Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-08-24


MA PREeIDHHr-Perhsps I ought b
apologize To the seuate for attempting OF
such day ~ this, and at 20 late n period II
the session, u occupy any part Of It's tim'
IN the discussion Of n subject which we al
agree cannot be disposed u; but the recent
report made by the committee on finance
In relation 10 the prices Of commodi
ties, the rates Of wages and tho cost of liv
ing IN the United States has been ~
thoroughly misunderstood OF so grossly
Disrepressntoi In tho public press and
dswhere, that have felt u to b. the duty
T sone one on this side Of tho chamber who
assisted In making that investl gatiou u
state our vtswskbf its resultA
think y 10 tho unADimous opinion oi
econsulists and statisticians who have in.
vcstigated tbs subject that for many years
IN oil the great Industrial and commercial
countries Of tho world, the prices of com
modhies have been decreasing aud the rates
of wages, especially In those occupations
which require q considerable degree OF
skill and Intelligence. have been inogeas.
ing of course there are very many aud
very conspicuous and aggravating exoep.
tions To this general rule, bat they are all
attributable, in my opinion. To abnormal
and artificial conditions created by un-
equal and unjust tax laws and by improper
governmental interference with the private
affairs of the people, discriminating 10
favor Of somo and against othera
The Folly Of Protection
Whatever makes it easier for the people
70 1.-Two decently and comfortably. what
ever makes the pecessaries OF life which
the people are bound to buy and use cheap
er and less expensive ~ the MASSES, II a
blessing to mankind. and ! have never
been able To appreciate the wisdom OF that
policy which conpels men 20 worh longer
and harder In order to prUsare food, rnt
ment and shelter for thensslves aud their
families, have never been able 70 sppre-
ctate either the economic truth Q the hu.
mauity ~ the proposition that the people
con he made happy and prosperous by tas-
alton, whether tho purpose of that taxa
tion be 10 defray extravagans expenditures
on the part of the government, OF 70 in-
gease the prices which the people pay for
what they eat, drink and wear
Mr.. President. any one who contends IN
this day, a. the senator from Nevada M
Stewart) apparently has this morning,
that high prices Of commodities are ben-
eflcial tD tbe community at large, is at
war with tbe spirit Of the age In which he
lives, ut war With the genius Of discovery
and invention which during the last half
century more than during any othsr like
period In the history OF tho world hns
ameliorated ths condition Of mankind by
bringing all the necessarfes Of life. aud
many OF Its luxuries, within THO reach N
every man who Is willing TO work.
lspeak ~ production and disttbution
together, because cheap and easy distribu.
tion Is tuss as important, both a. the pro
ducer and ~ the consumer, as cheap and
easy productions; therefore every shackle
tnposed upon commerce, every restriction
upon honest trade, every Interference with
tho free exchange of products Ia the mar
kets OF tho world increases prIces and de
prives the people d the benefits which
they have IA right to enjoy, and which thsy
otherwise would enjoy, resulting from im-
proved industrial and commercial methods
But, Mr. President. u is unnecessary 10
pursue this lipe OF vrgument further, be-
cause as last IL appears to DO admitted by
the friends os the protective system that
cheap commolities for the use uf tho people
arc beneficial and the senator from Rhode
Island (Ms. Aldrichl, speaking here three
days ago as the chosen champion OF that
system, bases his defense u tho tariff act
of 1880 almost solely upon oe ground that
It has reduced prices and eplasBed the for.
sgp commerce ot tho country.
That vas NOS the purpose u shs authors
and supporters Of that law nj Aho time II
passed congress-, as u oonclusively shown
by the report which was made To the
house u representatives when the bill was
presented to that body. In that report Mr..
Mckinley, speaking cor blnsof and all
the Republican members Ut the oommittec,
said:
I'VE have poa been 70 much concerned
about the prices Of the srticlee we consume
~ W. have been 10 encourage q system OF
home production which slell give fair re-
muneratiop to domestic pJuducers and fair
waece to American woRkmen. and by In
creased production and home competition
insure fair prices " consuners.S
And again the. report says;
Your commitsss has not sought by the
proposed legislation - further cut down
prices at the expense q our own pposperi-
ty, but To provide viii certainty against
that increasing competition from other
countries whose conditions our people arr
unwilling to adopt We have not believed
that our people, already suffering from
low prices. can or will be satisiled with
Legislation which viii result In lower
prioes.s
Its Advocates Swept Aside
| Here Is q clear and emphatic declaration
by the authors Of the measure. tbst 10 was
not Intended W rsduce prices, ellsps n would
not, In fscN reduce prices, and that IN,
people would not be satisfied With On,
Legislation which would produce - 70
suit
TlnuAeoy tbst high prices Of commodi
ties are beneficial 10 the community a
large. and that the Mckinley law woult
increase them. waS abandoned by the ad
vocstes Of that measure Immediately afte
its passage. spd IN every part Of the coun
trv thev faced about and either denied tha
higher prices, Ia fact, prevailed OF contend
ed that they were not produoed ~ th'
tart6 act. The people however. knew bet
ter from personal experience aud observa
tion I'm their daily transactio4s, aud In No
vcmbcr, 1880, the authors of that tariff ac'
were swept from the house ~ representa-
u~ss 10y a majority ~ moro than SO, 90
votes. Never In the history u the coun
try has there been such storm Of popula
Ia L