The sun., 1893-12-08
No Wonder the Petitions Arc Pouring In.

Mr.. FITCH. the Democratic Representa-
tive of the Fifteenth Congress district in
this city, has turned over to Prof. WILSON
Of the Ways and Means Committee a petit
tion sent to him by New York tobacco i'm
porters and cigar manufacturers. explain
ing that the duty OF 90 cents q pound on
stemmed Havana filler Is not sufficiently
protective of their American industry, and
asking for Its increase to 70 cents q pound.
Democratic Representative DUNPHY OF
the Eighth Congress district Of this city
has many hat manufacturers among his
constituents. and they are complaining to
him that Prof. WILSON'S tariff does not
protect their industry. but makes them pay
tax OF S5 per cent. on their material. and
gives them protective duty on the manu-
factured product OF only 80 per cent.
Nearly all the Democratic Representa-
tlves from this city. We are told. have re-
ceived from their constituents analogous
complaints and petitions with reference
to articles manufactured by them. These
protestants cry out that Prof. WILSON
has not protected them enough. Sim
liar petitions are coming to this Dem
ocratio Congress from every part OF the
Union: and as the session proceeds. their
number will be steadily and greatly In
creased. They will be sent by both employ
ers and employed, by both the producers of
raw materials. as they are called. and the
manufacturers OF finished products. In
the new tariff schedules there are not
many items against which such protests
will not be made; and as this is a
Democratic Congress. they will. of course
be sent TO Democratic Representatives. and
largely. II not chiefly. by Democrats. They
will come from the East and the West the
South and the Pacific coast. and the in
creased protection they will ask for will be
urged on Democratic Representatives as
a duty owing to Democratic constituents.
Moreover. these petitions will have JUS
tice on their side In the majority of cases.
probably. The Democratic Congress will
not. In fairness. be able to turn deaf ear
to their protests and their pleadings. 1t
will have TO listen to them patiently and
deal with them justly. No Representative
can afford to disregard the Tightful COM
plants of his own constituents. He mis-
represents them II he does not oppose any
legislation which treats their interests un-
fairly through an inequality OF taxation.
These petitioners will have justice on their
side. because the WILSON Tarin bill does
not provide for the tariff for which the
Democracy voted. They voted for q tariff
for revenue only. and for the fundamental |
principle that protection is both unconstitu- |
tiOnal and unjust. The WILSON tariff Is ;
tarin for protection. 1t Is unconstitutional |
and piece OF atroeious class legisla- |
tion. robbing the many for the bene-
fit OF the few. 1t is not q rev
enus tariff even in the sense that. under
lie unjust Determinations. revenue enough |
for the needs Of the Government. honestly |
and economically administered. would be
Obtainabls. 1t would create deficiency /
OF revenue. and hence In that respect ]
It is worse even than the MoKISLEY tariff. |
The eliminating atrOcity Of class legislA-
tlOu." Moreover. the WILsOE taTifi. though