Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-01-29
OPINIONS OF THE TARIFF.
Democratic and Mugwump Editors Give
Their Views of the Wilson Bill.

KNOWN u6nOCFdI1C anu luRWulupr 6u1GOT6
of the state on the pending tariff question.
They are as follows:
Not Revenue Bill.
HARTFORD, Jan 29.-Mr Wilson has
been trying to get revenue bill In fact
this distinguished and capable member of
congress started out to make tariff bill
for revenue only In this particular
it is failure, according to Mr. Wilson's
very frank statement. A shortage of $685.
600, 900, or perhapt $75, 0O0, 900 year, in
a revenue bill, would be embarrassing. The
weakness having been found the remedy
must be supplied. '---.-ssssies
The idea is that it is better to tax our own
productions than to levy duties upon for
eign goods. The Times was schooled in
the jackson, Van Buren,, Polk and Bucha-
nan standards of democracy, and it cannot
clearly see that the tax on home produc-
tons is the best. We want the best, but
cannot say we approve of what we believe
to be the worst. 1t would be very hard
work for the Times to faIsify its convic-
tons and we must be excused for saying
frankly that too much internal revenue
taxation and too little customs taxation
would be a very bad mistake.
W. o. BURR, Hartford Times, dem.
Right, on General Principles.
New HAVEN, Jan 29.--Am in favor of
the Wilson bill, and think it, in it's gene
raj principles, the best tariff measure the
country has seen for a long period. OF
course it does not meet the demands of
ideal legislation in such matters. The de-
cades of protectionism have left certain
qualities which cannot be surmounted by
single law; but it is a move in the right
direction and hope the bill will pass.
believe it should be. supported by the
party.
Of course, as everyone knows, it cannot
bring in all the revenue needed for the
expense of the government. 1t fails in
this respect as the Mckinley bill has al
ready failed. If the deficit under the
workings of this bill by itself should be
greater than under the Mckinley BILL the
difference in equitable law and that the le-
moval of burdens from the. great mass. of
the people more than atone for the differ
ence in revenue.
Under any tariff system we can adopt it
will be necessary to increase the internal
revenue schedules. I believe the articles
from which we now principally derive our
internal revenue should be still further
taxed and that slight tax should be laid
upon such necessaries of life as tea, sugar,
coffee and molasses, just as we now tax
oleomargarine This is the most equitable
system of taxation. Its burdens would be
felt very lightly. 1t is not open to any of
the objections of the income tax, and it is
not burden on the great mass of the peo-
pie. I consider the objection that such
system taxes the poor mans breakfast
table as the cheap cry of the demagogue.
1t raises revenue in the most practical and
profitable way which can be devised
n. G. OSBORN, New Haven Register, dem.
FavOrs the Income Tax.
BRIDGEPORT, Jan 29-The Farmer regards
the Wilson tariff bill as measure calcu-
lated to make the neccessaries of life
cheaper to workingmen, and the raw
materials of manufacturers cheaper to man-
ufacturers, two of the most desirable OBJ
Jects within present view.
An income tax, although unpopular, is,
when properly adjusted and collected, per-
haps the fairest of all taxes for it regu-
lates the burden to the ability of carrying
it.
But one suggestion to make: Let what
ever is to be done, be done quickly.
FLOYD TUCKER, Bridgeport Farmer dem,
Editor Chaplin Is Sarcastic.
WATERBURY,, Jan 29.-I suggest that the
Wilson bill be referred back to the ways
and means committee; that Mr. Sperry of
Connecticut be invited in to fix it over to
suit the tobacco growers of his district;
MIR Haynes of Troy to meet the demands of
the shirt and collar makers; Mr. Cadmus of
New Jersey to arrange the pottery duties;
Joe Wheeler of Alabama, and somebody
from Pennsylvania to revise the coal and
ore schedules and the wool and lumber
and salt men to fix the rates on their
products. Then in the interests of fair
play, all the other democratic congress-
men should be invited in to tell what their
constituents want and it should be given
to them. When everybody is satisfied the
bill should be thrown away and report
made to the house that the Mckinley bill
cannot be improved upon.
The above suggestion is made on the the
DRY that, as some influential people claim
there is still a doubt as to whether the
country wants real revision and reduc-
ton of tariff duties. If the democratic
majority, however, has the disposition to
accept the latest expression of popular
judgment on this question as decisive,
and the courage to put their judgment
into law, another suggestion might be sub
stituted, namely: Put a small duty on
sugar in place of an income tax; be sure
that this law will raise sufficient revenue
and then pass it it in time to get the credit
for the revival of business which is almost
at hand. If amendments can be justified
on broad grounds let them be made. If
the democratic party with its big majority
and the country at large behind it, cannot
pass such a bill, it has lost it's reason for
existence. That is all it was elected for.
G. F. CHAPLIN, Waterbury American, Ind.
Restrict Immigration.
New BRITAIN, Jan 29.-It is the duty of
the democratic party to pass bill reduc-
ing tariff taxation, and failure so to do
can result in nothing but discredit and de-
No To- no to do Will
duties, including the Mckinley bill, was
ever passed without being amended, and
the Wilson bill will be no exception. 1t
should be passed promptly, however, and
as little time should be given to necessary
alterations as possible. Manufacturers
desire to know the conditions that are to
obtain and congress should listen to no
claims for delay that have partisanship in
stead of patriotism as their incentive.
When this is done congress should at once
turn its attention to a hitherto ne
elected feature of the economic situation. So
far we have been imposing duties primarily
for the benefit of thes manufacturer and
incidentally for the labor he employees.
Congress should make the benefits truly
reciprocal. This can be done only by
prohibiting free trade in labor, by restrict
ing the number of men seeking employ
ment and by reserving the American labor
market for American citizens. Hence the
next STEP and in reality the most imrortant
one relating to the question of wages, is the
passage of bill regulating and restricting
immigration. We have heard much about
the competition with the pauper labor of
Europe. Let congress essay to do much
towards keeping this same pauper lsbor in
Europe where it belongs.
r. j. VANCE, New Britain Herald, ind.