Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1892-10-06

| S T,
Mn PREsTDEsT-P Perhaps / ought 10
| apologize to the senate for attempting On
such day as this. and Of 50 late n period Ia
tho session. 70 occupy any part Of its time
In the discussion Of Il subject which we all
agree cannot be- disposed Of; but the recent
report made by the committee on finance
in relation 70 the prices Of commodi-
ties, the rates Of wages and the cost Of Iiv
! ing In the United States has been 40
thoroughly misunderstood or 50 grossly
niarepresented 10 the public press and
elsewhere, that have felt It 10 be- the duty
| OF some one on this side OF the chamber xh0
assisted In making that Investigation 10
state our views Of iGs reaults
think II is the unanimous opinion Of
economists and gtatisticiaDs who have in
vestigatod the subject thai Tor many years,
| In ali The great industrial aud commercial
countries Of the world. The prices OF com.
modlties have been decreasing and the rates
of wages, especially In those occupations
which require considerable degree of
skill and intelligence. have been incraas
Ing; OF course there are very many aud
very conspicuous aud aRgrayating gxcep.
tions 70 this general rule, bus they are at
| attributable. ~ my opinion, 70 Abnormal
and artificial conditions, crested hy I'm
equal and unjust tax laws and by Improper
governmental interference withthe private
affairs Of the people, Discriminating ~
favor OF some and against Olhera.
Ths Folly 81 Protection.
Whatever makes II easier f0r the people
70 live deceutly ana comfortably, what
ever makes The necpsaRries u lifc which
the people are bound % buy and usc cheap
err and loss expensive 20 the masses, 4 a
blessing 20 mankind. and ] have never
been able 10 appreciate the wisdom Of that
policy which cOmpcis men TO work foneer
and hsrier in order 10 procure food, rtsi
rnent aud shelter for themselves and their
| families; have never been able 10 apprc.
ciate either the economic truth or the hui
mauity Of tbs proposition that tbs pc0plo
can he made happy and prosperous ~ tss.
alton, whether the purpose o. that taxa.
tion be 70 deffay cxtrnvagaDt expenditures
on the part Of the government or 70 IN
1 crease the prices which the people pay Tor
what they eat. drink and wear.
| Mr.. President, amy one who contends 10
this day, as the seuatgr from Nevada SIR
Stewart) apparently has this morning,
that high prices Of commodities nre ben
eflcial 20 the community at large, Is at
war with the spirit Of tho age la which he
| lives. nc war with the genius N discovery
and invention which during The last half
century more than during any other like
| period in thu history Of the world has
ameiiorated the condition Of mankind By
bringing al the necessariea ~ life. and
many OF SIS luxuries, within the reach u
every man who is willing 70 work
speak Of production and distribution
together. because cheap and easy distribn-
1 tion Is just as important, both 10 che pro-
Queer and to the consumer, as cheap and
easy production; therefore every shaokle
| imposed upon commerce. every restriction
upon honest trade, every interference with
the free exchange OF products IN the mar
kets Of the world increases prices and de.
prives the people of tho benches which
they have right oenjoy, and which they
otherwise wouldenjoy, resulting from I'M
| proved Industrial and commercial methods.
But, Mr.. President. IL Is unnecessary 10
1 pursue this line Of argument further. DO
cause at last 1t appears to be admitted by
the friends OF the protective system that
cheap commoditiesfor the use Of tho people
are beneficial. and the senator from Rhode
bnt1An lAtAts SaANElIHlt cittAhtuH hcIt NuTEt
days ago a. the chosen champion OF that
system, bases his defense OF the tariff act
Of 1890 almost solely upon the ground that
it has reduced prices and enlarged the fer.
eign commerce OF the country.
That was not the purpose Of the authors
and supporters Of that law at the time Ii
! passed congress, as is conciusively shown
BY Che report which was made TO the
house Of representatives when tho bill was
presented to that body In that report Mr..
Mckinley, speaking for himself and all
the Republican members OF thecomniittee.
said:
we have not been 80 much concerned
about the prices Of the articles we consume
as we have bean to encourage q system 81
home production which shall give fair re-
enumeration To domestic producers and fair
wages to American workmen, and by In.
creased production and home competition
insure fair prices to consumers"
And again. the report says:
your committee has not sought by the
proposed legislation to further cut down
prices at the expense Of our own prcsperi
W, but 70 provide with certainty against
that increasing competition from other
countries whose conditions our people arr
unwilling to adopt We have not believed
that our people, already suffering from
low prices, can or will be satisfied Will
legislation which win result la love,
priees.n
Its Advocates Swept Aside.
Here Ii clear and emphatic declaration
by the authors Of the measure, that 1t was
not intended to reduce prices, that Il wouEG
not, In fact, reduce prices, and that th'
people would not be satisfied with an,
Legislation which would produce that re
suit
The theory that high Imices Of commcdi
ties are beneficial to the community a
large, and tha.s tbs Mckinley law woult
increase them, was abandoned by the I'd
vocates Of that measure Immediately afte
It's passage. and In every palf Of the conn
try they faced about and either denied thu