The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-04-07
TARIFF DEBATE BEGUN.
CHAIRMAN VOORHEES, OPENS
THE DISCUSSION IN THE
SENATE.
An Able Presentation Of the Democratic
Party's Stand ON the Measure Which
will Reduce Taxes and still In
crease Government Revenues

WASHINGTON, April when the Senate met to-
day there unusually large attendance on
the Democratic side of the chamber in anticipation
of the launching of the tariff bill upon its stormy
journey.
The Behring bill was reported by Senator
Morgan, with a number of amendments, and was
about to pass, when Senator Hoar made some in
quiries. which precipitated discussion about
technieallties in the bill. Senator Cullom, Of
Illinois, raised the question If it not unusual to
authorize foreign powers to direct American cti-
! zeus and Senator Morgan pointed out that similar
arrangement had been entered into between Great
Britain and the United States TO suppress the slave
trade.
Senator Morgan asked unanimous consent that
the bill be considered after Senator Voorhees,
speech. which agreed to, the matter went
| over till later in the day.
Then Senator Voorhees, began what probably
the effort OF lifetime. His speech opening the
great tariff debate sound ringing effort, and
was an able presentation of the stand the Demo-
cratic party has taken. 1t was a lengthy speech
and among the Senator's telling points, which were
frequently applauded, were these:
| The protective system of tariff taxation a, de
! yeloped aud fastened upon the business and labor
of the American people, especially during the third
of century past growing every stage. is Il
system VI luuertflhDie oppItssiohf
and yet who will contend that all its vicious princ
Piles and workings ramfed as they are through
every branch of trade and commerce. eau be ami
Inflated by a single blow or totally wiped out by
| single legislative enactment For the bill now
| under consideration such claim is made but in
its behalf can be truthlully asserted and will be
| successfully maintained that il accomplishes n
vast work in the field of tariff reform, embodies a
great relief to the people from niquitous existing
burdens. and constitutes long stride though not a
final ore, toward the approaching day OF full and
| perfect delverence.
| Sir. challenge the attention Of the Senate and
the country to'the great and commanding fact that
10y the provisions of this bill the seeming paradox
of reduction of taxes and at the same time an in
crease of public revenues will be reconcilcd when
! it becomes a law.
Faults and inperfeetiOns can of course. be alleged
and pointed out concessions apparent which
! have been unwillingly made and only when found
absolutely necessary in order to secure its passage
articles on the free list they from the House
| have been made dutable under the duress of a
( small majority here. yet, deeply as | regret the
necessity for these changes and earnestly as oppose
them do not hesitate TO say that the bill taken as
whole as it now stands. with IFS combination of
[ lower taxes the necessaries of life and at the
same lime increased revenues for the Government
I and relief by the great producing masses of the
American people.
The criticisms which assailed the bill it came
from the House because it created a deficiency in
the Treasury no longer apply. We present
measure full freighted with revenue for every call
that can be made on the republic at home and
abroad and with surplus besides of $50, SS9.2i5.
Manufacturing Interests which 100 years ago were
in deed and in fact in their infancy, and were
nursed and .oslered while yet in the cradle Of their
birth are the colossal taskmastcrs of the whole
people. commanding tribute from every days labor
beneath the SUM- haughily strding the corridors of
this Capitol and issuing their edics in the tones of
dictators for or against the enactment Of pending
measures in the halls of Congress.
The favorites offortune pets of vicious legislation
those 10 whom the Government has farmcd
out the power of oppression over others, take no
heed of the rights the protests the sueringS the
serviude Of the mighty masses who constitute the
nations strength and glory.
stand here 10 deny that it can be shown any
where since the Republican party came into power
81 years ago, that the wages of working man or
woman, in furnace factory, or delving mine, has
ever kept pace with increased tariff rates or indeed
had any increase at all, account Of high prolee-
tive tariff legislation.
Wage reductions strikes, lockouts and labor
the hands of capital in every branch of manufacture
ing have never been 50 prevalent in American his
tory as since October l. 1880, when the Mckinley
bill became a law.
Absolute free trade in sugar is attractive
theme, but no such thing has ever existed for
single hour since the organization ofths Govern
ment A moderate duty has always been imposed
on sugar and 1t has alwas been staneh revenue
support to the Government
1t is conceded by all parties that the duty paid on
imported sugar goes more fairly and squarely into
the Treasury than any other duty provided by law,
and it follows light follows darkness that tariff
taxation can therefore be reduced in proportion on
other things which the people have to buy and use.
The Mckinley bill. on the contrary, by pretending
to take sugar OF the dutable list was intended to
reduce the revenues of the Government, and thus
make an apparent necessity, fraudulent excuse
for higher rates of duty woolens on iron OH tin
plate salt, on binding Irvine, on cotton ties and
on all oheraricles of prime necessity in agricultural
life
In securing sufficient revenue for the support of
the Government with as light 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 pending bill provided for tax OF
81 20 per gallon instead of SIlO, as itdoes Revenue
raised from distilled spirits the purchase and con-
sumption Oh WHICH Is newer Il HettSSHS VI 10
deep qualification me, and the fact that $4,000
600 of the surplus accruing under this bill will be
furnished by the tax whisky is a genuine joy to
my mind. My sincere regret is that more money
for the Government not obtained from the same
sanrce and consequently less from other sources of
n different character.
The proposition contained in the pending bill to
levy tax of per cent on al net incomes of cor
poratons and of individuals in excess of 900 per
annum is so Just and equitable toward the hard
working taxpayers of meagre resources throughout
the entire country that not word in its defense or
explanation would seem necessary here or any
where else.
ON all the wants and neeeSSares of life the man
of wealth. with a heavy income, pays less rates OF
tariff tax under existing laws than thelaboring man
or laboring woman whose wearing apparel is of
coarser material and whose household living is
supplied with cheaper goods bearing higher rates
of duty.
Sir for no earthly consideration would paint an
unjust or overweight picture of the dangerous
pretensions and ntoerable arrogance of accumulat-
ed wealth now manifest in this country, but,
speaking in the fear of my Maker, l devoutly be-
lieve that the limit of endurance has been reached;
that the time has for test to be made be-
tween the power of boarded money and the power
of productive labor that the people from this time
forward, more than ever before, Will OrBuhize anu
take rapid and heroic measures against the con-
tnued aud brutal dictation of the plutocracy'
against the paramount influence of wealth, against
the rule and supremacy the rieh in shaping the
financial policy of this Government in their own
interests.
How small in number is the income class In the
United States, yet how potent How few in com
parson with the great body of the people, but little
more than one in q thousand, yet how aggressive
aud strong! How pretentious. how presump tnous
in dictation to the Government in regard to all It's
policies, yet how unpatrotic in the hour of peril,
how mean in the face of danger to the country
The income class, based upon the principal owner
ship of the entire wealth of the country is mainly
the illegitmate offspring of Government paternai-
ism and Government support, yet neither gratitude
nor love of country has ever moved it respond in
aid of the Government in an hour of emergency and
need From no other class could the payment OF
the whole pension roll be required so justly
Duties on manufactures of wool, their enormous
rates often obscured and hidden by the specific
A. fkro1f