Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-10
TARIFF TYR0S.
The Latest Name for Demo-
cratic Tariff Tinkers.
Mr.. Burrows Makes Mastery Speech
Against Wilson Bill.
Received BY Republicans and Galleries with
applause in Silence.

Received BY Republicans and Galleries with
ppplsuss-pemocrats in Silence.
into committee of the whole on the tariff
rows (Rep.) of Michigan followed him.
| Democratic paper which cl.imed that the
/ subcommittee which prepared the
tariff bill were 'tyros in tariff
that the committee included hydraulic hose,
made of linen, among wearing apparel, ap-
rarently supposipg they were to be worn
! on the neither extremities. instead of being
used to extinguish fires. The same jour-
nal expressed surprise that the suh-com-
init &c had not included spinning mules"
in the live stock schedule. (Republicsn
laughter and apllau,e.) MIR. Burrows then
sal
Mr.. Chairman, the measure now under
consideration has for its avOwed ohjact a
radical modification of the tariff act of 1890.
1t involves not only change of rates, but
q complete reversal of an economic policy.
|
a view of securing revenue for the support
of the government, but for the further pur-
pose of giving encouragement to the crea-
ton of new enterprises and protection to
American industries and American work
! men against unequal and injurious foreign
; competition. In its practical workings it
accomplished both these results.
Proceeding, then, to an examination of
| A. IS I l,D Tod
q statement of the receipts and expendi-
tures of the government in the past several
wears, and tie asss rted that so long as the
op. ration of the bill was undisturbed, as q
revenue measure. it met the require ms nts
of the government.
| The decline of revenues this fiscal year,
he suggested, was not due to any defect in
the law of 1890, but to the general depres-
| sion of busines, brought about by '1he as
tendency of a political party pledged to the
destruction of our protective policy"
This has not only crippled and suspended
the operation of our domestic manufac-
lures, but the importer of foreign fabrics
naturally curtails his importa,ions in the
hope of securing their admission into our
markets upon more favorable conditions.
Ic)nfidently assert that if the election of
|
Republican party in power, accompanied,
as it would have been, with the assurance
of the continuance of the American policy
of protection, the effect upon the public
revenues, as we'll as the general prosperity
of the country, would have been euti.ely
reversed.
! In justification of this assertion, Mr.. Bur-
rows quoted from various sources, iuclud-
loef
sage, and dwelt especially upon the devel-
opment of the tin plste industry.
In no single particular, he sail, did the
act of 1890 fail to secure the benefcent re-
suits its authors designed, and every pro-
phecy of i'll in which its enemies INDUCED
utterly failed of fulfilment.
You said it would develop no new indus
trie es-it created them by the hundreds.
You said it would bring no resultant ban-
fits to our workmen-it secured for them
enlarged employment and increased wages.
You said it would enhance the cost of
the protected article--is cheapened it to the
consumer.
You said it would diminish our foreign
trade-i. augmented it in 1892 to 81 ,857, =
of SIPS, ,2S3 ,G04.
foreign markets-our export trade increased
Sl45, ,797 3sS, swelling its volume to $l,-
O3O, ,27S Jas, the largest ever known in the
history of the country and exceeding the
value of our imports by S2G2 373 6S6.
You said it would paralyze our domestic
trade-it was never more vigorous than in
the years Immediately following its enact
ment.
And so every prophecy of ill found swift
and complete refutaton in increased indus
trial sctivi'y on every hand, and enhanced
individual and national prosperity.
And further: This industrial depression
came, therefore, not as the result of exist
ing tariff rates, but from an apprehension
Git seems now to have been well founded J
that those rates we're to be so modified as
to overthrow and destroy our protective
policy, exposing our domestic msnufac-
ures to a ruinous foreign competition, and
inaugurate in this country an era of free
trade with all its attendant evils.
How easily you might demonstrate the
/ beneficial effects of restored confidence.
You have but to abandon the policy upon
which you have entered, re commit this bill,
and permit existing regulations to remain
uniisturbed. and all our industries will
quickly revive.
But su an exhibition of wisdom and
patriotism is not to be expected of party
pledged TO tariff reform. and Amer C IN
workmen must tramp and st,rve, great in
dustrisl plants most go into disuse AMI de-
cay, while the Democratic party is attempt
ing to secure revenue from imported goods
without conferring protection upon Ameri-
can capital and American labor.
Considering the general character and
purposes of the bill. Mr.. Burrows calls at.
tention to the similarity between the Demo
cratic platform of 1892, on the subject OF
protection aud the declaration on the same
tubject in the South Carolina ordinance OF
notification. The issue between the par.
ties was stated a. follows
On the one hand. the Democratic party
insists that revenue 10 the only lawful pur.
pose for which any duty can be imposed
and thst tuch exacfions. therefore, must be
for revenue only, regardless of the condi
tons or necessities of American industries
or American labor; and TO that en1 th y
would admit free Of duty indiscriminately
all products v hi, they are pleased to de.
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