The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-10
laws passed by our opponents on the subject of

ne referred TO the reciprocity clause, and said
ne was astounded that in a free republic where
the right of taxation through chosen repre-
sen'atives had been bought with blood, such a
thl1g was possible as to surrender this right to
one man. The most sacred right free man has
is to determine the extent and manner OF his
taxation
He denounced the rebate feature OF the Nc
hInley BILL By this means many agricultural
implements and the products of American
manufacture were sold at a much lower rate to
foreigners out of the United States than to citi-
zens IN it. Another and most serious objection
TO the high rate of duty Is the distrue-
i've influence it has on commerce.
Many friends of high protection pretend to be-
!leve and have busted themselves TO show that
the duty collected is not tax upon the people.
Iney claim that this premium or tax is paid by
foreigners, whose manufactures are sold in this
country, for the privilege OF selling them here.
Those adhering to this view insist that the tariff
is not a tax when American citizens buy here
article manufactured abroad. He pays for not
only the original cost abroad, but the cost of
transportation to this country and the duty col
lected at the port OF entry, and when he uses
and consumes and pays tax imposed by the
government, 1t makes no difference whether he
or some prior dealer handed the money to the
customs Office collector for duty.
Not only this, but when an American citizen
ouys goods manufactured here, which are sod
IN daily comps .ition with goods OF a like
Character, that have a similar use, imported
rom abroad, he has to pay the cost OF produe-
ton here aud in many instances an amount
equal TO or nearly equal to the rate OF duty
hxed on foreign goods so competing. Ii the
foreigner and not our citizsns pay the duty,why
dld we relieve him from paying millions OF tax
Tor Us on sugar? Why not .ei him continue to
pay this fifty odd millions?
Ii no other good res ulted from the Mckinley
bill, IT taught the American people that the
tarif IL tax upon the people and those who
consume the articles upon which it is levied
pay the tax removed from sugar, the price of
which is down iu all American markets to an
amount about equal to the duty removed. On
the other hand, when an additional tax of IL
cents per pound was imposed on tin plate, tin
plate went up i'll price all over the country. So
on pearl buttons, upon which the duty was
vastly increased. So on linen goo,is, Whatever
may nave been the situation before,
the American people have come to
know that the tariff is tax and have
dealt with ttosa who increased the tax
In the last congress accordingly by administer
ing to the authors of the high rates We now
have to pay the greatest rebuke that was ever
administered TO eny party III this country, and
turning Republican majority into Demo-
cratic majority OF almost thTee-iourths. There
was another provision OF the pcese Mt law which
should be amended-that one allowing these
who are opulent enough and have leisure to go
abroad to bring in free OF duty large quantities
OF clothes wearing apparel.
The people have II solved, and they will make
that resolution good, that they VIII have re-
duction in the rate of taxation or still further
reduction OF those in congress who favor q
higher taxation. This battle is on and is one to
the finish. On one side is arrayed the Democratic
party in favor of just taxation; on the other
side its opponents clamoring for excessive and
unjust taxation.
In the course of his speech McMillin
was interrupted by Raines of New York
with the suggestion that the New York
state elections had not been of character
to encourage the Democratic party.
McMillin retorted that the ex-speaker
on Monday had referred to 'the trium-
phant march of truth" That much was
emphasized by the fact that the gentleman
from Maine Reed no longer occupied the
chair, but was relocated to the floor, where
he could do nothing but curse and cry
Loud applause The city of the gentle
man from Maine had gone Democratic the
other day. [Applause.l
Reed, who was in a cloak room when his
name was mentioned, strolled down the
aisle, making an apology. He had not
been present because he knew the gentle
man from Tennessee was speaking
Laughter
McMillin replied that he did not care
what the gentleman's reasons for absence
were. McMillin spoke for an hour and a
half and then Dlngley took the floor to
reply on behalf of the minority of the
ways and means committee.
Dingley ridiculed the Democrats for their fall
urs to do more than attack three little items of
the Mckinley tariff out OF 2,500 after threats and
promises to sweep every line and word of this
''unholy tariff from the statute books and sub
stitute measure of "tarif REFORM" from which
shall be eliminated all "class legislation" all
robbery" all protection. These three little
bills embrace all the tariff reform the
Democratic majority of 140 has offered
in the redemption of all the pledges and
promises made before the last election. The
voters. who have been cheated once, would like
TO know, and they have right to be informed
now and here by the 40 Democrats majority in
this House. exactly what kind of tariff bill the
Democrats would substitute for the existing
Mckinley tariff. The people demand that this
Democratic House shall present such n
measure as they profess to be
ready to substitute for the Mckinley tariff
Before election, not after. they ask that
they may have full information OF exactly what
is proposed, while they have a chance to ex-
The fact that the Democratic leaders have not
and viii not present such complete tariff
measure is practically a confession that they
dare not let the people see what they propose
to DO.
Dingley defended the Mckinley act elo-
quently, and at length argued that the
three bills proposed by the Democratic
majority of the ways and means COM
mittee could result in nothing but Jury
to the farmer. The free wool bill, he said,
proposed free trade for the most universal
product of the farm and continued protec-
ton for the manufacturer of wool. 1t
would certainly reduce the price and
destroy the wool industry. Every evil
prediction relating TO the Mckinley
tariff" said Dingley, "has been disproved
by the march of events, and every predc-
tion of its benefits has been made good
Protection has more than justified the pol
lev which has done so much to make the
country the largest agricultural, manu-
featuring, mining and most prosperous
country on earth, and which Is here to
stay" Great applause.
Before the conclusion of Dingley's
speech tine committee rose and the House
adjourned. The debate will be resumed
IN THE SENATE.
Pure Food Bill Passed--InterstateC Com
merce Commissioner Nominated.
WASHINGTON CRY, March 9.-In the
=.