St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-30

Announcing His Unalterable
Opposition to the Entire Tariff
BiII-Tarsney's Strong Plea.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-The general
debate upon the internal revenue feat
ure of the tariff bill was entered upon
today, but only one sensational speech
was made-tnat of Mr.. Covert, Dem, \.
Y, who announced his unalterable OPP
position to the entire bill because. in
his opinion. it was framed to compel the
imposition of new tax. MesSrs. Nc
Millin, of Tennessee, and Hall, of Kan
sas, ably presented the arguments in
favor of the imposition of such tax.
Under the call of committees for re-
ports, after the reading of the journal.
Mr.. McCreary, chairman OF the foreign
affairs committee, reported his resolu-
ton expressing the sense of the house
on the Hawaiian situation. The minor
ity were given leave to submit their
views. Upon the completion of call, the
house went into committee of the whole
for the purpose of further con-
sderation OF the tariff bill. Mr..
McAIiIlin Dem, Tenn.), chairman
of the subcommittee on ways and means
on internal revenue. was immediately
recognized, and, according to the eau
Gus programme, he offered. as an amend
ment to the provision imposing Il tax
of 81 per thousand upon cigarettes, the
entire internal revenue bill. When the
reading was competed. Mr.. McMillin
was recognized to open the debate in
favor of the amendment. AS he was
about to begin, Mr.. Tracey (Dem., n.
y asked to reserve all points of order
against the amendment.
Messrs. McMillin and McCreary con-
tended that it was TOO late to made a
point of order, debate upon the amend
ment having been entered upon before
the point was made. The chair over
ruled the point. and Mr.. McMillin be-
gan his argument.
The Republican party. he began,
started out for high projections; then
clamored for higher protection, and at
last under the act of 1890 reached the
highest protection
EVER KNOWN HERE.
They pretended first that it was for
the purpose of protection of infant in
duStries, but finally they candidly pro-
claimed that they wanted to legislate
for capital also. How do you love its
fruits? Are you satisfied with the kind
Of prosperity it has given? Are 20 u
content to obtain the home market and
cut yourself off from all the balance of
the markets of the world to enable a
few corporations to combine in trust
and put up prices on the articles that
are produced here and that are ex-
Guided from coming fr0m other coun-
tries by reason of our excessive rate OF
taxation? Why is it that in the midst
of plenty we are starving? Why is it
that when we should be all prosperity
we are all adversely? Why is it that
Americans under a system that was
promised to yield them such plenty are
doomed TO suffer in such penury and
want? Why is it that nearly a million
people of the United States are unem-
ploytd, without wages, and more peo-
pie are begging for aims at this hour on
this continent than ever did before
since America was discovered?
Mir. Chairman, we will not discharge
our duty to the people who suffer; we
will not keep the pledges that we have
MADE to them; we will not deserve that
continued support that the American
people have given to the Democratic
party from time to time, if we do not,
like men, come resOlutely to the dis
charge of these duties and determine,
whatever else occurs, robbery shall no
longer be carried on by operation of
law.
Sir, let come what will, we will reduce
this tariff to a revenue basis: we will
impose taxes for public purposes, and
not for private gains nor to enable some
individuals TO accumulate private fort
unes at the expense of others. The
government of the United States re-
qulreS vast amount of revenue 10 carry
on its various operations. A less favored
people could not meet the excessive
drain that is made for the purpose of
maintaining it. 1t requires nearly IS
federal taxes imposed OH every man.
woman and child in the United States
for this purpose. This is raised almost
exclusively from consumption. There
is very small part of it that is a tax
upon the
WEALTH OF THE COUNTRY.
1t is imposed by way of taxes upon
all spirits that enter into the drugs that
all of the spirits that are consumed by
them; all of the tobacco that is used
in various forms. But this onIv q
small portion OF it, for the greatest part
Is obtained from the import duty on the
clothes they wear and the other things
they must have for their existence. If
an American owns 500, 900, 900 worth of
property, as some do, he pays duty on
only what ne eats, what he wears, what
he drinks. The time has come when
all this must be changed | ask anv
person whether it is unjust that .
small portion Of this enormous revenue
shall be placed upon the accumulated
wealth OF the country, instead of plac-
ing 1t all on the consumption of the
country. Is 1t not time that those great
estates which are protected by our
army, which are defended by our navy:
which are benefited by the various
operations of government, should
contribute in some greater degree to
carry OH that government through
which alone they could be accumulated,
or by which they are to be protectedt
The people of the United States do no,
ask that all of it shall be placed up0n
accumulated wealth, but they do insist
That 1t is not unreasonable or unjust to
require that very small proportion
shall be paid; and yet, when it is nro-
posed to shift this burden from those
who cannot bear it to those who can;
to divide it between consumption and
wealth; to shift it from the laborer. who
has nothing but his power to toll AND
sweat, to the men who have fortune
made or inherited. we hear hue anC
cry raised by some individuals that it is
unjust and inquisitorial in its nature
and should not be adopted. Then we
insist, Mir. Chairman, that it is not IN.
reasonable or unjust that small part
S25,OOO,O00, of this money should be
collected from this accumulation.
Know OF no argument that is at all con
against
THIS FORM OF TAXATION,
belleve that once it is inaugurated il
Will not only be a source from when f.
Awarded HIGHEST