St. Paul daily globe., 1892-02-15
PROTECTS The POOR,
The Peculiar Tariff Bill Intro
dueed by Mr.. Hall, Of
Minnesota.
1t Is Aimed at Millionaires
Who Buy Their Clothing
in Paris.
The Outline Of Business Indi-
Gates a Dull Week in
Congress.
The Silver Question Will Be
the Absorbing Topic in
Congress.
Special to the Globe

Special to the Globe
" WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.-Representa-
tive Hall escaped from the crush at the
presidents reception last Tuesday even
ing, and Immediately drafted tariff
bill as the result of his observation and
experience there. Speaking of the bill,
which he has just introduced, he said to
the GLOBE correspondent: l attended
the reception and admired, as only
rural member can, the elaborate and
costly costumes exposed to public in
spection. it seemed as if all the mill
lonaires of the country, with Jay Gould
and Morton at their head, together with
their wives, daughters. sisters, cousins
and aunts, were out in all their daz-
Zllng glory for the benefit of us COM
moners. Nothing can be more un-
American than these fashionable recep-
tions given by the American president.
A somewhat vulgar imitation of the
court customs OF Europe, they afford to
the very wealthy the opportunity of
Haunting their riches in the face of the
common people, and to the latter the
morbid satisfaction of seeing and envy
ing those riches. ! think they are in
bad taste and
Politically UnyVholesome.
The White house, like the church,
should be place where such contrasts
should be repressed. and not encour-
aged. Yet he will be a courageous
president who will dare to clip the
wings of the millionalres as they enter
the White house, and insist that there,
at least, simplicity and not oste ntation
shall be fashionable. A great many
nearly all-of the costliest and most
dazzling of the costumes which I saw,
were not only made of foreign materi-
ais, but were probably cut, fitted and
made up abroad, while the fair owners
were enjoying the delights of sum-
mer trip over the Atlantic. They do
this. these wealthy Americans. Year
after year the whole family trip it over
to Europe. and bring back with them
the choicest and most expensive cos
tunes to be found in the fashionable
marts of London and Paris. 1t is there
that their wardrobes are stocked up"
and they come back fully equipped for
the season at home. There is thrift.
too, In this; for all these rich and costly
AdOrnments of ssSociety.o
classed in McKinley's free list as
wearing apparel and personal effects"
pass with their owners through our Gus
tom houses untaXed. If they directly
imported their wardrobes, or if they
brought with them the materials ONLY
to be cut and fashioned by American
tailors, dreSSmakerS and milliners. they
would be compelled to pay the tariff tax
upon them. By bringing them with
them ready for wear they escape this.
The result is that, as our fashionable
rich must have such things, instead of
sending for them, or having them made
up here, they go abroad, have them
made there, and actually save money bv
the operation. The bill introduced is
the moral of the presidents reception.
1t protects the American tailors and
dressmakers from the competition of
the Partisan clothesmakers. Mckinley
neglected to do this and | seek to per
feet his law. The bill provides that the
wearing apparel (not exceeding $50 in
value), actually in use by person re-
turning to the United States, and all
other apparel and effects which such
person carried with him when he went
abroad, shall be
Admitted Free.
This enables him to land here fully
clothed in foreign-made suit, and also
to bring back with him whatever he
carried away, untaxed. If he brings
more than $50 worth of clothing pur-
chased abroad he pays the same duty as
you or would if we had imported it by
order. The fact that he can afford to
make the trip confers upon him no spe-
clal privilege and gives him no i'm
munity from taxation. The bill also
provides that foreign-born persons i'm
migrating to the United States with the
intention of permanently residing here
may bring with them untaxed their
household goods, clothing, etc., without
regard to their value. Such things are
almost iii the nature of heirlooms, chiefly
valuable because of their associations,
and for that reason should be free. The
personal effects of tourists, and the
scenery, wardrobes, apparatus, etc.. of
actors, lecturers and scientists who
come for temporary purposes only are
put on the free list. This bill is so
thoroughly protective that it ought to
be satisfactory to all protectionists, ex-
cept the millionaires.