The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-11-29

Naturally the Wilson tariff bill was
the all-absorbing topic Of converSation
about town yesterday. The most casual
observer saw at glance that the sweep
ing reductions and removals Of duties
must provo disastrous to WheelinRs
leading industries, the manufactures
which have made her and which must
be relied on to keep her prosperous.
Everywhere that men gathered the
tariff was the theme, and nearly every
body, regardless OF politics, condemned
the sweeping blow at American indus
tries made by the Wilson bill. and ex-
pressed hope that it might never be-
come a law. The way Democrats felt
about it was we'll expressed by one Of
the most prominent members Of that
party, who said:
'The bill will never pass. It may 70
through the house, but never through
the senate. But the leaders in Con-
gress will try 60 hard to put it through
that it will have the same effect, and
next year the Democrats will be routed,
horse. foot and dragons, and know
lots of US who will be glad Of It. This
monkeying with the tariff ought to DO
rebuked."
Among the general chorus Of con-
demnation there were few exceptional
expressions. These we're dyed.in.the-
wool Democrats, who, when they un-
Willingly became involved in argument
fell back on the exploded theories Of
the tariff revenue reformers, and said =
reduction of the tariff must be . good
thing, since the American price Of any
article must necessarily be the price
abroad plus the duty. Therefore 70 re-
duce the duty was to reduce the price.
The effect on wages they ignored, and
when an array Of solid facts was
brought against their theory they
simply parrotllke repeated the old
formula.
All the experts in special lines who
were seen agreed that the effect Of the
Wilson bill, If enacted into q law, would
be disastrous to all local industries aud
fatal to some. The worst feature Of the
bill was stated TO be the return to I'D
valorem duties, opening the door to
fraud in undervaluation OF imports. A
reduced tariff would be bad enough, but
to change from high specific 10 q low
ad valorem duty would be doubly bad.
Iron manufacturers, steel manufac-
turers, glass manufacturers, pottery
onerators, wool growers and buyeru,
workingmen in all branches Of industry
and thoughtful business men were
among those who were heard by IHTE-
LIGEScER reporters yesterday to deplore
the blow at American manufactures and
to express the hope that the bill would
be rejected.
Messrs. Parker Bros, the produce
firm, were of the opinion that the farm
er would feel greatly the change in the
duty on potatoes. At present the
duty is twenty-five cents buahel,
and in Nova Scotia, Scotland and Ire
land there is a great surplus this season
that will, il the potato d1ty comes OF,
be sent to this country.
A travelling man representing New
York notion house was speaking OF the
tariff bill yesterday afternoon and de-
clared that the change from specific to
ad valorem duties will create great con-
fusion in all branches of trade, and also
be the means OF importers cheating the
government by fraudulent invoices.
This gentleman was in Wheeling on the
night OF the great Democratic jollifca-
ton after the Waterloo Of '92. and he
then in writing to brother said that in
less than year hundreds Of that shout
ing multitude would be hunting for
free soup houses" How nearly true
that prediction was, many man can
testify to-day.