The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-12-02
THE NEW TARIFF BILL.
Democrats Keep tie Pledges They
Made the People.
A WAR upoN Class LEGISLATION

WASHINGTON November 2f.-The democratic
members OF the ways and means committee Oh inc
House of Representatives have done their dnly I'M
der the Chicago platform and the pledges msue 10
the people in the last presidential campaign iheS
have renorted tariff bill that will completely do
away with the Ubiquitous class legislation OF inc
Mckinley act aud does not use the power OF the
Government for the enrichment of the favored con-
ribntors to campaign funds. II evies taxation for
The proper and constitutional purpose of support
ing the government and at the same time ana m
cideptally TO this taxation it affords sufficient pro-
lection TO American industries to make up for Inc
difference between cost Of labor here ana Abroad
but not enough TO enrich the manufacturer uliuer
the cuise of raising revenue for the support Oh the
government. As the Mckinley bill had in view the
nrosperity of the specially favored classes so the
Wilson bill has in view the prosperity OF Inc ehllre
people.
The bill will call forth criticism, as ms''er oi
coursa. The trainers OF the bill have done much 70
disarm Democratic criticism, however, by thei'
consistent aud unselfish action when it came &c
matters in which they and their constituents "aI-
directly Interested They sacrificed thee an eA-
vdual interests for the generaiSsI upon 'e De'''o-
! annie that every man "fouiu ioiioW'
! - i,r..- 3. s.led in this movement by voting
80, coal on the free list and subjec: the mines OF
his State (west Virginia. to the contingencies oil
competition of coal from foreign mines. Mr.
Stevens, of Massachusetts. representing wooden
manufacturers aud himself a manufacturer OF
woolens voted TO modify the prohibitory tariff on
ali wooden goods. Mr.. Tarsncy, representing tie
lead-minng interests of Southwestern Missouri,
voted TO put silver lead OH the free list aud 10
reduce the duty on lead and lead ores Mr. Bryan
OF Nebraska, representing growers of beet sugar
voted TO reduce the duty on refined sugar and to
h,ro mo.
eighth each year until it is entirely wiped out and
Mr.. Whiting of Michigan, whose State is interested
in the production of salt and lumber Voted to put
these articles on the free list Other members of the
committee voted to reduce the protection on arti'
cles in which they were especially interested.
With this objectlesson before them there is little
excuse for Democrats to find fault with the bill be-
cause some little thing in which some of their peo
Pile are interested has not been taken of to the
detriment of the general welfare.
PLACING COAL on THE FREE LIST.
The committee almost unanimously decided to
abolish the duty of Is cents per ton, not only be-
cause the committee thought that American coal
without a tariff could successfully compete with
Nova Scotia and foreign coal, but because of its
earnest desire to give New England manufacturers
some concession in return for the very large redue
tons made on goods manufactured in New Eng
land 1t is stated here OH the most reliable au
thority that coal Interests in West Virginia. at least
are prepared to accept the changed condition to be
affected by the abolition of the present tariff.
MARCH lsT SET FOR BEGIxNING THE REFORM.
That such an early date as March LIST has been
named means that the House of Representatives
will pass the bill ut least by the middle of january
and that the Senate shall pass it by the close OF
February The House can easily carry out this
programme but if any friction is to come it will
come from the Senate. 1t is the announced policy
of the Republican minority of the Senate, however
to give the Democratic majority full swing" on the
tariff, believing that the supposed tariff policy Of
the Democrats was rejected at the last election and
that II will be rejected at the election next year
FAIR TAXATION on RICH AND POOR.
The change from the specific duties so generally
exacted by the Mckinley law to ad valorem rates
makes n comparison between the two bills some
what difficult and considerable time would be
duction of duty has been on each article. The
change is in the interest of equity and fair taxation
upon the rich and poor alike. Under specific duty
costly articles imported for use by the wealthy pay
10 more duty than those ofpoorer quality used by
The poor Ad valorem taxation does away with this
difficulty by making each article pay tax in pro-
portion TO its actual value. Under the administra
tive features of the law as amended by the present
bill il is not thought the ad valorcn system will
furnish any better opportunities for frauds upon the
revenue than does the specific system.