The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1893-12-22
PLEA FOR HIGH TARIFF.
MINORITY REPORT ON THE TAR
IFF BILL,
The Majority of the Committee Ar
raigned on Account of the
Free List,
BOTH HOUSES ADJOURN FOR TIE Hob-
IDAY RBoBss,
Admiral Stanton Restored snd Given Better
Assisnmout-The Statehood Biils--Pon'
sion aud Postal Matters.

washington. December 2i.-The report
OF the minority OF the members Of the
ways and means committee on the tnrln
| bill was submitted 10 the house TO-DAY.
The report begins by snying that the most
surprising thing about the bin Is the fact
! that the proposition to raise revenue VIII
! lower the revenue N4o0O.ooO below tho
revenue OF 1889. which is only S2ooo,0O1
above expenses. This fact and another
fact that by this bill the larger part OF
the burden of tIeZRtion Is transferred from
foreigners and brought TO our own oitl-
zens, should always he kept IN mind dur
ing discussion. Il then goes on to say
that the majority has not given n tarin
for revenue only bill, and therefore the
measure Is not n manly attempt to carry
out the pledges
After some space devoted TO an arsu
ment upon the basis OF great party plat
FORMS the report gives az an instance OF
inconsistency. boards planned, tonEued
and grooved, saying that although lumber
passes In the same plant from the saws
to the planer the work OF the men who
manage the saws IS unprotected, while
the work of the men who run the planes
is shielded by a protective tariff tax. The
plan, the report says, also involves new
method OF encouraging manufactures by
giving them free raw materials" so that
what goes into the mill pays no taxes ana
what goes into consumption pays all the
taxes
Then, too, wool. coal and iron are not
put on the free list with any reference,
| direct or Indirect. to raising revenue but
TO encourage manufacturers who are to
be thus compensated for any loss from
the struggle with cheaper labor of the
old world
II, as averred. 7o.oOO,oc0 American peo-
pie have been taxed for the benefit OF a
few hundred thousand favored lndyid-
uals. why Should taxation he continued
even in diminished rate2 This bill pre-
tends to be a tarift for revenue and does
not raise the revenue. II pretends 10 give
/ protection, but destroys II IN every direct
/ way. For the manufacturer with free
/ coal, iron and wool instead OF n market
/ OF the world it furnishes a new crop Of
/ enemies, tuen who dig In the mines uaGl
! farmers who raise sheep, For It really
| creates what it's enemies have falsely
/ charged against the republicans,
/ The privileged class does not care to be
! thus privileged. All it asks or has ever
asked is to be protected not alone, but
! with all other citizens from the destruc-
| live competition with the lower grade OF
| ,,.,i,i no,
soeidl me-
The report then takes as a text the
Virginia coal mines, which, II says, are
,,at ,ir,,, 49,, ,,,c,or,rs f,,,, fra, o,,t
"'l "io"e ''iv SUM- ''' ION 'ieS "a
but the great transportation companies
also and through them not only the
worismcn, but tie owners of the stocks.
Protection II says by giving employment
under the influence OF a sure marllot hns
established clusters of great manufactur-
ing and WORKING centers which have
given tho raIlrnnds Tho pogsihlity of eX-
lslencc which no scattered population
could ever have created 10 those who
believe in protection II seems beyond
dispute thai the acxnowledgcd rise In
wages IN this country has been caused
by urotcction Tint hiRnor wages exist
however, or did exist before this bui
threatened the country, can not be dts
Euted. That these wages were maintained
10y protection against the lower wages OF
foreign countries ean hardly be success