New-York tribune., 1893-12-22

even thus sanctioned. would be out Of place In
" discussion which involves much OF I'M
vIeailce 10 all classes Of citizens 1t still. how
tNer, remains a fact that the bill presented can
~ Ia no way be justified by people who claim 10
Ta,e Iare ootained possession of all branches OF me
NoNeIiment upon a distinct promise which they
now distinctly repudiate.
II IL should be said that these pledges. solemny
made on yea and nay vote after full dis
cussion were not intended for action. then the
breaking Of the pledges has the additional dis
auNah'ages Of premeditation. II subsequent
eVents-and they have been numerous enough
ana anu weghty enough to startle the country
nave nave convinced the committee that the Demo-
fnsc, platform is as utterly wrong ana moe noe
iensble as history will know it to be- then
IL Is n great misfortune to this country that
inc committee did not have the courage openly
10 abandon the false doctrine and leave the
country undisturbed. so that 1t might conva-
Iesce from the shock Of its great mistake
TAEIFF-TINKERIYG MEASURE.
But the committee instead of proceeding In
Its great work Of abolishing protection and pre-
serving the people from the load Of taxation
which they have always averred was the re-
suit of protection has presented bill which Is
only another Mountaineering bill, the like OF
which has disturbed the conditions Of business
so many times the last thirty years. 1t Is
a great misfortune that such is the case. for
had the bill been for revenue only. In the only
sense possible for that term. the people Of this
country might have seen at one glance whether
they desired the policy the other, and the
question might have been settled for all. and
the country might have attained to that repose.
stability and certainty which business pros
perlty so much needs.
That. however. has not been the issue, but
instead Of that n newer and fresher plan has
been devised which those who stand by prin-
ciplc and the Chicago platform may still des-
isnate, and do still designate. as a plan to
fOctar or1
tain classes, and to perpetuate taxation for
other purposes than revenue only. AS to this
new plan. the very first question one is disposed
10 ask is: Why disturb existing business
lations If there is to be no change in principle?
II we are still to have protection, why take
this time to cause a readjustment when the
business conditions are of such character that
the greatest amount Of disaster Will be the
result? Were 1t proposed to make a radical
change and cause the business Of the country
10 he conducted on new basis, there might
possibly he arguments addUccd and plans pre-
sented which would be justihable and satis-
factory; but If protection be the object. why
choose this time Of all others to substitute for
a system Of protection which has proved rea-
sonably satisfactory one of which we know
nothing. and with the principle Of which the
reviserS In accord? This other and
freSher plan has al the faults which the trainers
of this bill charged upon the old. and very few
of its virtues. 1t is open TO all the dcrisive
and harsh epithets with which the present sys-
TEN used TO be overwhelmed It taxes the
people with tariff taxes. 1t creates. rather
proposes to maintain what they used 10 call
privileged classes. and IL defended by It's authors
by arguments and expressions strangely Ike
those which they used so hotly to denounce. 4
manufacturer is told that the duty will pro-
tect him. and his claims are listened to on that
basis and are argued with him on that basis.
just as in the brave days Of old
The new Democratic District-Attorney Of the
Northern District OF New-York comes down.
he had a right to. and declares that from a pro-
lection standpoint, barley and malt cannot 30
together under the same al valorcm. and
h. tuvfff
from % per cent TO 80 per cent to protect the
manufacturer. though 1t must lessen the revenue.
SO also some one has presented persuasivey tho
cause of boards. planed. tOnGucd and grOOve1 10
the committee. and although the lumber passes
in the same plant from the saws to the paners.
the work of the mon who manage the saws IS
unprotected. while the work Of the men who run
the planes is shielded by protective tariff taxes.
These are but instances OF corrections made
where the ear of the committee could he had. and
are keys to the notions on which the bill was
formed.
FREE RAW MATERIALS
The new plan also involves new method OF
encouraging manufacturers by giving them what
are called free materials" 80 that what |
goes into the mill pays no taxes and what goes
into consumption pays all the taxes. The manu- !
facturers pay no taxes on what they buy and the |
people the equivalent OF taxes on all they pur- |
chase. 1t unfortunately happens also that free |
raw material is an elastic term. and what is one
mans free raw material Is another mans fin |
ished product The manufacturer in Massachu- |
setts IS told that he is to be encouraged by hav-
ing free lumber to build his factory ana 10 pack
his goods but inasmuch as that very lumber |
thus made free Is the Maine manufacturers I'm |
ished product. no wonder the Democrats o: Ban |
gor the mills on the Penobscot being unable 20 |
move a saw. denounce "clasS legislation with |
new appreciation OF what class legislation reaIy |
means And with the dweers on the Penobscot |
sympathize the lumbcrmen in Wisconsin ana |
Michigan the Pacific Slope. Alabama. Georgia |
s,ruggIing this very moment with starvation, |
realize that the most odious class legislation |
there can possibly be Is the legislation which |
protects labor IN the mill ana leaves IL III '"e |
mines 10 the charity OF the great cities.
These so-called free raw materials, iree WOOL
free coal and free iron. are not put on the lree
ust with any reference direct or indirect 10 raS-
ing revenue They are placed there TO encourage
menura cturers who are to be compensated ior |
any loss in this market by the MARKERS OF '.e
world where they will have the cnahUe 10
struggle with the cheaper labor or the Od w oiIu
With Whatever energy they may have ie1t al'cr
the struggle at home with that same cheaper
,ahor lat into our markets by a lower tarn which
does not give us the compensation even vi d
larger revenue. . a.. 80 ,,,,or Tho
These delusive advantages are TO DC sive" h we
manufac cturers at the expense OF inc hilieiS "no
aie ont the ores and mine the coal az me eN-
nonse OF the farmers who raise the "oo ann. anu '"'
railroads which transport al ,ired ,,, q, - ,he ex
Win these advantages thus obtained AZ the eA-
,,ense OF other citizens. the manuiac,uIeis,
forced ty the lowering Of the tarin 10 hgh. ,or
tho,r markets at home. are 10 ENJOY uii'ii.i u.,,,
Sa,,,n siuai trade How they obtain footholc
-, -, sn,a,on lands when this very bill Is drafted
~ mnnn the supposion that they cannot keep their
own markets. without protection. seems Deyo'o
the domain of logic. .., ,.o-,,
re The yroollens Of America need. as this very
,,u assumes 90 and 40 per cent to enable mem
n have fair chance in our own narkels. WIZ WIZ
T.. tho unlimited foreign trade which awaits thedi
10 10 Countries where they are stripped OF the ~
a., and 40 per cent protection and obliged 10 pay
freight and all other charges ana lgnt Dus''ie''
existing for scores or years.
A DIFFERENCE ONLY IN DEGREE.
All the objections so often urged by 'he uo"'-
nant party against the exisnns system we
. ia ogoinst this bill The difference Is only
-. % deoree If the present system be rob
w itara tcl nrd rHiter-