The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-03-14
ANIL Eon BuNCoAlnE.
The FREQ Wool Measure Now Before Co,
Eross-Oniy Intended to Mako rartisu

Tho FREQ Wool Measure Now Before Con.
Ercss--oniy Intended to Mako Partisan
Capital. lR 9t
Netc rort Tribune.
Neither Mr.. Springer, who is supposed
to have framed tho wool. and woolens
bill, nor any one OF his associates or sup
porers, appears 10 BIO able to mcot with
fairness the question which that bill
raises at the very threshold Of discus.
sion. These questions arc two: Who isto
be benefited by tho proposed changes Of
duties, aud how aliall the revenue DO
raised which 1t Is proposed 10 cut Off by
these changcs1 Not tho least trace OF
an intelligent answer TO either question
can be found in the report OF the COM
inittec recommending tho bill, or In the
arguments Of. its supporters thus far.
III any other se!f-govcrning country
those who propose u measure oil this
sort are Obliged to mcet such questions
ny these at the outset, or to 500 their
bill thrown into the Wasto-basket. In
ngine, for instance, that measure re-
ducing the revenues by manvsmillions
had been offered in tho British Parlia.
inent. 1t would not be supported by
anybody, even by, tlopolitical associates
OF those who proposed 1t, unless accom-
panied by clear statement OF the ben
Gifts to be derived and OF the mode Of
raising the revenue to DO cut or. III
such statement were refused, tho par
ty power would instantly decline to
consider tho measure, and ministers
would be forced to offer explanations
both intelligent and fair, or got out OF Of
tlco without delay. Is there any reason
why u similar responsibility should not
attend the proposal ,oi u bill to greatly
reduce revenue In this country.
There is no room for dispute as to the
fact that the bill would reduce tho
revenue. 1t is plain enough that it
would cut OIL all tho revenue at present
derived from the duties on imported
wool. tits also plain enough that, unless
tho importations Of wooden goods should
enormously increase, Il reduction in the
duties from moro than 50 per cent To
less than 10 per cont would cut down
the receipts from imports OF such goods
very largely. But it is declared by the
supporters OF tho bill that it will not OK
pose American manufacture to moro
severe competition, and it Is necessary
consequence, ii this be true, that the
bill would not increase importations Of
WOODEN goods II it would not, more
than half tho revenue derived from
imports OF such goods would be cut
oil, besides all the revenue from
duties OH wool. Tho duties on wool last
ycar were 6,552, 267, and the duties on
woollen manufactures were 3d., S37 ,453,
and including only half OF the latter re.
ccipts the reduction would be about
$24 ,0O0,0 900. No man can study official
reports OF the treasury without learning
that this revenue cannot be spared,
especially if Congress is to pass river
and harbor bill appropriating S24 ,00O,-
900 or more. From what quarter, then,
ia the loss OF revenue to be made good
II tho wool and woolens bill should be
passed? There is not word OF reply,
nor is there even an attempt to explain,
for the obvious though very discredita-
BILE reason that it is never intended the
bill should become law.
Tho question regarding the purpose
OF the bill is not the less pertinent. Its
supporters assert that wool is cheaper
now than it was before the duties were
increased. II so, no benefit would be
conferred upon WOODEN manufacturers
by taking off the duty. 1t needs no as
sertion by them, for it is known to
every buyer OF wooden goods, that is, to
the whole people, that the cost OF wool
ell goods is, on the whole, less than it
was two years ago. Ii this is SO, what
benefit can be conferred upon purchas.
crs OF WOODEN goods by the change ,ot
duty? Again, there is not even u re-
spectacle attempt to answer the ques-
ton. The people are expected to be-
lieve that the manufacturer will some
how be benefited by the repeal OF duties
which have lowered the cost OF wool
and tina. consumers will somehow be
benefited by q reduction OF duties which
have lowered tho cost OF wooden goods.
Again, this is for the, Obvious but dis
creditable reason that it is never in
tended that the bill should become a
law.
The men who offer this measure
would never dare to do so, while max
ing no other provision for revenue and
no corresponding change Of duties al
iecting other interests and sections, ii
it were not understood to be Il mere
trick OF partisan tactics The bill is in
tended to please acertain class Of voters,
but is never expected to be tested by
actual results. Yet it must in fairness
be admitted, in the light OF the respon-
sibility OF majority IN the house rep
resenting tho people, that measure
cannot be honorably proposed for
which members would not venture 10
vote il it could at once be passed. It is
in the last degree disgraceiul to propose
4 measure tor which no decent defence
can possibly be offered Rightly con
sidercd, it is one OF tho most convincing
proofs that the Democratic party is en-
tirely incapable OF government. and IN
worthy Of responsibility, that ventures
to offer for purely partisan ends u meas
ure which it does not seriously attempt
to defend because knowing that it can
not be defended. st.
EACH season has Its own peculiar nal
ady; but with the blood maintained in
state Of uniform vigor and purity b. the
uso Of Ayers Sarsaparilla, little danger
need be feared from meteorological in
huonces. No other blood medicine is SO
safe and effective D&w
A Suggestion.
We wish to make suggestion to per-
= = 4 4. 4 nv.