Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-01-19
THE SPEECH OF WILSON
In Opening the Debate on the New Tariff
Rill.

THE SPEECH OF WILSON
In Opening the Debate on the New Tariff
BiL.
William l.. Wilson, congressman from
West Virginia, chairman of the WAYS and
means committee having in charge the
Wilson tariff bill, in opening the debate
on the measure In the house on Monday,
made use Of these remarks regarding Nc.
Kinleyiem:
The Mckinley bill reduced the inter-
nal revenue taxes on manufactured to-
bocco, abolished the special taxes OF
OF tobacco and wiped out
the duties on raw sugar, which for the
past year had been our chief revenue
producing article on the customs list.
Both these taxes were in q Just and
proper sense revenue taxes, and neither
should have been touched 90 long a. the
rates OF duty upon clothing and other
necessary articles OF consumption were 90
enormously oppressive. The tobacco
taxes we're reduced unde. the theory that
tobacco had become . necessity for the
poor as we'll as the rich, but new and
heavier taxes were laid on the wooden
of the poor man. Sugar WAS I'M
taxed to give the American workingman
q free breakfast table, but new taxes
were placed on cups and saucers, plates
and dishes, coffeepots. knives and
forks, food and table covers. In word,
the workingman was relieved from the
taxes paid the government in order that
he might be made to pay much greater
taxes to the beneiciaries Of the Mckinley
BILL"
Then, in speaking Of the failing
finances of the government and the
cause thereof, he said:
"A large portion OF the magnificent
surplus turned over by the Cleveland ad-
ministration to its successor was used to
purchase at high premiums bonds not
vet due. Prior to 1889 the democratic
secretary OF the treasury, Mr.. Fairchild,
estimated surplus revenue Of $104, OOO,-
600. The first report Of his successor,
Secretary Window, showed q surplus
revenue of sos, 100000. When Mr..
Fairchild left his seat at the head of the
treasury department he turned over to
his successor, Mr.. Window, an available
cash balance, stated in the present form
OF the treasury statement, OF over $685.
10000 How was that gotten away
with? Immediately by the purchase OF
bonds not yet due. Immediately by 60
ing into the market and buying up bonds
at a premium of from to per cent on
the bonds of 1891, and from 81 to 90 per
cent on the bonds of 1907. Between
March 4, 1889, and October Of that year
Secretary Window purchased with that
surplus 500, 1854 900 Of bonds at the pre-
miums l have mentioned. In the first
nine months of the fiscal year 1891, be-
June 80, 1890, and the date of his report,
he had purchased and redeemed $685.
600, 900 more Of bonds, paying in their
purchase 100000 OF premiums and
anticipating interest by the payment OF
$12, 0O0, 00O."
This extravaganza not dissipating the
fruits Of unjust taxation the fifty. first
congress brought up other meano for
spending the peoples money. Congress.
man Wilson thus describes it's doings
1T refunded the direct tax to the states
This was pure gratuity, but has taken
out OF the treasury over $l4 900, 900.
Next came the sugar.bounty act, under
which sums amounting to 1000 900
have been paid sugar growers. Last of
all, as the chief means Of the distribution
of the surplus, was the dependent pen.
sion bill, under which the annual PEN
sion expenditure has risen more than
10000, 00O."
In referring to the result of the last
presidential election he said: 81 do not
believe that those who voted to put the
last administration in power expected
any revision from it in the direction OF
increasing rates. The campaign OF 1883
was fought on the question OF reforming
and reducing the existing tariff, and not
on the question OF revising and raising
the tariff OF 1883. No single interest in
the country, either in congress or else
where, had the hardihood to assert that
1t meant demand for any increase in
the protection afforded by the bill OF 1888,
and it WAS only wantouness, self-greed
rapacity and selfshness and the knowl.
edge that their demands, no matter how
exorbitant, would be graciously accorded
that brought them to Washington in 1890
10 write in their own interests the sue
cessive schedules of the Mckinley bill.
Under the operations OF that bill the
taxes on every one of the important
schedules have been mercilessly and need
lessly increased. The Mckinley tariff oil
1890 represented not only high and lib.
eral protection, but it represented all
that greed and selfishness and rapacity
dared to demand OF the American PEG
ple." To illustrate, Mr.. Wilson showed
piece of cloth worth about 81 cents q
yard, on which the act of 1890 placed q
tax Of 303 per cent, 80 tax on 81 worth
Of goods.
In speaking of the work OF the wayl
and means committee in preparing anc
presenting the bill bearing his name hs
said: The members of the committed
ON ways and means had endeavored t.
meet the duty entrusted them as far al
they could by releasing from taxation
those great interests on which the indus
trial prosperity and well-being of tn,
American people we're most dependent
OF all the reductions made in this pro
posed bill, there are none in their benefi
cence to the laborer Of our country, tina
alton on the materials of industry. Tn
members OF the committee felt that the,
would not begin to reform this system
built up story upon story until it pierce,
the clouds, unless they boldly and hon
estly and unselfishly sought to reliev
from taxation the great fundamental ma
terials of American industry, and 80 tn
bill proposed to put upon the free list
among other materials, these great ele
mental materials of industry, wool, irol
ore, coal and lumber. All the reason
against it have been presented to tn
American people. 1t has become, q
least during the two or three last cam
paigns, an acknowledged part of the dem
ocratic scheme of reform whenever the