Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-22
MINORITY REPORT.
EX-OZAR REED WRITES A PARTISAN DIS
CUSHION ON THR
Wilson Bl-His Rsnarks ara Abou, What
Would Naturally Be Expected From hin,
and Garry No Weight Against the Measure

WAsHINeToN, D. C., December a.
The report Of the minority members o.
the Ways aud Means Committee on the
Tariff bill was submitted 70 the Hous,
to-day. The first part Of the report
discussing the bin generally, was pre-
pared by Ex-Speaker Reed. The other
members Of the minority, Messrs. Bur
rows, Payne, Dalzell. Hopkins aud
Gear, prepared the portion OF the re-
port dealing with special seatures,
The report says:
The most surprising thing about this
bill, which we will treat Of 10 detail
somewhat later, is the fact that this
proposition TO raise revenue will lower
the revenue Of this country STA, 600, OOC
below the revenue Of 1898, which was
only 100000 above our expenses.
This fact aud the other fact
that by this bin thesarger part of the
burden Of taxation is transferred from
foreigners and brought TO our own citi-
Gems should always be kept In mind dur
ing the discussion.
Had the committee, 10 making what
the chairman on me floor Of the House
has called a political bill, followed
the plain uncOmprOmislng declaration
OF the party which they represent, and
abolished protection, giving US a tariff
for revenue only, our task in comment
Ing upon the result Of the committee s
efforts would have been much more
simple, The bill would then have been
a straightforward, manly attempt 90
carry out pledges, and would have placed
IN issue two great principles, and have
led % clear aud comprehensive dis
cussiOn.
But the committee, instead Of pro.
ceeding 10 IT'S great work Of abolishing
protection and preserving the people
from the load of taxation which they
have always averred was the result of
protection, has presented q bill which
IS only another tariff tinkering bill, the
Ike Of which has disturbed the cOndi-
tiOns Of business so many times the last
thirty years. 1t IS a great misfortune
that such is the case, for had the Dill
been for revenue only, 10 the only sense
possible for that term, the people Of
this country might have seen at
glance whether they desired the one
policy or the other, and the question
might have been settled once for all and
the country might have attained to that
repOse, stability and certainty which
our business prosperity so much needs
This other and fresher plan has all
frrh q kr,F anrs 81 ftfe
charged upon the old and very few Of
its virtues. It is open 70 all the ders-
i've and harsh epjthets with which the
present system used 70 be overwhelmed.
The new plan involves new method
OF encouraging manufacturers By giving
them what are called free raw materl-
ais" so that what goes into the mill
paws no taxes and what goes into con-
sumption pays all the taxes. The man
ufacturers have no taxes on what they
buy and the people the equivalent or
taxes on all they purchase.
It unfortunately happens, also, that
"free raw material" is an elastic term,
and what is ono mans free raw material
is another mans finished product.
All the objections so often urged oy
the dominant party as ainSt the existing
system, we repeat, lie against this Dill.
The difference is only one Of degree.
III the present system DO robbery" as
these men have Iterated and reiteratsd,
the proposed system is precisely the
same. lie istrue that the consumer will
no longer pay tribute 20 the Wettern
farmer for the wool OF the sheep put
the New England and other manutac-
turers are still authorized to lay tribute
mon the citizens Of the United States,
who must pay, so these men have al
WAYS said. 80, 40 and As per cent. 20 the
manufacturer on every yard Of wO1lens
and worsteds, while the country Will
only receive, by way OF revenue, less
ened sum, unless increased impOrtatious
sipualize the death of American prOduc-
ton.
m. as It is asseverated, the 70,0OO,0O0
of American people nave been Tor 80
wears taxed for the benefit OF few
hundred thousand of favored iudividu-
AIS. why should the taxation be con-
tinued even in diminished ratio for an
other series OF years and these Few
hundred thousand favored creatures be
given a new lease Of lie.
The doctrine Of the Democratic plat
form that protection is robbery ana
should DO abolished is comprehension
and sturdy. The new movement on be-
half OF mitlgated aud sporadic robbery
is contrary alike 20 good morals and
pnblic faith. All false pretenses are
upwise, contrary to sound policy and
sonDd statesmanship. Hence many Of
ms who are sure that the Democratic
Dlatform was utterly untrue, admitted
its Neutrality-suspicious. and directness.
This bill, framed by those who rep
resented the platform, cannot receive
that kind OF praise. IL pretends "a
he a revenue tariff aud does not raise
revenue. Tic pretends TO give protec
tion. but destroys il In every direct
wav. JIG says 60 the manufacturer, tci
Won we have furnished free coal treS
iron ore, free wool and the markets
Of the world
The moral and social we'll beinG
Of q nation does not depend 50 muct
mon its absolute wealth as upoI
the yearly distribution OF the year
Iy gain. Whatever can be said Of
the 'people Of the United States, moth
ing can be- more truly said than tina
me distribution Of the proceeds O.
united LABOR and capital hat
been among them more ever
and fair than anywhere else OF
earth. There have been great acca
mutations OF capital necessary for the
worlds development all over the uni
verse. but ia the United States sll this
has been accomplished by the neares
approach to general distribution tha
the world has ever seen. This has no
been am owing 20 the tariff, but tht