The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-04-04

hard-working days of attempted tariff re-
form they are met everywhere. and, a
rule, bear themselves as favorites Of power
generally do.
The Mckinley Law n Gigantic Crime.
The enactment of the Mckinley law in
1890 was a gigantic crime not only against
every workingman and workingwoman in
the United States. but also against every
individual manufa cturer and against all
manufacturing interests. Ii was not 50
designed by It's authors. but such was its
real and inevitable character. 1t declared
policy flagitious in principle. so rotten
in morality and so ravenous I'm fits eX-
actions in the absolute wants Of life. that
its possible duration was only a question
or time when the next election by the peo-
pie should occur, and yet the vast manu-
featuring interests OF the country were
tempted and seduced into accepting it's de-
lusive bribes and into an eager adjustment
OF themselves 10 its alluring though evan
II the reward Of labor had ever been
increased as an incident or consequence Of
INCREASED tariff duties on foreign imports: pr;.
TO the advocates and beneficiaries OF pro-
lection than to show that fact. The very
reverse, however. is true. 1t can never be
forgotten that the enactment of the Nc
kinley law in October, 1890, was followed
almost Immediately by a reduction Of the
wages of all workers in iron and steel. be-
ginning at Homestead, I'm Pennsyivania;
under Carnegie, resulting i'm bloOdshed and
NHOltSdlt nuTueT. anu NAltllulAE ~ al
parts of the country and to almost every
branch Of manufacturing industry.
Mr., Voorhees, defended the ad valorem
system as fairer. honester and more cas-
lily understood than specific duties. on
the subject of the sugar schedule he said:
Duty on Sugar.
Absolute free trade In sugar is an at
tractive theme. but no such thing has ever
existed for a single hour since the organiza-
- A
has always been imposed on sugar, and it
has always been a stanch revenue support
to the government. In that great model
OF a democratic tariff for revenue only-the
tariff Of 1S46-it was declared in short and
simple phrase that sugar of all kinds
a duty laid tax Of 80 per cent. ad valorem.
The fact that the duty tax on sugar has
Injured more to the government ana IesS
any other tax known to tariff legislation
may be stated as the main reason why the
democratic party has never made an issue
Evey dollar collected from a tariff tax on
sugar and paid into the treasury relieves
some other article of even higher necessity
in the economy Of life, in the imposition OF
tariff taxation.
During the present fiscal year ending
June 90. there will be paid by the treasury
$23OO.0O0 as bounty to the producers of
sugar, and every dollar of this vast sum
is first collected from those who plant corn,
pursuits of labor. Nearly thirty millions
of bounty money have been handed over to
the sugar-makers Of the United States since
the law went into operation, and each year
the sum is rapidly increasing. 1t was
thought when the law was under discus,
sion that the bounty would not exceed
SS,00000 per year, but the stimulating IN
fuence of such an enormous donation 10
the manufacturers of sugar was greatly
underrated. If the law is to remain un-
repealed. the time is near at hand when
IL will confer, a mere gratuity, more
than $40, 100000 per year on a. small fraction
Of our population engaged in no public
service, but in their own private enter
prises.
In turning TO another subject, on which
much ignorant and some malevolent criti-
clsm has been expended, my task Is easy,
and the way smooth. In securing sufn-
cient revenue for the support of the gov
ernment, with as light a tax as possible
on the necessaries OF life, have at all
times earnestly favored an increased tax
on whisky / would be glad today If the
bending bin provided tax of 8. 90 per gal
lon, instead Of s1.10, as it does. Revenue
raised from distilled spirits, the purchase
and consumption of which is never ne
cessity of life, is deep qualification to me.
and the fact that twenty millions of the
surplus accruing under the bill Will be fur
niShed by the tax on whisky, is genuine
Joy TO my mind My sincere regret is that
obtained from the same source and, con-
sequently, less from other sources Of
different character. l have no hesitation
in decla ring; upheld. as l am by the sec
missioner Of internal revenue, who have
both recommended every step taken on this
subject, that one of the wisest safest,
the pending bill is that increasing the tax
on distilled spirits and granting an ex-
tension of the time they may remain in
bond without being driven out Of the coun-
try.
For the Income Tax.
Speaking of the proposed income tax,
which he warmly upholds, Mr.. Voorhees,
said:
The proposition contained in the pending
bill TO Levy tax OF 2 per cent on all net
incomes of corporations and Of individuals
in excess Of $1,000 per annum is so just and
equitable toward the hardworking tax
entire country that not a word in its de
fense or explanation would seem necessary
here or anywhere else But the narrow and
aroused by this simple measure of justice
into fierce resentment and contention. We
hear, on all hands, the dictatorial voice of
individual and corporation wealth demand
ing that It shall not be disturbed by the
slightest touch of the taX-gatherer, what
ever may be the demands of the govern
ment, or the oppression Of toiling masses
For no earthly consideration would I
paint an unjust or overwrOught picture of
the dangerous pretentions and intolerable
arrogance Of accumulated wealth now man
ifeSt in this country, but speaking in the
fear OF my Maker deNOutly believe that
the end of endurance has been reached,
that a time has come for test to be
made between the power of boarded money
and the power of productive labor, that the
people from this time forward more than
ever before. will organize and take rapid
and heroic measures against the continued
and brutal dictatiOn of the plutocracy
against the paramount influence of wealth,
against the rule and supremacy of the rich
in shaping the financial policy of the gov
ernment and their own interests.
p1.o NVnoI
Referring to the wool schedule, he said:
If l believed wool on the free list would
hurt the farmer, | would not vote for the
onstration, however. which has been often
made that free wool, ACCOMPANIED by such
reduced rates as can then be placed on
manufactures of wool. and which are placed
on them in this BILL is one Of the greatest
blessings that befall the farmer. II the
his wool by reason of n tariff for its pro-
lection, he will pay IL all out and much
more to the manufacturer as a duty on
wooden goods when he next buys a flannel
shirt, an overcoat, or a pair of trousers.
Mr.. VOORHEES, concluded as follows:
When the day shall dawn in which the
farmer the mechanic and the wage-woi.ixer
shall alike have the right and the privilege
to go into the open, liberated markets of
the land. buy where their hard-earned
money will buy most for their wants with
none TO molest, to assess, TO levy, to take
toll or TO tax then indeed will the millen-
ium OF labor have come, and all the sons
and daughters of toll shall rise up and call
their government blessed.
Sir. this is the birthday of Thomas JEFF
ferson; Isl years ago today he came into
the world, the greatest emancipation of