The evening world., 1893-12-19

Ut Two, anu tne papers IN REGARD 10 tnete cases l
No stronger Indictment Of the whole
protective system could be made than
these words OF a United States senator
that laws which impose taxes on the
great masses of the people must be
written In language SO technical that
the. most intelligent citizen cannot fully
understand them, and that the rates of
ishness and greed of those who are to
receive the taxes.
INDUSTRY AIDED FIRST.
We have believed tina the first step
towards. a reform Of the tariff should
be a release of taxes on the materials
of industry.
There can be no substantial and bene-
Ing and other comforts Of the American
people. nor any substantial and bene-
fetal enlargement of the field of Ameri-
can can labor; SO long as we tax materials
Every tax upon the producer falls
with increased force on the consumer.
Every tax on the producer in this coun-
try Is a, protection. to his competitors
in all other countries. and so narrows
his market as to limit the number and
lessen the wages of those to whom he
can give employment.
Every c%heapening in the cost or en-
largement. Of the supply of his raw ma
%terlals, while primarily inuring. to the
benefit Of the manufacturer himself.
phooNo u Tree COIlDttlIlon lIIlIltuldle
ly, and passes entirely to the consumer,
who very soon gets even more benefit
out of 1t than such reductions seem to
carry. because with the rapid widening
of his market the manufacturer is able
to sell at a smaller profit.
LEGISLATION FOR THE CONSUMER
1t Is, therefore. a very narrow and
short-sighted view whirh supposes that
we %releas. tire duties on iron ore and
coal n wood n other like articles
for the hpnp6t nf those whn mpnnfa rfpra
our tron, steel, woollen and other fab
RIGS.
We are legislating for the great mill
ions of consumers beyond them, and for
the scores of thousands Of laborers to
whom they may thus give steady and
well paid employment.
1t Is no less a narrow and sh~ort-sighted
view that supposes that a removal of the
dustry will infiict n real loss upon
those who produce them In our own
country.
WIDENING THE MARKETS.
The enlargement of markets for our
products in other countries. the Increase
on the internal m and in the
carrying trade Of our country, will in
sure a growing home market for all
these things that will quickly outstrip
anything they could have under the pro-
tective system.
Iron and coal are the basis of modern
industry. The abundance and cheapness
VI shSht ouppty oilViS III idl ilSb vi
productions he manufacturing suprem-
acy Of the world.
While the mines OF other countries are
ing In consequence 10 increasing we are
constantly discovering n developing
new sources Of supply.
Bessemer ores in the Lake region and
OF foundry ors In several of the South
ern States, their convenience for trans
portation aad for the assemblage Of
ma taTtalQ tho IIaa nf tho dtanp ah1xynI
In mining-all these have so ~cheapened
the cost Of producing pig-iron and steel
as to take away all possibility and dan
ger OF ioreign competition In almost
COAT PRoDUcTIoN EXTENDED.
Not less rapid has been the growth Of
y coal production. The existing duty
mtuminous coal cannot be justified
either as a protective or a revenue
duty. h importations into this coun-
our revenue. while no one contends that
the cost of mining Is higher In the
United States h In the countries tina
might seek our market.
1t could never have been intended that
a constitution which establishes perfect
freedom OF Internal trade among the
States should countenance laws that hold
mote, tributary to other sections for the
supplies of those necessary materials
whose location is ordained by natural
10" aHu Hot ny human cnOlce.
WOOL TARIFF A HAMPER.
This House in two Congresses in recent
years having. after full debate, passed
laws putting wool upon the free list, 1t
Is not deem necessary in this report to
attempt a re~statement OF the reasons
the tariff upon wool has disastrously
hampered our manufacturing Industry
and made cruel and relentless war upon
the health. the comfort and the produc-
tive enerRy of the American nannIa
FREE LUMBER.
have gone a step farther, and put un-
dressed lumber generally on that list.
This may serve to cheaper and improve
the d bv Of some Of u peo-
plish nothing more thai to delay the rap
Id destruction of American forests.
FREE HEMP AND FLAX.
we have also placed hemp and fax
sons stated above, that we may give
to the American workingman untaxed
material to work upo and that we may
give the finished product, as far as pos
tax, and that a moderate one, instead
of a medley and emulation of taxes
gathered during the process of produc-
ton.
In addition to these so-called raw ma
terlais we have released from tarifr
duties certain important articles and
manufacturers Wnlcn we nave SHOWN
our capacity to produce cheaper than
any other country. such as pig copper and
the more important agricultural imple-
ments.
Any article or manufacture which can
sustain the competition Of like foreign
articles in other markets can defy such
competition in the home market, and Is
not protected by the duty, but by It's
own intrinsic superior c~heapness and
quality.
THE EFFECT OF NEEDLESS DUTIES
The only effect of a duty on such ar
ticles is to enable those who make them
to charge higher prices to the citizens
Of their own country han they charge
to foreigners. and this has been motor
iously the case with both copper and
many agricultural implements.
In adjusting duties upo what may be
called the finished products we have
tried to impose such rates as Will not
destroy or distress any OF our home
Industries. on the one hand, nor
on the other, secure to them an oppres-
sive monopoly of the home market. For
this rule we have the recognized au-
thority both OF well-known and leading
Tariff reformers n OF those who In
days past were considered moderate
protectionists.
The report here quotes from speeches
of the late Senator Beck, Mr.. Carlisle,
tn late President Garfield and Senator
IMPORTANT CHANGES.