The Helena independent., 1893-12-20
TARIFF BILL PRESENTED.
Chairman Wilson Gives the Reasons
That Governed the Committee
Preparing II
Primarily Designed to Reduce the
Costs OF tho Neoessaries
OF Life.
To Bulid Up Manufacturing system Not
Dependent Upon Govsrnmsnt Part
nershiD for Success.

10 huIu Up manufacturing system Not
Dependent Upon Government Part
nershiD for Succoss.
WASHINGTON. Dso 10. THE majority re-
port OF the ways and means committee on
the tariff Was submitted to the house to-
day at the opening. The report says: "Ths
American people. after a fall and the most
thorough debate ever given by people to
their hseal policy. deliberately and rightly
decided that tbs existing tariff was wrong
in principle and Rrisvously unjust In opera
tiou. They have decided. a. free mon must
always decide, that the power of taxation
has no lawfsl or constitutional exercise
except for providing revenue fer the sup
port of the government. Every departure
from this principle II departure from the
Fundamental principles OF free institutions
and inevitably works out gross inequality
In the citizsnship Of tho country.
For more than thirty years we have
levied The largest part OF our federal taxes
in violation Of this vital truth. until We
have reached ths existing tariff, an sxtreme
and voluminous system Of class taxation
nsh . parallel. So many private enter
prises have been taken into partnership
with the government 30 many private in
forests now share in the rich preroGativs of
taxing seventy millions OF people. that any
attcmpt to dissolve this illegal union is
necessarily encountered by an opposition
that rallies behind 1t the intolerance OF
monopoly. the power of concerted wealth,
tho inertia OF fixed habits and the honest
errors of generation Of false teachina.
The bill. on which the committee has
expended much patient and anxious labor,
mandate Of the American people. II no
moro processes to be purRsd Of all protec-
tion than to be free Of all error In lis conn
pick and manifold details. However much
We may deny the existence OF any legisla-
tive pledge or the right of any congress TO
duties shat carry with them more OF less
Acknowledged protection. W. must recog-
nize that great interests do exist whose ex-
istsnce and prosperity IL IL no part OF our
reforms either to imperil or ourtail. We
believe. and have the warrant of our own
past experience for believing that . reduce
tion Of duty. will not injurs. but give mora
abundant life to all ear great manufaotur-
ing industries. however much they may de-
sire . change.
In dealing with tho tariff question. as
with every other long standing abuse that
has interwoven itself with our social or In
dustrial system. tie Legislator must always
reform 10 safest, having, In itself, the pin
eiple Of growth. A glance at the tariff leg
islation OF our own country ought to sat
fy every intelligent student that protection
has always shown Its falsity a. q system of
economy by the absolute failure to insu.e .
h<,u1 huo 4 nj. oopik An MI
turers. It teaches men to depend on arti-
lioial help. on laws taxing their county
men for the Prosperity of business.
rather than upon their own skill and
efforts. II throws business ont OF its
natural channels into artificial ohan-
auctuation and uncertainty. and ma kes
tho tariff system the football Of party poIi-
tics. and the instability Of large business
interests the stake of every popular cleo
sien. No one has recognized this more
fully than the wiser men who have from
time to time engaged in tho So called pro-
tected industries"
The report then deals At lsnRth with the
tariff history OF the country, showing that
when first proposed the manufaeturers
opposed IL aud desired to be let alone.
Once established. however. the protected
| industries asked for moro and more protec-
tion. Finally came the rsvulsion Of 1886.
protests Of manufacturers that it would
ruin them, and against the solid vote Of
the representatives Of manufacturing states
In conQrs0a.
The result of that low tariff was the de-
velopmsnt of great viRor in manufactures,
with steady, employment aad Increasing
wages for labor. After eleven years trial
tho representatives. Of those same states.
with practical unanimity. voted for fur
ther reduction of 20 per cent, and BY . two
thirds vote sustained O rs per cent Toduo-
tion under the law Of 1857. Tho people
were go we'll satisfied with !. that there was
. ,rotest against tho Morrill, bill OF 1861
increasing the duties.
The report quotes from number Of
speeches In congress against tho Morrill,
bill, among them ono from Sherman. Un-
der rspublican auspices there has been =
constant increase OF duties At the demand
of manufacturers The present bill. whils
manufacturers. Is framed on the theory
that it is the duty OF congress. not the
right of manufacturers, to 6x its terms.
In answer to the criticism about reducing
the revenues at \ time vixen the government
is in financial straits. the report says the
that fact, to not put on tbs free list some
articles which it would have been glad to
mako free. and not to cut other rates Al
low az desirable. but the committee did not
| feel justified In ignoring tho instructions OF
tho American people on account OF . tempo
rary shrinkaRs Of revenues. Expe'ie
| shows that increase of business will largely
| make up the loss from decreased rates.
The report declares that the reciprocity
clauso OF the tariff act of 1890 has brought
no Appreoisble benefits and the present
bill aims therefore to repeal IL entirely.
I'VE believe the sugar bounty system
contrary TO the spirit OF odF instructions
and can conceive OF NO circumstances un-
dor which We sheuld have advocated OF APP
| proved its introduction into our laws. We
have reported provision for it's repsal. by
suoh stages a. shall gradually obliterate il
from our laws. while pe mittinR those who
have invested large means under expsota-
tion Of continuance reasonable time In
which they may prepare to take stand
with othe. industsies Of the country.
''Duties upon imported tobacco leaf suite
able for cigar Wrappers. which were snor-
| mously advanced by tho not of 1870. have
| been placed ~ such figures a. wore doomed
iliksly to produce tho most revenues to the
] treasury. OF staple agricultural products.
| including meats and provisions. we are
such large exporters, and must continue to
DO, that any duties upon thom ars useless
| for protection and fruitless for revenue.
For the p oducsrs of our great export sta
ples, which. having fully supplied she
| home market must overflow and seek
larger purchasers elsewhere, tho only eject
Of a protective tariff Is TO take away from
them one. fourth to on0-half Of the prod
uota for which tho covld exchange their