Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1892-03-18
A STIRRING SPEECH.
The Main Issue Correctly Defined.

The Main Issue Correctly Defined.
/ Representative McMillin, on the 9th
an-i in u speech opening the debate on
thr tarlil, on behalf Of the majority OF
th" committee ON Ways and Means
referred ~ his opening remarks to the
work of the last Congress. He de.
cltfed that 1t imposed the highest
tariil taxes ever levied in this country,
and made the mos. extravagant appro-
pfitilons ever made here in time OF
peace Tins Congress, he said, is sent
here I" correct both evils 10y imposing
lees taycs and by spending less money.
Continuing he said
I he tariff law has now been in op-
Grafton for n year and five months.
Where are the beneficial effects that
were To follow il? Where are those
magnificent prices the farmer and
wool grower were To realize from it?
Where are the increased wages the la
boring man was To get? The farmer
has realized from to 3 per cent. less
on pound from his wool than he did
before. aud ] challenge any represent
atltc here To point To single line Of
manufactures in which the price of la
Dor has bcCn increased hy that law.
McMillin said the bill was passed
under prctcnsc OF desire TO benefit the
lahoring man. but what benefit has it
been To him' lie then took up wool
aud said
The whole matter may he summed
up ~ the fact that. after two years ex-
pertinent with high rates of duty on
wool. the result has been a reduction
oi one. half in the number oi sheen in
the states east Of the Mississippi and
Missouri rivers. and reduction of
about one half in the prices of wool.
Nor have results been encouraging to
woul manufacturers. They have been
restricted rs 10 the quality of wool
they could afford To buy in gross by
reason oi the tariff They have been
restricted IN markets substantially to
their own country. They have been
forced Co use shoddy as n substitute for
wo"lcn goods and sheep husbandmen
have derived no substantial benefit"
The speaker declared, now that more
than twu thirds of the expenses in
currcd during the late war have been
paid, everything legitimate excuse
Tor aH IN, rease Of rates has disappeared :;
hut not only has there been no reduc-
tion ~ tariff rates, but they have been
vastly increased. Touching on sugar,
McMillin said "The authors of the
blll take much credit to themselves for
having placed sugar on the free list.
fhcy did, IL is true, place some and
most grades Of sugar on the free list,
hut the finer grades are still taxed
heavily for the benefit Of the manufac
tufrr and he is left with more protec-
tion by that bill than by the rates inn
posed ~ the Mills bill. True. fifty odd
million dollars are taken off the sugar
tan, hut this is no free will offering, for
the same measure provides for the pay
mcnt OF twelve millions to producers of
sugar s bounties. Again, while the
fifty odd million dollars tax was taken
oil of sugar, the increase of duties
amount 10 about sixty-fve millions put
on other things, and generally on the
ncccs-aiics Of life. They removed the
sugar tar, which yielded eight,ninths
of It's benefits to the treasury and but
one-ninth to the manufacturer, only to
place many millions more than the
sugar tax ON other things, where but
one-iourth OF the laws enactions went
into the treasury and three-fourths
went into the private Golfers OF favored
manufacturers.
at will be seen that the tax is O
burden Of $iS, 600, 600 indirectly to the
people. and, instead of their getting
tO 100000 relief by this change of
taxes, they have hardly obtained $IO,-
900 net benefit. The whole bill is
characterized by constituencies favorit-
ism for the few and merciless oppres-
sion for the many. In the considers
lion Of the bill the manufacturer alone
u favored. but the consumer is never
considered The exigency preceding
the campaign had required vast
amount of money TO carry on elections
II was raised by arousing apprehen-
.ions Of some and promising benefit to
others. The promises of that cam
paign were put into statutory form,
Tor every class, except those who need
II worst, has been benefited by the va
rious laws passed by our opponents on
the subject of taxation since 1865"
In regard 10 reciprocity, the speaker
said he was astounded that, in free
republic where the right of taxation
was through chosen representatives
bought with blood. such thing was
possible as a surrender of this right to
one man. The most sacred right q free
man has il to determine the extent
aud manner OF his taxation. The
speaker denounced the rebate feature
Of the Mckinley bill. BY this means,
hc declared, very many agricultural
implements and products OF American
manufacture were sold at much lower
rate 10 foreigners out of the United
states than To citizens in it. Centinu.
ing, McMillin declared that another
most serious objection to high rates OF
duty Is the destructive influence il has
on commerce, and added; MANY
friends Of high protection pretend to
believe. and have busted themselves to
show, that the duty collected is not g
,ar upon the people. They claim tha