The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-20

ever much they nnay dread the chsnre-
In dealing With the tsrsH question. - sItn
every other iong-sssnding abuse fnst "a
saterwovsn itsesf with our social o. indus
trial system, the legislator mast sisays
remember that in beginning temperate re-
form ID safest. having In Itself the prsncs-
pie Of growth A glance ~ the fsr1u feg-
fxsatlcn OF our own country ought 20 satisfy
every intelligent student that protection
has always shown It's fssssty 80 system
Of economy by It's absoiuss failure 70 give
healthy and stable prosperity 70 manefsc-
furers. Il teaches men 20 depend on srts-
fciai help. on laws taxing their country
men for TIE prosperity Of their business.
rather than upon their osn skiu snd ell
forts. IL throws business cat OF its natural
chan neis into artificial channels IN when
there must always BE fuctusfion and m
certainty. and makes the tariff system the
football OF party politics aud INSTABILITY al
large business Interests the stake OF every
Sh(s msre fully than the wiser men who
have from time 70 time engaged In the
20 called protected industries"
The report then deals ~ length with the
tariff history Of the country, shoSiDg
that when sirst proposed the n manufactures
cppossd protection and desired 10 DC isf
alone. Once protected, however. the in-
0uHLfEE4
ton. Finally came the rssulssou OF 1876.
when The tariff was reduced against pro-
tests by manufactures that IL would ruin
them, and against the solid vote OF fns
representative OF the manufacturing states
in congress The result OF that iow tarin
was the development OF great vigor IN
manufactures. with steady employ rnsnt
and increasing wages Tor LABOR. AFTER
eleven years trial tho representatives
OF those same states with practical
unanlmity voted for further reduction OF
% per cent and by q two-.hirds vote sus-
fAised . per cent. reduction under the
tariff bill of 1867. The people were so well
satisfied with 10 that there was q protest
against the Morrill, hill OF 1861. increasing
the duties. The report quotes from q
number OF speeches in congress against
the Morrill, bsIl, among ther. one by sheF-
nan. Under Republican auspices there
has been constant increase in the duties
et the demand OF the manufacturers The
present bill, while framed In no spirit OF
unfriendiiness TO manufacturers, Is framed
on the theory that 10 Is the duty OF con.
rress and not the right OF manufacturers
TO ii * its terms.
In answer 10 criticism about reducing
revenues at time when the government
IL In financial straits the report says the
committee Is compelled In Difference 10
thaG fact 10 not put on the free list some
articles which il would have been glad 10
make tree, and not 10 cut other rates as
low as desirable. but thu committee did
not feel Iastified IN ignoring the instruc-
tons of the American people on account
ot temporary shrinkage in the revenues.
Experlsnce shows that increase in busi-
ness will largely make up loss from de-
creased rates.
The report declares that the reciprocity
clause oil ths tariff act OF 1880 has brought
TO appfeciable benefits, and the present
bin aims. therefore. to repeal it entirely.
I've believe the sugar bounty system TO
be contrary to the spirit OF our institu-
tons and can conceive no circumstances
under which We should have advocated or
approved It's introduction into our laws.
We have reported provision for repeal
by such stages as shalt gradually obliterate
fl from our laws. while permitting those
who have invested large sums. under the
expectation Of the continuance, q reason
able time in which they may prepare TO
take q stand with the other industries Of
the country.
"The duties upon imported tobacco leaf
suitable for cigar wrappers, which were
enormously advanced by the act of 1880.
have been placed at such figures ~ were
deemed likely TO produce the most revenue
10 the treasury.
''0f staple agricultural products. inc!ud-
large exporters and must continue to be.
that any duties upon them are useless for
protection and iruitless for revenue. For
the producers of our great export staples
which. having fully supplied ths home
market. must overflow andzS seek larger
purchasers elsewhere, the only effect of
the protective tariff is TO take away from
them one-tourth to one-half the products
for which they could exchange the sur
plus In open market
Upon the larger sizes OF plate glass we
have made q reduction of about one
third. In the iron and steel schedule, be-
ginning with free ore and a duty of 2iIs
per cent. on pig iron, We have reported a
scale of duties considerably below those
OF the existing law. graduated according
TO the degree OF manufacture. Tine duty
upon steel rails has been put at . per
cent There seems 20 be an authentic re-
port that pool of American rail makers.
which under the shelter OF the present
duty. si3.il per ton. has kept up the prices
10 American consumers far beyond the
cost OF production and legitimate profits.
has been recognized 10 continue the
regulation OF prices above the proper
market rates. As ali shippers, and espe-
eiaiiy American shippers. are vitality inter
essed in eheapening the cost OF transports.
tion. the rates of duty upon steel rails
should 10 adjusted so IS TO protect them
from monopoly prices aud monopoly com.
banations. Upon tin plate the duty has
been gagged With reference To the revenue
IL wsla bring into the treasury. and the diff.
ference between this daty and that upon
black plate has been iessened with view %
discourage what may not nnjus,Iy be
called the bogus industry of making
American tin plate BY the mere dipping in
this country of imported black plate.
ITO the farmers Of tho country We
hays given untaxsd agricultural imple-
ments and binding twins and untaxed
cotton ties. for the additional reason ia
the latter case that cotton Is the iarges,
export crop of the country sold abroad In
eonpotiiioa With the cheap labor of India
snd Egypt.
I'm the schedule OF spirits, wines and
other beverages The changes maize are
saisht and with A view To the production
o. Increased revenue from these yer,
proper sources Of revenue taxation"
The majority report is signed hv tn,
Democrats members of the committee
The Republican members will submit. q
minority report
WAYNE MAcs EAGH's REWARD.