The record-union., 1894-04-30

on Finance, and, therefore. cannot state
of my own personal knowledge what has
occurred in any of those conferences that
may have taken place. 1t is true an
effort is being made 70 agree upon such
changes in the pending bill as will secure
for it the united and active support OF all
the Democrats in the Senate. The indica-
tions are now that this support can and
will be secured without making any
radical changes in the rates of duty or
material alterations in the form OF the
structure of the tariff schedules as they
were passed by the House. In fact, | re-
gard the most of the changes now under
consideration as quite important, while
the remainder are not of such a character
as substantially to affect the merits OF the
bill as measure for the reformation OF
the worst features of the existing legisla
ton upon the subject.
81 do not think we ought to permit diff
ferences of opinion upon mere matters of
detail, or in regard to small increase or
reduction Of rates in the bill as it now
stands, to prevent redemption of our
pledges to the people, and, therefore, [
am in favor OF securing, il possible, with
out any surrender of principle and with
out abandoning any part of the Demo
cratic policy of the tariff reform, such
mutual CONCESSIONS upon these points as
will consolidate our strength and as will
pass the measure at the earliest posi- ble
date.
$50 far as the proposed amendments
relate to duties upon important articles
of consumption now subject to duty, the
rates suggested as the basis for adjust
ment are all much lower than in the
present law, while there are only few
instances in which they are higher than
in the bill reported by the Senate COM
mittee. BY far the most important single
article upon which change OF duty is
now proposed is sugar, raw and refined,
and it is strenuously contended by per-
sons interested in the production Of this
article that the specific rates already in
the bill as reported by the Senate COM
mittee are higher than the ad valorem
rates which it is now proposed to insert.
Whether this is correct or not depends
on the price Of sugar in the foreign mar
kets from time to time, and therefore 1t is
not possible TO make an exactly accurate
statement upon the subject; but l am
satisfied that the differences, if any, be-
tween the specific rates heretofore pro-
posed and the ad valorem rate now under
consideration is so small as to be of no
material consequence either way. At
any rate, | think differences of opinion
upon this question, which have always
been troublesome and vexatious, should
not be allowed to defeat the passage of
the tariff bill, and 1 believe this is the
opinion of all intelligent and sincere ad
vocates of tariff reform.
1.-The repeal of the Mckinley Act and
the substitution of a more equitable
measure is of vital importance to the
prosperity of the country, and the people
have right to expect that all who really
are in favor of a reduction of tariff taxa
ton will make such reasonable conces-
sions to each others views as will cer-
tainly accomplish these results. If the
country is to wait for tariff reform until
measure is devised which is entirely
acceptable in all it's parts to every Sem
ator and Representative whose vote is
necessary to pass it our promises will
never be kept"
Are any changes proposed in that
part of the bill which relates to the in
come tax ?'' was asked.
1T Is well known" said the Secretary,
"that there has been from the beginning
considerable opposition to the proposed
income tax, even among those who have
voted for and supported the bill with
that feature in it. Much of this opposi-
ton has been based upon the provisions
of the bill which prescribe the methods
of ascertaining and collecting the tax,
some of which are alleged to be arbitrary
and inquisitorial. In my opinion many
of these objectionable provisions ought to
and can safely be omitted from the bill,
aud other changes can be made which
the advocates of the income tax can con-
sistently accept, and which will at the
same time remove the principal objec-
tions of its opponents and secure their
support of the BILL"