Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-12
THE TARIFF DEBATE.
Mr.. DingIey Makes Powerful
Speech Against Bill.
Says That It Is Really Bill to AboI-
ish Revenue.
Shows lis Weak Points Which Include Each
and Every Section.

WASHINGTON, Jan. H.-Immediately af-
ter routine business this morning the House
went into the committee of the VIII Die on the
tariff bill.
Breckenridge of Kentucky spoke at some
length in favor of the bill and was rOundly
applauded on the Democratic side. Ding
ley of Maine followed Breckenridge in op-
position to the measure.
In bis speech on the Wilson tariff bill
Dingley said the bill is incorrectly named a
bill to provide revenue. 1t is really bill
to abolish revenue. Its advocates, while
charging that protective tariffs ignore reve-
nue. to provide protection, produce substi-
tute which yields one-third less revenue
than the present tariff in the face of $60,-
900, 900 treasury deficiency for this fiscal
year. The condition not theory" maxim
is reversed. 1t is the Democratic theory of
tariff for revenue only that now con-
fronts us.
The bill to create deficiency is justified
on the ground that it is a reduction of taxa
ton to the masses. This invites attention
to the schedule, and it appears that $SG.-
900 of revenue from imported luxuries and
articles of voluntary use are surrendered,
although all authorities agree that high duty
rates can justly be replaced on such articles
for revenue.
Fourteen millions are surrendered on
liquors, cigars, leaf tobacco, silks, plushes,
kid gloves, jewelry, laces, embroideries,
ostrich feathers, artificial flowers, opium
for smoking, plate glass, paintings and
statuary. twenty-five millions are given
up on fine imported woolens for the we'll
tO-dO, and large amount on fine cottOns
snd other manufactured articles for volun-
tary use. Six and quarter millions are
surrendered on tin plates at l cent per
pound, although the duty of 1890 increased
here rot more than one-fourth of a cent a
pound above the average price from 1888
to 1891, showing that Welsh manufacturers
have paid nearly all the increased duty by
decreasing their price so as to hold the
market. There is remitted to Canada near
ly million and half in duties on lumber,
and two millions on farm products, nothing
being asked in return, not to mention eight
millions remitted on wool.
They tell us that the $40, 900, 900 defi-
cheney will soon be made up by increased
importatio dutiable in competition with
our own makes ard till then il is to be Off
set by taxing our own interests. This must
be comforting to the millions of working
men now suffering because of no employ
ment or reduced wages because of distress
occasioned by this bill.
The aggregate increase Of impoItations
under the Nilsson schedules to make up the
SIC, 900 900 deficiency would have to reach
of home industries necessary to carry out a
taliff theory. They say that they have re-
moved protection to many industries, re-
duced it in others, but continued il to some
great industries because of the difficult
ties Of the situation. That is they propose
to allow some great interests to rob the peo-
pie. This is a confession of their insincer-
ity or else a reflection upon their charac-
ter.
The bill then is discriminating and it will
be found discriminating in favor of those
high in Democratic councils or who have
contributed literally to the Democratic
campaign funds. For example, rye is pro-
tected S3 per cent. while many Northern
farm products, including wool, are placed
on the free list, or given only Is to % par
cent. Tennessee marble qaarries get 80
per cent, New England granite nothing.
Hoop iron in hay bands get 25 per cent,
hoop iron in cotton ties nothing.
Mr. Wilson claims that putting the so-called
raw materials on the free list is not a dis
elimination against the labor in these in
dustries because they are produced as
cheaply here as abroad. Yet he advocates
it because it will cheaper their cost to the
manufacturers here. If this latter claim is
true it proves that their labor cos. is less
abroad than here.
The substitution of al valorem for
specific duties will largely increase the de-
ficiency 10 revenue, because of the under
valuation frauds. Nothing but determi-
nation to make wsr on protection could
have brought about this substitution, as ev-
cry Democratic secretary of the treasury
from Gallatin to Manning, except Walker,
has protested against ad valorem duties.
The rule has been to reduce duties so as
to increase importa,ions and foreign COM
petition, with view to still further feduc-
tons in the future until the British free
trade policy is made our own. The COM
mittee has been animated mainly by the
theory that a duty equivalent to the differ
ence in labor, cost of production and dis
tribution here and abroad increases the cost
to the consumer of the domestic article and
is therefore tax which benefits the home
manufacturer only. This free trade con-
teniion is based on the mistaken idea that
men are consumers only and not producers.
The true cost of any thing 10 not its cost in
money, but in labor or service.
All that protection does is to make, -
the basis for competitor here, our high wage
and high living standard instead of the low
wages abroad. 1t makes the foreign man.
ufacturer pay to our government the differ
ence in wages here and abroad. A home
made article under protection may cost
more in money at q particular time be-
cause of our higher wages but not mere in
labor or services. The money paid 10 made
here by competition without reference to
duty and experience shows that this home
competition steadily reduces the money
price and ultimately the labor price to q
point lower than when we relied upon
fore ign manufacturers.
The tariff of 1890, whatever increases it
made in the duties on cotton and woollen
goods, did not raise the price in this country
At all because We use mainly domestic goods
on which there is no duty. Woollens were
per cent. cheaper the year after the duties
were increased than they we're the year be-
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