Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-06
SPRINGER'S POLICY.
IT HAS THE HEARTY ENDORSEMENT
or DAVID A. WELLS.
Resolution Looking to the Placing Of All
Kisds Of Agricultural Implements
on the Free List.
[By telegraph o .he pispa.ch.l

10y tttrBf8Pu W VIC bt1b1t-aD
wAsmxoros, February 5.-The Springer
policy of attacking the Republican high
tariff by separate bills has found endorse
ment from the great political economist
and father of tariff reform. the Hon. Da-
vid A. Wells. of Connecticut. At the next
conference of the Democratic members OK
the Ways and Means Committee letter
will be read, not only endorsing the Sprin-
ger policy as the wisest party course at
this time, but intimating that even If the
Democrats controlled both houses OF
Congress and the Executive. the separate
bill plan, rather than o measure for gene
raj revision, would be the wiser course.
That the gentleman whose works and es-
says for years served as the chief Demo-
cratic literature in the agitation for tariit
reduction should approve the plan now
adopted by the Democrats of the Ways
and Means Committee is naturally source
OF great qualification to Dir. Springer and
the other members who have stood rs adj
voc8tes Of the separate-bi1 policy as OPP
posed to the demand for an attempt at
general revision. The letter of Mr.. Wells
is addressed to the chairman OF the Ways
and Means Committee.
FOR WIDER SCOPE.
The first attempt to enlarge the scope OF
the Democratic policy of the Ways and
Means Committee came to-day in the form
of esolutioD introduced by Mr.. Fithian.
OF Illinois, directing the Ways and Means
Committee 10 report bill placing all kinds
OF agricultL raj implements upon the free
list. Mr. I'ithian thinks his proposition
should have the support of every Demo.
cratic representative from an agricultural
district and he has already received assu-
rance of support from Congressman wat
son and his colleagues of the Peoples
party in the House.
preamble TO the resolution recites that
1t has been established by satisfactory evil
dence that the manufacturers OF farm I'M
plements IN this country are selling farm
implements abroad and to iobbers for ex-
port at less price than Is paid by farmers
here, which fact has been conclusively es-
tablished by the answer of A. Is. Farquhar,
an agricultural-'mplement maker, OF YORK,
Pa, to the Home Market Club.
PLUNDERISG OF THE FARMERS.
The preamble also recites that under this
system of plundering the farmers of our
country they are compelled to pay more
for their implements than the farmers
abroad. whose products are marketed IN
competition with the products or our
farms. and that the duties upon farm i'm
plements are an unjust discrimination
against American farmers tor the benefit OF
farmers who do not need 1t, and is there
fore legalized robbery.
In q conversation concerning his resolu-
ton. Mir. Fithlan said: II do not believe
in attacking the Mckinley bill by piece
meal. but If that is to be the policy know
OF no better way to attack it than by
placing farm implements on the free-list."
Mr. Watson, of Georgia, said: think
that is a proposition that will have the
support of the Peoples party representa-
tiyes If it is reported from the committee.
1t seems one way within the reach OF Con-
gress to afford the farmer partial relief.
and we would naturally be III favor OF 1t.
We are, on general principles, in favor OF
the free list being, rs far as possible, ex-
tended to all articles except luxuries.
For that reason we would favor this propo-
sition."
Mr.. sPRfNGER's VIEWS.
Chairman Springer, Of the WAYS and
Means Committee, was not prepared TO say
that the committee would receive fayora-
bly Mr.. Fithian's resolution as an inde-
pendent proposition. The revision Of
the metal and lumber schedules" said he,
lis involved ia dealing with the rates on
farm implements, as iron and lum-
Der are the materials from which
farms implements are manufactured.
If lumber and the raw material
IRON which iron and steel are made are
put upon the free list, there ought TO be a
large reduction in the duties on farm I'M
plements. 1t would not do. however, to
put finished products on the free list and
leave the raw material still subject TO a
tax. This would simply drive the manu-
facturers of such products out OF the
country"
TWO SEPARATE BILLS.
Congressman Bunting, of New York, to-
day introduced two tariff bills. One places
duty of cent pound on tin-plate and
taggers tin. and 1 2-l0 cents on terne
plates, with O drawback less per cent. OF
the duty paid ON exported cans, boxes,
and packages made from imported TIM
plate. After October l, 1896, the articles
named are to be placed on the free list.
The second repeals. after July l. 1893, the
duty of cents pound on plg-tin.