The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-05-31
PETTIGREW PROTECTloN.
South Dakota's Senior Senator Lays Down
the Law Of Progress and Prosperity
TO His Democratic Brsthten-
eolid for Silver, South Dar
kota and Protective
Tariff.

&E
Pettigrew's great speech on the tariff
question, delivered in the United States
senate May %:
Mr.. President, the democratic party
came into power in 1892 on issues clear
ly stated in their platform among which
was the statement, in substance, that a
tariff so adjusted ne TO protect American
industries is robbery and should be abol-
ished. After thirteen months OF power
we are presented with q tariff bill
which has but one redesming feature
and that does not relate to the tariff in
any way; I refer TO the income tax. The
Wilson bill is protective tariff measure,
msliciously arranged 20 as TO increase
the burdens OF the poor in the interest
of the rich. This strange bill takes the
tariff off from most OF the products OF
the farm but retains it on almost every
thing a farmer has to buy. The farmer
must have been the 'robber" referred to
in the democratic platforml
The advocate of this bill, the able
chairman OF the committee on finance,
says we still maintain, in the language
OF our platform, that 'the tariff is a rob
berry" and her he tells by the provis-
ions of this bill that the robber benefit
Charles have robbed SO long it would be
cruel To stop them all at once, we must
do so by degrees; in this act we viii
make a start by taking all protection
away from farmers who have been rob-
bed, and next time We viii deal with the
robber manufacturers; but l warn you
there will be 10 'next time" for you.
At the next election an outraged people
will drive you from power, never 70 re-
turn.
We are about to repeal the tariff act
OF 1890, which, with all its defects, 10 far
preferable TO the act now under consid-
GRAFTON. / voted for the act OF 1890 as
amended by the senate, and as 80 amend-
ed / considered it an improvement on
the act Of 1883 which it superseded, tor
the senate had made many amendments
and had reduced the duty in many casee,
and above all, had provided for a tariff
commission. The c~onferees OF the house
and senate upon these amendements
finally reported, recommending that the
senate recede from its amendments -
ducing duties, and also from ito amend
ments providing for q tariff commission.
l voted against the adoption Of this
report noSbecause | did not believe III
the principle of protection, but because
the bill contained many items OF exces-
siye protection which would promote
the formation OF trusts and combina~
tions to rob our people, and above gil,
because il I agreed TO the report ! agreed
that q tariff was not needed.
When / urged that at least the senate
amendment providing for this commits
sion should be retained, / was told that
such q commission would be an inquisi
ton and that no manufacturer could
tolerate an examination OF his books.
This to me was not a good objection, for
the public have q right TO know all
about and and every industry hat seeks
the protection OF a tariff law, A protees
tive tariff is hot enacted that individuals
may make excessive profits, but for the
benefit Of the whole people, for the puF.
pose OF creating . varied industry 50
that every phase Of the character and
every talent among our people may DO
developed and the highest results OBJ
tanned. This tariff commission would
have been q check upon the foundation
OF trusts to put mp prices and would
have furnished the unmistakable proof
10 congress- IL any trust WA formed, and
thus enable as II enact laws to destroy it.
Mr.. President, / am OF the firm opin-
ion now that IL we should amend this
bill by striking ont all after the enact
ment clause, and provide for a tariff
commission which should DO o perma-
nent bureau, nonpartisan In its nature,
with ample power TO thoroughly investi-
gate the whole subject, and report to
the next session Of congress- and 10 all
future congresses,th the question OF protect
ing American industries would be placed
upon q firm basis and 80 adjusted as to
be q great blessing, based upon scientific
and equitable principles. ] would ms
terially reduce the duties on oil articles
for the control OF which o trust has been
formed since the Mckinley bin was
passed, and as 10 sugar and binding
twine I would repeal all duty. I would
repeal the whole duty on binding twine
because il ii the subject Of q trust and
was the object Of . trust at the time the
Mckinley bill was passed, and was one
OF the things which the senate, by ita
amendment. placed upon the free list
The principle Of protection il: First.
that D nation should do its own work.
second, that composition angments tbs
worlds production and soon reduces the
prices, but with q tariff upon binding
Irvine tile operation of this Law was, and
Il .&A - aM AA. a. AH&M. MG4EHX q $500