The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1894-04-06
MR. VOORHEES,.
He Makes the Opening Address In the
Tariff Debate In the senate.

ne Makes the Opening Address In the
Tariff Debate IN the senate.
WASHINGTON. April s Mr., VOORHEES,
in the senate Monday made the open
ing speech on the tariff question Nh.
Voorhees, challenged the attention Of
the senate and the country 70 the fact
that by the provision Of this bill the
seeming paradox of q reduction OF
taxes and at the same time an increase
Of public revenue will be reconciled
when il becomes a law. The reduc-
tions, he claims, were as follows;
On chemicals, 81 600 900; on pottery,
l,00O.OO0 ON glass, 81 1000: on met
ais, Sl2, 100000; on wood, $500, 600; on
tobacco $500 600; on agricultural
products, s3.30O 600; on spirits, wines,
etc, 81, 500, 900; on cotton manufactures,
90, 450, OOoi on fax, hemp and jute man
ufactures. 1000, goo. on woolen manu-
faetures, Ss8, 800 600; on paper and pulp,
sS0O, GOO; on sundries, =, 100000, trans
ferred to the free list, Sl2, 10, 600; total,
$40 GO 600
To these reductions must be added,
he said, the imposing fact that the bill
provides for full and ample revenue,
largely in excess OF present supplies,
With which TO meet all the require
ments Of the public credit
Taking the estimated expenditures
OF the fiscal year. 1894, at S45l, 400 coo
there are TO be placed against those
estimates the estimated revenues ex-
peeted to accrue under the provisions
Of the bill as follows:
Internal revenue, under present laws,
sl60, 600, 600. Additions made by the
pending bill; Income tax, 10000, COO;
spirits, sS0,oO0.0O0; cards, $1,000 600;
customs, s16S 86l 600; miscellaneous,
$2O,oOO,Oo0i postal service ss4, 427, 766;
total, $3.50 7ss, 7G6, thus leaving sur
plus Of over S29, 100000
There IS no terror TO me, he said,
in surplus like this. On the contrary,
it IS a source Of safety, and can at any
time be wisely and honorably devoted
to the best purposes Of good govern
ment the payment Of debts, and the
stoppage Of interest 1t can also be re-
duced by a revision of tariff rates
whenever found necessary
Mr.. Voorhees, defended the ad valor-
en- duties as against the specific tax.
lie declared that on the subject OF
sugar the Mckinley law is juggle
and a fraud, and was intended as a
fraud Absolute free trade In sugar is
an attractive theme, but no such thing
has ever existed for single hour since
the organization OF this government
II is conceded by all parties that the
duties paid on all imported sugar goes
more fairly and squarely into the
treasury than any other duty provided
by law, and il follows, as light follows
darkness, that tariff taxation can
therefore Ie reduced in proportion on
other things which the people have TO
buy and use.
With the same stroke of his pen he
can, by virtue Of this law put tariff
tax of cents per pound on coffee, 10
cents per pound on tea and ~
cents per pound on raw and uncured
hides These burdens, when imposed
as they are authorized, will have to be
borne by the American consumer and
taxpayer, and by no one else. The in
habitants of the offending country
against whom proclamation is made
are Indifferent or, perhaps, ampsed
spectators of our retaliatory proceed
ings against our own citizens
As to the whisky tax, Mr. Voorhees,
said he would be glad to have made it
81. 30 instead of S11O per gallon, and
he defended tine proposed extension OF
the bonded period. 2
In regard to the income tax, MIR.
Voorhees, said in part: The proposition
contained in the pending bill TO levy
tax of . per cent. on all net incomes of
corporations ard of individuals in ex-
cess of $4,000 per annum is so just and
equitable toward the hard-worlSing
taxpayers Of meageI resources through
out the entire country that no word in
its defense or explanation would seem
necessary here or anywhere else
These figures may well give the coun-
try pause, They recall the worst days
of Rome and of other governments,
both ancient and modern, whose liber-
ties were lost by the accumulation and
power Of wealth in the hands of patric-
ian aristocracies,
Taking up next the wool tax, he de.
clared that il he believed in putting
wool on the free list would hurt the
farmers, he would not vote for the bill,
but it was matter of actual demon
stration that free wool, accompanied
by such reduced rates as can then he
placed on manufacturers of wool, and
which are placed on the bill, is one of
the greatest blessings that can befall
the farmers.
His peroration was as follows:
''Sir, this is the birthday of Thomas
jefferson. One hundred and fifty years
ago to-day he came into the world,
Sthe greatest emancipator of thought,
philosopher of liberty and teacher of
the natural rights Of men ever known
in human history. The blows he struck
for freedom, justice and equality
in government are yet resounding
throughout the earth, and they will
never cease to be heard until the last
shaclSle OF privilege and tyranny is
broken. Ten days before his soul took
fight from his mountain home he
wrote his parting words to his own
countrymen and to all the races of
mankind With this great dying mes
sage before us, and in its spirit, we
take new courage and go on with our
work.
"llail, mighty message, and hail its
speedy and certain fuldllment All
hail the counsels OF Thomas jefferson
in this hour of caste based on wealth,
Of privilege granted by law ana OF mo-
nopoly fastened on the slavery OF la
Dor
Labor Riot at rufIalo.