The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-20
THE WILSON TARIFF Bill
Presented to Congress by the Ways
and Means Committee.
TEMPERATE REFORM is SAFEST.
Growing Home Market win Outstrip
Protective system Committee Claim
This Bill VIII Work Injury to None
and Good to Many.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-The majority
report of the ways and means committee
on the tariff bill written by Chairman
Wilson and approved by all the Demo.
cratic members of the committee was
presented TO the house. In substance, the
report says:
The American people, after the fullest
and most thorough debate ever given by
any people to their fiscal policy, have de-
liberately and rightly decided that the
existing tariff Is wrong in principle and
grievously unjust is operation. They have
decided, as free men must always decide,
that the power of taxation has no lawful
or constitutional exercise except for pro-
viding revenue for the support of govern
ment. Every departure from this princi-
pie is departure from the fundamental
principles Of popular institutions, and in
evitably works out q gross inequality in
the citizenship Of a country.
The bill on which the committee has ex
pended much patient and anxious labor is
not offered as a complete response to the
mandate of the American people. 1t no
more Processes to be purged of all protec-
tion than to be free Of all error in its COM
plex and manifold details. However we
may deny the existence Of any legislative
pledge, or Of the right OF any congress to
make such pledge. for the continuance of
duties that carry with them more or less
acknowledged protection, we must rec.
ognize that great interests do exist whose
existence and prosperity it is no part OF
our reform either to imperil or to curtail.
Injury to None.
We believe, and we have the warrant OF
our own past experience for believing,
that reduction of duties will not injure
but give more abundant life to all our
great manufacturing industries, however
much they may dread the change. In
dealing with the tariff question, as with
every other long g-standing abuse that has
interwoven itself with our industrial
or social system, the legislator must al.
ways remember that, in the beginning,
temperate reform is safest, having in it
self the principle of growth.
We have already said that public dis
cussion may disclose errors of minor de-
tail in the schedules of our bill. To
escape such errors would require SO
thorough and minute a knowledge of all
the divisions, subdivisions, complex and
manifold mazes and involutions of our
chemical, textile, metal and other indus
tries, that no committee of congress, no
matter how extended the range Of their
personal knowledge, or how laboriots
and painstaking their efforts, could ever
hope to possess. We have not forgotten
that we represent the people, who are the
many, as well as the protected interests,
who are the few, and while we have dealt
with the latter in no spirit of unfriendli-
ness, we have felt that IL was our duty
and not their privilege to make the tariff
Taxation Argument.
We have believed that the first step to-
ward a reform Of the tariff should be a re-
lease Of taxes on the materials of indus
try. There can be no substantial and
reduction npon the necessary
and other comforts of the Amer
ican people, nor any substantial and ben
eficial enlargement of the field of Ameri-
can labor, so long as we tax materials and
processes of production. Every tax upon
the producer falls with increased force
on the consumer. Every tax on the pro-
ducer in this country is a protection to his
In all other countries, and so
narrows his market as to limit the num-
ber and lessen the wages of those to whom
he can give employment.
Every cheapening in the cost or enlarge
ment Of the supply Of his raw materials,
while primarily inuring to the benefit of
the manufacturer himself, passes under
free competition Immediately and passes
entirely to the consumer, who very soon
gets even more benefit out of il than such
reduction seems to carry, because with the
rapid widening OF his market the manu-.
facturer is able to sell at smaller profit.
LegIsiating For Millions.
1t is therefore very narrow and short.
sighted view which supposes that we re-
lease the duties on iron ore and coal and
wool and other like articles for the benefit
Of those who manufacture our iron, steel,
woolen and other fabrics. We are legis.
lating for the great millions of consumers
beyond them, and for the scores of
thousands OF laborers to whom they may
thus give steady and well-paid employ.
ment. IL Is no less narrow and short.
righted view that supposes that a removal
Of the tariff duties on such necessaries of
Industries will inflict any real loss upon
those who produce them in our own coun.
try.
The enlargement of markets for our
products in other countries, the increase
IN the internal commerce and i'm the car.
-ying trade OF our country will insure a
growing home market for all these things
hat will quickly outstrip anything they
could have under the protective system.
Followed Preceflcnfs.
Any article of manufacture which can
sustain the competition of like foreign
articles in other markets can defy such
in the home market, and Il
not protected by the duty, but by its own
Intrinsic superior cheapness and quality
The only effect OF duty on such articles
s TO enable those who make them 70
charge higher prices 10 the citizens OF
heir own country than they charge to for.
,igners, and this has been notoriously the |
'ase with both copper and many agricul |
ural implements.
In adjusting duties upon what may be |
'alled the finished products we have tried |
o impose such rates as will not destroy OF |
distress any of our home industries on the |
me hand, nor on the other secure them an |
monopoly of the home msrket