Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-03-22

The income tax is not only kept in
in tho new democratic tariff bill, but
If is clearly the strongest part OF the
measure. There have been changes in
this feature of the bill since it left the
ho11se which tend to make the income
tax provision still more odious and
inquisitorial. The spy system has
been extended and made more often
sive. One of the provisions inserted
by the senate committee directs that
"every corporation doing business Tor
profit shall keep full, regular, and ac-
curate books of account upon winch
all it's transactions shall be entered
from day to day in regular order.
which books shall at all reasonable
times be open to the inspection or an
internal revenue officer or agent.
such a thing as privacy in business
transactions would be impossible I'M
der this odious law The house limit
ed the inspection merely to that OF
verifying the returns made by any
corporation. But the senate commit
tee puts no limit on these investiga-
tions, and compels the books of all
corporations to be open for inspection
at any time.
The republicans also called attention
to the harsh features of the bill III
regard to building and loan associa-
lions and cooperative associations IN
general, which are made up wholly
of wOrkingmen. An effort to remove
some of the restrictive features OF the
law and to exclude from it's opera
lions all building and loan associa-
tions was voted down. AS the Dill
now stands the earnings of the widow
and orphan are to be compelled to
pay a burdensome tax which the great
majority of the independent farmers
and mechanics of the country will
escape The south will be almost en-
tirely relieved of this tax.
The bungling character of the tariff
bill is illustrated by the discrimination
which it makes in the matter or
reciprocity. A number of influential
democratic politicians happen to be
manufacturers of agricultural nipple
ments They have succeeded in hay
ing the house bill changed so that the
reciprocity provision shall be applied
as to agricultural implements. The
house bill puts agricultural implements
upon the free list. The senate at the
instance of these democratic manu-
facturers, has changed it so that ag-
ricultural implements shall not come
in free from countries which impose
duty upon agricultural implements
from the United States. This is in
tended TO apply particularly to Can
ada where there are large manufact-
ureS of agricultural implements and
where a duty is imposed upon a2ri-
cultural implements coming from the
United Staes and elsewhere. The at
tention of the democrats of the COM
mittee has been called to this extern
sion of the reciprocity feature to one
product which comes from Canada,
and Mr. Aldrich. of the committee.
has inquired why. since Canada i'm
poses a duty on eggs, cabbage, peas,
cereals. and most other articles in the
agricultural schedule these articles
should bc placed in this bill upon the
free list. Mr.. Aldrich and the republi-
can members of the committee moved
that the reciprocity provision which
the committee has declared shall be
adopted as to agricultural implements
shall also be extended as to farm
products. But this proposition was
9oted down by the democrats in the
committee
One of the most earnest advocates
of free trade in it's broadcast sense is
Congressman Harter. of Ohio. But
Congressman Harter happens to be a
manufacturer of agricultural nipple
ments. Tt is mainly due to his in
terposition that the senate committee
added the reciprocity provision so far
as agricultural implements are con-
cerned. Congressman Harter request
ed. Congressman -u?vlf sfriioe Io,
ed Senator Brice to have the bill
amended so as to exclude agricultural
implements which come rom Canada,
unless the dominion shah remove the
duty on such implements coming from
the United States. Mr.. Harter has
been successful in this, but he at the
same time has been an earnest advo-
cate of free coal and has also Desired
to have furniture and all other kinds
of Canadian products put upon the
free list without any reciprocity pro-
vison. This is one of the most strik-
ing illustrations of the hypocrisy of
those who are among the most earnest
advocates of this bill. They surrender
their principle when the pocket nerve
is touched.
The same kind of intense selfshness
is shown on the part of the Louisiana
sugar men. They are all in favor of
free wool and have all voted for it
time and again in congress The
annual product of wool in the United
States is in value over $4,000, 900.
But the Louisiana sugar men only
claim product of S25,0OO.0OO In
sugar. They expect protection for
their sugar, but they are anxious for
free trade in wool.
The value of the hay crop in the
United States is S4OO. OOO, OOO which
is greater than the value of the cotton
crop in the south, but the democrats
who have framed this tariff bill put
a duty on steel ties to be used in bal
ing hay, whereas when precisely the
same kind of steel ties are used in
baling cotton they are to be admitted
free But no hay is raised in the south
TO Snnaly of nd hot Sc +In