Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-06-04


the people in his election. de says:
Tariff reform is still our purpose,
though we oppose the theory that tariff
laws may be passed having for their
object the granting Of discriminating
and unfair governmental aid to private
ventures. We wage no discriminating
war against any American interests.
We believe readjustment can be &C
cOmplished In accordance with the
principles we profess without disaster
or demolition. We believe that the ad-
vantages OF freer raw materials should
be accorded 70 our manufacturers, and
we contemplate q fair aud careful dis
tribution OF necessary tariff burdens,
rather than the precipitation OF free
trade.
Now, Mr.. President, we see that the
platform declares for reducing taxation
In the direction of free raw materials,
but neither unQualiiedly for free raw
materials; and right here comes the
chief difference In adjusting the sched-
ules as between the House Dill and the
Senate bill now before US. The House
bill provided almost wholly for free raw
materials, while the Senate Finance
Committee believed that il was wiser,
in the present depressed and Stagnant
condition OF business, 10 avoid too vio-
Leaf changes, and TO approach
FREE RAW MATERIALS
By more gradual steps, which in the
Judgment OF many followed more nearly
the intentions aud purposes OF the Chi
cago platform and the letter OF accept
ance of the President, which led the
Senate TO notifications OF the House
bill in soma instances "ln the direction
OF ireer raw materials"
Wool is made free, lumber is made
free, the duty on coal is reduced about
One-hali, and the duty on sugar (which
has been q prominent source OF revenue
from the beginning Of the government
to the present time, with the single ex-
ception of the Mckinley bill, by which
the Republican party, desiring % get
rid OF surplus revenue In order TO lay
higher protective duties on other favor
ed articles, placed 10 upon the free list,
but at the same time enRratted the
more Objectionable feature OF making
the people pay bounty Of two cents
per pound on all the sugar produced In
this country. including maple sugar and
ell domestic prOduCts) is again placed at
40 per cent. al vslorem, or about au
average Of one cent per pound, as
against very much larger duties in the
bin preceding the Mckinley law. The
duty under the law OF 1888, preceding
the Mckinley bill, was on raw sugars
go to 20 per cent. ad valorem equiya-
lent, and on refined 100 20 no per cent,
aud as proposed in the Mills Dill so 10 50
per cent. on raw, and about 70 TO Sd on
refined, while under the present Senate
amendment 10 is 40 per cent. on raw,
and about a 20 40 per cent. on refined.
Now, Mr.. President, whore is tho
Democratic party at fault In its effort
20 carry out the pledges made 70 the
country by itS platform Of principles at
the last election, either By tho House
bill or by the change aud notifications
in the Senate bill? Both bills are aim
ing at the same results.
The House bin gets az free raw ma
teriaIS by one stroke OF the pen; the
Senate bin by very radical reductions,
but By a more conservative and gradual
process. Which OF the two will be the
better and wiser for the country under
the present conditions may Justly be
the subject Of honest and positive dii-
ference of opinion amongst Democrats;
but as both are aiming az the best aud
wisest results for the country aud both
are consistent, there can be no doubt
that the House aud Senate will speedily
harmonic aud agree, as there are no
grounds for serious differences In the
underlying principles actuating both
bodies.
The House bill came TO the Senate
with a general average Of tariff duties
OF 1852 per. cent The Finance Com
mittee OF the Senate spent weeks Of
valuable study aud patient care in go
ing over the schedules, making some
rates higher and some rates lower, &C
cOrdiug 10 lbs best Judgment, having
the advantage Of all the valuable inior-
nation obtained BY the patient labor OF
the WAYS and Means Committee OF the
House for instruction aud comparison,
together with
CAREFULLY PREPARED STATISTICS
and tables prepared by experts in the
Treasury Department comparing the
Wilson oil with the results under the
Mckinley bill, and also the statistics
and computations OF the Treasury De-
partment of the results which would
have been obtained by the bill prepared
under the supervision of the able and
distinguished Senator from Texas Mr..
MuIsh which passed the House Of
Representatives, but did not become
law, the Senate being Republican, aud
which was distinctly Endorsed by the
Democratic platform of lssS.
The result of the first lG0Ors OF the
Finance Committee was 10 make still
further reductions below the Wilson
bin, and it prepared and reported
amendments 70 the bill 10 which
the average duties, under computation
made by the Treasury Department, was
about "a per cent. instead OF IS and a
fraction per cent. in the House bill.
This was though by some OF the Sena-
tors on this side OF the chamber 10 be
too radical a reduction and might en-
danger the business prosperity OF the
country under existing conditions. Most
OF the reductions below the Wilson bill
have since been restored by amend.
ments, which constitute large prODor-
zion OF the amendments reported 10 the
last Senate bill. and some increases
made in other directions, which now
leaves the bill, as amended by the Sem
ate at an average Of 1919 per cent. as
against $3.50 per cent in the Wilson
bill, as shown from the following state
ment from the Treasury Department:
: 90 8