Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1894-01-04

MINORITY REPOR T
T is CLEAR, LOGICAL AND DIS
PASSIONATE.
It's Statements OF the Evils That Would
4 Follow the Enactment Of the Wilson
! Bill Might Have been Stronger and Yet
Truthful
Statement or Facts.

E Statement OF Facts.
The report Of the Democratic major
ity of the Ways and Means Committee
on the Wilson bill was obviously the
work of theorists and fanatics. 1t was
written in defiance Of facts and In con-
tempt of the misery and estitution to
which the threat OF free trade has re-
&uced hundreds Of thousands OF Ameri-
can workingmen. The report Of the
Republican minority, which was res
pared by ex-Speaker Reed, is an ad-
karess Of q radically different character.
1t Is based not on theories, but on
facts. 1t champions the cause Of
America, not the interests Of Europe.
1t is an argument for American wages,
American manhood, American indus.
trial Independence and American
homes.
The minority report is clear, logical
and dispassionate, says the New lork
Press Its language is conservative
throughout. It's statements of the
evils that would follow the enactment
of the Wilson bill might have been
considerably stronger and yet have
been well within the t nth. The re-
port points out that the Wilson bill,
osten IDLY a revenue measure, will cut
down the Government revenues by at
least $14 ,0O), 900, that it transfers the
burden of taxation from the shoulders
of foreigners to those of CUR own
people, and that in making "raw ma
terials' free it deals fatal blow to
some Of the most important industries
in the United States. 1t says:
Whatl one mans free raw material is an
other mans finished product. The manu-
facturer in Massachusetts is told that he is
to be ENCOURAGED by having free lumber to
build his factory and to pack his goods, but
inasmnch M ss that very lumber thus made free
no wonder he Democrats of bangor denounee
class LEGISLATION with new appreciation OF
tho il ARd %
sin and Michigan, the Pacific Slope Alabama,
Georgia and Florida
The analysis which the report makes
OF the free list of the proposed bill and
of the effect OF the unrestricted ad-
mission OF foreign wools, iron ore and
bituminous coal is especially able. The
gross injustice of the wool schedules,
not only to the ia, mer. who is entitled
to full protection for his product, but
to the manufacturer and his employees
is plainly brought ont. The report
says: "The terms Of the bill arc
equivalent to an edict from the COM
mittee commanding every manufac-
turer to shut down and keep shut down
until the bill becomes u law, and turn
ing thousands OF operatives into the
streets" The fraud breeding ed
valorem duties with which the Wilson
bill ,nocks every principle of justice
and fair dealing are condemned with
deserved severity. The minority de-
clare:
While this bill III its principle, IL it has any
Is not unprotectiye, it viii be absolutely SO in
practice, not only in its direct reductions, but
also in Its indirect reductions, sure 10 come
loren.
So great have been the objections in actual
American practice to the ad yalorem dutie!
that among the names which can be cited
against it are some OF the most illustrious in
American history-Hamilton Gailatin, Craw-
and Daniel Manning.
All the experience of American his
tory: all the sound maxims of Amer
lean craftsmanship: all the consider
ations OF prudence, of patriotism, of
humanity, demand that the Wilson
measure OF folly and iniquity shall be
defeated. 1t is class and sectional Leg
islation of the worst sort. Pretending
to regard the welfare of American in-
dustries, it stabs them with the malig-
nifty OF the cowardly assassin. Not
avowedty free trade measure. except
as to raw n aterials, it strips every in
dustry of protection and exposes every
workingman's family to the degrade
tion Of beggary. The laborers whom it
has already robbed OF work and wages
are legion. The families it has al
ready panperi2cd are numbered by
scores Of thousands. The suffering it
has brought about is appalling to every
man of humane instincts. The report
shows that the Republican members of
Congress sympathize deeply with the
people in their dist ess. and that they
propose to fight the starvation bill
with every resource at their command.
With the same dispassionateness which
marks the entire production, it says:
We have not thought it desirable TO make
from that; we have taken thus far no notice
Of the condition of business now which Is ter
rlble. nor OF that Of the work,ngman which
beRgars description. In 100 representative
cities where the number employer ex eeds
two millions and a half of people fully one
third. by the most conservative estimate, are
without employment. These are engaged in
the protected industries. Those who are not
and who hought they were beyond the touch
OF the tariff, now know the solid fact that all
industries are prosperous or none. We will
not strive in any way to increase the turmoil
which this bill has already created An end
can be put to all this BY the defeat of this BILL
ergy should be bent.
In view OF the ruin which the Will
son bill has wrought: OF the destruction
which it must cause If il should pass:
OF the misery, the stary alton. the de-
basement which II would spread. from
the Atlantic to the Pacific. there is
only ore course for Republican Con-
gressmen and for Democratic Congress-
men who are loyal to American Inter-
ests and to the welfare OF their con-
stituents. The policy of ruin must be
blocked. The Wilson bill must be de-
feated.
Time Will Change Things Again.
The statement Of Commissioner Loch-
rem, on cross-examination before the
committee en- pensions, that the actual
saving resulting from investigations
for fraud since May /, when his ruling.
for suspension Of pensions PENDING in.
vestigatiOn for fraud went into effect,
was only $31 900, with be an eve opener
to the people OF the Nation. He ad- /
mitted that substantially all of the
81, 100000 claimed to have been saved
by that ruling, consisted OF claims taat
never had been allowed, and never
would have teen allowed. because they
would not have been granted special
examination. These facts we're made
public in Mr.. CanEons speech in the
House last Saturday, during discus
sion of. the deficiency bill which ap-
propriates $sO0, 900 for special pension
examiners, In which he made g fear
less attempt to increasc the tcmpera-
ture Ct the pension Office toward the
disabled Union veterans of the country,
while disclaiming any attack upon the 4
pension Office
Livingstone, Of Georgia, ana Enloe.
OF Tenne ssce, made y vigorous defense,
OF Hoke Smiths administration OF the
pension ofiice. but no Northern Demo-
cratic Congressman dared to open his
mouth during the discussion. Major
Lacey. of lows, came gallantly to the |
support Of the veterans aud he made
the hall Ot the House ring with ia.
iitic sentlments that will he indorsod !,
nl ffaHk 49,