The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-05
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
This Country should Remove the
barrier to Progress.


The tariff act passed at the last session
Of the congress needs important
amendments If it is TO be executed
effectively and with certainty. In addi-
ton to such necessary amendments as will
not change rates of duty, 1 am still very
decidedly in favor Of putting coal and
iron upon the free list. So far as the sugar
schedule is concerned, l would be glad,
under existing aggravations, to see every
particle of differential duty in favor of re-
fined sugar stricken out of our tariff law.
If, with all the favor now accorded the
sugar refining interest in our tariff laws, il
still languishes to the extent of closed re-
fineries and thousands of discharged work.
men, ii would seem to present a hopeless
case for reasonable legislative aid.
Whatever else is done or omitted, l
earnestly repat here the recommendation
1 have made in another portion of this
communication, that the additional duty
of one-uenth of a cent Il pound laid upon
sugar imported from countries paying
bounty on its export be abrogated. 1t
seems to me that exceedingly important
considerations point to the propriety OF
this amendment.
With the advent of a new tariff policy,
not only contemplated to relieve the con-
sumerS Of our land in the cost of their
daily life. but to invite a better develop
ment of American thrift and create for US
closer and more profitable commercial re-
lations with the rest Of the world, 1t fol-
lows as a logical and imperative necessity
that we should at once remove the chief
if not the only obstacle which has so long
prevented our participation in the foreign
carrying trade of the seas.
tariff built up on the theory that it
is we'll to check imports and that a home
market should bound the industry and eff
fort of American producers, was fifty sup
plamented by refusal to allow American
registry Of vessels built abroad, though
owned and navgated by our people thus
exhibiting a willingness to abandon all con-
test for the advantages of American trans
oceanic carriage Our new tariff policy,
built upon the theory that it is well to
encourage such importations as our peO-
pie need, and that our products and manu-
features should find markets in every part
of thu habtable globe, is consistently sup
plenented by the greatest possible liberty
to our citizens in the ownership and navi-
CATION of ships in which our products and
manufacturers may be transported The
millions now paid to foreigners for carry
ing American passengers and products
across the seas should be turned into
American hands. Snip building, which has
been protected to strlngullt!on. should be
revived by the prospect Of profitable en-
ployment for ships when built, and the
American sailor should be resurrectSd, ard
again take his place. a sturdy and indus
trious citizen in time Of peace, and a patri-
otto and safe defender Of American inter-
ests in the day of conflict
The ancient provision of our ,aw deny
ing American registry to ships butt abroad
and owned by Americans appears in the
light of present conditions not only TO be
a failure for good at every point, but to
be nearer n relic of barbarism than any
thing that exists ender the permission of
a statute of the United States. earnestly
recommend its prompt repeal.