
taxation was substituted for taxation without
represen tatOn," some Of the sons of these sires
had so degraded that they were willing with
out protest. without even murmur, 10 sur
render their blood bought right to the presi-
dent OF the United States.
The system OF Rebates.
The system Of rebates is extended and in
tensifed by the present tariff law. This has
been another means used to quiet the American
people and keep them from complaining
against that system. By this means the Amer
lean manufacturer 10 encouraged and enabled
90 offer and sell the products OF American man
ulacture to foreigners more cheapiy than the
same wares are sold to the American laborer
A A Lii ID H..