The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-03-10

sometimes little higher In this country. but the
average advance in favor OF one country or the
other has not been one-fifth the duty imposed by
our government, which proves cOnciusiyely that,
whilst the cost TO the consumer has been In
creased by the duty and the possibilities OF the
manufacturers havo been restricted. both in
market and quantity. the sheep husbandmen
have derived no substantial benefit
Mr.. McMilIin thon reviewed the various
tariff acts and amendments that had been
adopted since revolutionary times. and en-
deavored TO show the protection system
was responsible for the trusts and COM
bines. He next turned his attention 10
sugar, saying:
The authors of the Mckinley bill take much
credit TO themselves for having placed sugar on
the free list They did, IL is true, place most OF
the grades OF sugar on the free list but the finer
grades are still taxed heavy for the benefit
Of the manufacturer. and he Is left with
more protection by that bin than by the rates i'm
p sed IN the Mills bill. It Ia true that fifty odd
millions OF dollars WAS taken Oft the sugar tax.
But this was no free-wlll Offering, for the same
measure provided for the payment OF twelve
millions TO the producers OF sugar as
bouDties. Again, while the nfty odd millions
OF tax was taken of sugar, increase
or duties amounting about sixty-tive
millions was put on other things, and generally
on the necessaries OF life. They removed the
sugar tax which yielded eight-ninths o; Its he ne
fits TO the treasury and but one-ninth TO the
manufacturer, only 10 place many millions more
than the sugar tax on other things where but
treasury and three-fourths went into the private
Golfers OF favored manufacturers. Mr. Chair
man. when we reflect that the twelve millions
paid In bounties on silks, sugar, ETC., has TO he
raised by the imposition OF taxes on other things
where three-fourths go into the manufacturers
Il will be seen that the tax Is still a burden of
S4S 100000 indirectly TO the people. and that
instead of their getting sixty millions of relief
by this change or taxes they have hardly OBJ
tanned ten millions OF net benefit.
All tariff legislation passed by Republic
ans Mr. McMillin said, had been enacted
with the view of raising money for election
purposes. The manufacturing. he said. had
been bled and had been reimbursed by the
enactment of laws for their particular
benefit. He charged that the income tax
and the bank-check tax had been removed
In the interest of the rich, and that duties
had been raised with the express purpose
of depressing tho poor.
RECIPROCITY AND REBATES.
On the subject of reciprocity Mr.. Nc
MillIn said:
benefit they have brought 10 the country by
the tariff bill which they passed, which provides
for reciprocity" with other countries. Ii pro-
vides for the imposition OF taxes and the remis-
sion OF taxes by the President OF the United
states alone. He may, according to the pro-
impose cents q pound tax on sugar, cents a
pound on coffee, liz cent pound on hides, aud
10 cents a pound tea He may impose these
not required to consult either Cabinet or Con-
gress. He may levy S5o,0O0,0OO without con-
session. am astounded that in a free republic,
where the right Of taxation through chosen
rep s Ives was bought with .. blood.
render this right TO one man. The most
sacred right the free man has is to determine
the extent and manner OF his taxation. But 1t Is
sad to reflect that Ia years after the right OF
self taxation was substituted for taxation with
out representation" some of the sons of these
sires had become degraded that they We're
willing. without protest, without even a muir
muir. TO surrender their blood bought right to the
President OF the United states
The system OF rebates is extended and intensi-
fled by the present tariff law. By this means the
American manufactures Is encouraged and en-
abled To offer and sell the products OF American
manufacture to foreigners more cheaply than
the same wares are sold 10 the American laGorer
and American citizens. Very many agricultural
Implements and products OF American manu-
features are sold az a lower rate 10 foreigners
out OF the United states than To citizens In it.
Where Is the justice In thisl Why sell to a pau
per abroad at lower price than laborer at
hOnel Why fleece your neighbOr IN way
or Will endured The rebate paid to the Standard
OH Company alone on the taxes collected from
the tin they employ will amount, 1t is said, TO
about 100000.
Mr.. McMillin claimed that high duties
were a bar 20 the extension of American
commerce, and denounced the law thRb
neither allowed our citizens to buy ships
abroad nor build them at home" He then
quoted figures which be thought were proof
that the Mckinley law had raised the price
OF blankets. hats. 1annels, wOrsted, etc,
over 100 per cent. "IOu need go no
further than this report OF the minority
Co the high rates of duty i'm
posed by existing law. In the table sub
mitted on page s. OF the report. s3i, ESQ.,
925 in duties are shown to have been col
lected IN 1871 on woolens. Of this So. $685.
OO5. or more than twO-thirds. was paid
upon a valuation of 81. 569.SS7, or 100 per
cent.-Sl.O9 taxes collected on 81
worth OF wooden goods. This is the state
ment of the minority. through the table
made OF their own case"
THE TARIFF A TAX"
The oft-repeated phrase. "a tariff Is a
tax" was not omitted by Mr.. MoMillin.
On this point he said:
limo other good resulted from the Mckinley bill
IL has taught the American people that the tariff
Is tax. and a tax NJ on the people who consume
the articles upon which IL is levied. The day
that the tax Vas removed from sugar the price
went down In all American markets an amount
about equal To the duty removed. On the other
hand, When an additional tax or IL cent o
pound was imposed Oh tn-pate. tin-plate went
up in price all over the country. SO pearl
buttOns, upon which the duty was vastly in
creased so on linen goods Whatever may have
have come to know that the tariff is a tax, and
have dealt with those who increased the tax in
the authors or the high rates We now
have 10 pay the greatest rebuke that
was ever administered 10 any party in this
country, turning Republican majority
into a Democratic majority of almost
three fourths. But IL Is sometimes claimed by
the friends OF this excessive taxation that the
Waterloo visited upon the Republican party in
1890 was not on account OF tie tariff bill passed
IL not. what was the cause OF III VIII the dis
finguished gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr..
Lodge. admit that IL was % rebuke TO him and his
followers for passing the force billi Will the
distinguished gentleman from Maine, the Speak
or this House. admit that il was the result of
his administration OF affairs herel Will those
gentlemen who wero in charge OF the appropria-
lions admit that IL was on account OF the prod
igality OF that Congressl These had something
IL 90 with IT, doubtless, but the greatest factor
that entered into the overwhelming defeat was
the tariff law that We are now attempting 10
amend.
The question OF excessive increase In the rates
of taxation has been passed upon by the people
and condemned In a manner not to be mistaken.
Thorough discussion preceded its adoption.
Newspapers and periodicals did their work in
informing the people OF the changes. Then came
the advance In price. speaking unlnistalIable
tones of the hardship that comes from increased
taxation. Then the election came. and never wa
such defeat administered To a reereant party
visited upon those who had passed the
measure. FROM Maine to California. from the
lakes TO the gull, people rose almost as one man.
The condemned IL in bulk and in detail. They
reegated 10 private life the leaders who had
conceived II and the followers who had
executed II. An arrogant majority was con-
verted into an insignificant minority. New
England sent a majority or Democrats here; the
whole North sent u majority: the south a ma
jority. 60 overwhelming was tle defeat that IL
you divide the country into two sections-North
and Southland remove every Democrat from
the South, the Democrats from the North would
still be In the majority. III you remove every
Democrat from the North, those from the South
would have n majority over their opponents.
the stones Jared as Ill as those who did the
etoDing Rank and nle were snitten hin and