The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1894-01-18
The Tariff Debate.

Congressman Dlngley oil Maine in his
speech ON the Wilson tariff bill Thurs
day, slid the bill is Incorrectly namrd a
bill TO provide revenue. 1t is really i
bill to abolish revenue. Its advocates.
whilr charging that protective tariff
ignore revenue 10 provide protection,
produce Il substitute which yields our-
third less revenue than the present taril'
in he face ct 100000, 600 treasury de
ficiracA for this fiscal year. The "con
dtion not theory maxim is reversed.
1t is The Democratic theory of Il tariff
for revenue only that now cOnfront- us.
The bill to create II deficiency i iu-ti-
fled on HE ground that ii Is "A reduction
of taxation to the masses. This invites
attention to the schedule, and it appears
that $4,000 900 of revenue from imported
luxries and articles of voluntary Use are
surrendered, although all authorities
agree that high duty rates can justly be
replaced on such articles Tor revenue.
Fourteen millions are surrendered on
quors. cigars. leaf tobacco. silks,
pushes, kid gloves. iewelry. laces, en-
broidcries, ostrich feathers. artificial
flowers, opium Tor smoking plate glass,
paintings aud statuary. twenty-five
millions are given mp on fine imported
woolens for the well-to-do, and Il large
amount on fine eottous and other manu-
featured articles for voluntary use. Six
and II quarter millions are surrendered
on tin plates at cent per pound, al
though the duty of 1890 increased here
not more than one-fourth of II cent a
pound above the average price from 1883
tc 1891 showing that Welsh manufact-
uIcrs have paid nearly all the increased
duty by decreasing their price 50 as 10
hold the market. There is RENTED to
Canada nearly a million and n half in
duties on lumber, and two millions on
farm products, nothing being asked in
return, not to mention eight millions
RENTED On wool.
They tell us that the ST. 900 600 def
cheney will soon be made up ny increased
imp0rtationS dutiable in competitor with
our own makes aai till then it Is 10 he
offset by taxing our own interests.
This must be comforting 10 the millions
of working men now soi1fring because
of no employment or reduced wages be-
cIuse of distress occ lsioned by this bill
The aggregate increase OF mportt-
tions uner the Wilson schedules To
make up the S76.0OO.000 deficiency
would have to reach $3.50, 100000 Such
would be the wreck OF home Industries
ncce >sary To carry out tariff theory.
they say That they have removed pro
lection to many industries, reduced it in
o hers. but continued it to some great
industries because of the difficulties OF
the situation. That is they propose To
allow some great interests to rob the pro-
pie. This is "A confession of their insin-
certify or else II reelection upon their
character.
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 eX-
ample, rye is protected 50 per cent.
while many Northern farm products,
including wool, are placed on the free
list, or given only Is to % per cent.
Tennessee marble quarries get % per
cent, New England granite nothing.
Hoop iron in hay bands get % per cent ,
hoop iron in cotton ties nothing
The tariff of 1899, whatever increase ii
make in the duties on cotton and ~oollcn
goods. did not raise the rice in this
country at all because we USE mainly
domestic goods on which there i, no
duty. Woolcns were . per cent. cheap
er the year after the duties were inereas-
ed than they We're the year before, be-
cause of the ltrger market given home
makers and IA resulting decrease in the
cost of production.
The 1890 tariff duced tn" duty ON
pine lumLer 81 per thousand bur the
price remained unchanged, the Canadians
raising their price H. much rs the duty