The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-05-28
IDLENEss AND POVERTY.

the journey to Richmond begins.
IDLENEss AND POVERTY.
Consequences of Reform as Outlined in
the Tariff Reform Club Bill.
Amoung the number Of letters on the
proposed. tariff reform bill published in
the ECONOMIST of May 18th are the fol-
lowing:
Pontiac, Mich, April 13, 1898.
The democratic platform of 1892 af-
firmed that the protective policy was
unconstitutional, and declared in fav-
or of a tariff for revenue only. Upon
that platform the party has assumed
power. II the party is honest it will
enact into law the principles enunci-
ated in its platform. We who believe
in the protective policy feel convinced
that the practical working of such a
law will be injurious to all the great
industries of our country, and that
the verdict rendered by the people last
fall will soon be reversed. The bill pro-
posed by the New York Tariff Reform
Club Is the first effort of our free trade
friends, looking toward the carrying out
of their party platform. The originat-
ors Of the proposed bill seem to have
but one object; that is, how to increase
the importation of the products Of for
eign labor, and they have given but lit
| tie consideration even to revenue. 1t
is conceded by all that low revenue
tariff must very largely increase for
eign imports. We who contend for the
protective policy believe that to the
| amount we increase the supply of our
wants OF things which we can produce
here from the productions Of labor in
foreign lands, to that precise amount
we decrease the demand for similar
things produced by our own labor here
that as we decrease the demand for
the labor of our own people, we must,
of necessity, decrease the demand for
the labor that produces such things,
and as we decrease that demand we
must necessarily decrease the rate of
wages for such labor Decreased wages
means strikes, 1t means lock-outs, it
means closing of mills and factories,
it means idleness, distress and poverty.
Que free-trade friends believe other
wise. The proposed bill is no worse
than the platform of the party respon-
sible for it, and it is just as bad as any
measure of the kind which could be
drafted by any pronounced enemy of
our country's industries. I am
Very truly yours,
M. S. BREWER.
Santa Fe, N. M, April IA, 1893
The malcontents who have prepared
the new bill for the destruction Of
American industry are evidently dis
satisfied with their. own work.Not dar-
ing to reduce duties any lower than
they have done, they have adopted the
vicious ad valorem system, to enable
their foreign friends (by the exercise
of perjury and subordination of per-
jury in making bills of lading) to pay
what duties seem best to them. Our
leading interests in New Mexico are
lead ores, coal and wool, which are
placed on the free list. Lead ores are
mined just across the frontier in Mexi-
co at about 30 cents per day. Our
miners receive $500 to $3.50, or about
as much for one day as the Mexican
Poems receive in ten. Australian coal
is now landed in San Francisco cheap
er than our miners can produce 1t at
living wages, and our wool growers
above the water by the present duties.
Let this new bill become a law and
general ruin and beggary will be the
result. 1t is estimated that the revenue
of our requiremnts, but Mr.. Sher-
mans plan of issuing interest bearing
bonds, Stevenson's scheme for resur-
recting the income tax, or Mills idea
of restoring the sugar duty, would
probably supply the deficiency. OF
course, Sherman's plan would increase
the public debt and the others would
add to our pirate burdens, but as the
object of the bill is to destroy our pros
perity anyway, it may as well come in
one form as another. The emigration
problem, which has caused so much
discussion of late, will find an easy
solution when the new measure be-
comes law, as 1t will supply intending
emigrants with employment at home
instead of coming here to find
it. True, this will throw many Of our
own people out Of work, but the peo-
pie said by their votes that they
wanted just such change as this, and
it is to be hoped that they will enjoy
1t when 1t comes.
A. L. MORRISON.
~ u Il d TT NnTTNE