The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-01-10

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uncompromisins declaration Of the party
which they represent and abolished protec-
tion. giving US tariff for revenue only, our
task in commenting upon tho result OF the
committees efforts would have been much
more simple The bill would then have been
a straightforward, manly attempt to carry
ont pledges, and would have placed IN issue
two great principles and have led to clear
and comprehensive discussion.
So far, however, have the committee de-
parted from the demands OF their National
Convention that we should have been much
tempted to borrow phrase from their own
platform and designate the bill as ''cow-
.,rdly makeshift" were it not that the re-
suits have been already too serious for mere
epithets. Such phrase even thus sane
toned would be out Of place in discussion
which involves 80 much OF importance to all
Classes Of citizens. It still, however, remains
a fact that the bill presented can in no way be
justified by people who claim to have. OBJ
Gained possession Of all branches ofthe Gov
esrnment upon distinct promise which they
now as distinctly repudiate.
II it should be said that these pledges,
solemnly made on q yea and nay vote after
full discussion, were not intended for ac-
ton, then the breaking OF these pledges has
the additional disadvantage OF premedlta-
ton.
If subsequent events-and they have been
numerous enough and weighty enough to
startle the country have convinced the
committee that the Democratic platform Is as
utterly wrong and indefensible as history
~ill know 1t to be, then it is great misfor-
tune to this country that the committee did
not have the courage to openly abandon the
false doctrine and leave the country undis-
tur5ed. so thnt it might convalesce from the
shock Of its great mistake.
But the committee, instead OF proceedingin
its great work of abolishinG protection and
preserving the people from the load of taxa
,sion which they have always averred was
the result Of protection, has presented
diiIl which Is only another tariff tinkering
dill. that like OF which has disturbed the
condition of business 80 many times
sn thirty years. 1t is great misfortune
Chat such is the case, for had the bill
been for revenue only, in the
only sense possible for that
t..rm, the people OF this country might have
seen at one glance whether they desired the
one policy or the other, and the question
might have been settled once for all, and the
country might have returned to that repose,
stability and certainty which our business
prosperity 80 much needs.
: The Democratic Attorney of the Northern
District OF New York comes down, as he had
"a right to. and declares that from protec-
ton standpoint barley and malt cannot go
together under the same ad valorem, and
promptly the committee raises the tariff
taxes from twenty-five per cent. to thirty per
cent. to protect the manufacturers, although
1t must lessen the revenues.
The new plan also involved new method
OF encouraging manufacturers by giving
them what are called Stree raw materials,
so that what goes into the mill pays no taxes
and what goes into consumption pays all tho
taxes. The manufacturers have no taxes on
what they buy and the people the equivalent
OF taxes on all they purchase.
These so-called "free raw materials, free
wool, free coal and free iron are not put on
the tree list with any reference direct or in
direct to raising revenue.
1t is true that the consumer will no longer
pay tribute to the Western farmer for the
wool OF the sheep. but the New England and
other manufacturers are still authorized to
Lay tribute upon the citizens OF the United
States. who must pay, as they have al
ways paid thirty. forty and foTty-fve per
cent to the manufacturers on every yard OF
woolens and worsteds, while the country
will only receive by way OF revenue less
sned sum, unless increased importations sig.
nalize the death OF American production.
It is true that the coal miners in West Vir-
ginia and the ore produces OF Michigan will.
lie stripped OF their so-called roober gains
entirely and the railroads must lose their
transportation Of millions Of tons of freight,
d, hut the manufacturers are thereby stimu-
lated and aided 80 that they can. as the COM
mittee asseverate, still continue their profit
able business here and reach across the ocean
for the business Of other countries, sand for
eign trade without limit.
II, rs it is asseverated, the 10000. 900 OF
American people have been for thirty years
taxed for the benefit Of a few hundred thou
sands OF favored individuals, why .hould the
tax be continued even in diminished ratio
for another series ot years and these few
hundred thousand favored creatures be given
n now lease OF life?
We cannot meet the lower prices OF a
lower level OF civilization. Our inven-
tiops are too quickly absorbed by
foraign countries to permit this. hence
the result OF refusa! to protect our
labor ut its present rates must result
in lower wages. This seems capable
OF rough demonstration. Our goods are
now met by foreign goods on our own shores
at price made up OF raw materials plus
labor and plus the present rate OF tariff on
very nearly equal terms.
In discussing the wooden schedule the
rommittee says this schedule as proposed in
khc committee bill ls in some respects the
most reprehensibie. 1t proposes to destroy at
= blow the great industry OF wool growing
which how ranks as seventh in the value oil
It's prOQuctS among tue SeVSrat UTSuCHeS VI
American agriculture and which has here
to.crs been recognized as an agricultural
product deserving and requiring protection
under every Administration and by every
Tarifr act since that OF May %. 1924. Nt.h-
Ing short OF the total destruction OF this i'm
.portant industry can be counted upon as the
consequence OF placing both wool and NUT
ION on the tree list.
1t is q fact established by experience that
IT the prices for wool now prevailing in
the foreign markets our farmers cannot con
tinua the business Of wool growing without
absolute yearly loss. During the past year.
owing to the impending threat OF free wool
and radical reductions in the duties on
woolen goods the prices OF domestic woods
OF all descriptions have fallen from thirty to
fifty per cent below the prices that prevailed
ayaar ago. Even ut these figures there mas
been little market for wool. and many farm
ers nave still on their hands this season 3
c!ips, which at this time last year were be-
ing rapidly converted into goods by mills
which uo1 stand idle. The value OF the
sheep has fallen equally with the value OF
their clip. The depreciation in the value OF
this species OF agricultural property from
the two sources may be conservatively stated
at $50, ,0O0, 900. Each detail OF the wilson
bill Is taken up and analyzed
TnE Emir OF Nupe has sent lion TO Queen
Victoria as present. in recognition OF let'