The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-01-13
Mr.. Wilson on His Own Bill.

Hon. w. L. Wilson writes in the
Forum for January timely article
on the principle and method of the
tariff reform measure that bears his
name.
1.-THE really great and benefcent
reform of the bill" he says, sis the
release from taxation of the great
basic materials of modern industry.
If large part of our revenues must
be gathered from a tax upon con
sumption, let there be but one tax,
and that tax upon the finished
product, not upon the processes and
materials of industry. If we lay
heavy duties on wool and machinery
and fuel and transportation and dye
stuffs, and everything else that goes
to the making of the final product,
it is clear that the fabric reaches
the consumer freighted with med
ley of cumulative taxation that is
burdensomc and oppressive
Mr.. Wilson lays merited stress
upon the certainty that free raw ma
terials must enable American manu-
facturers to force their way into
foreign mrrkets. They cannot do so
now because the tariff on wool, coal
and iron handicaps them in the race
with foreign rivals. A vital fact in
this discussion that is too much ig-
nored is that the home market is
not1arge enough to absorb the enor-
nous productions of our factories
and workshops. The republican ar
gument that our home market will
be lost if foreign markets are secured
is self-evident absurdity, because,
as Mr.. Wilson says, 'the ability of
any industry to invade the markets
of other countries implies its ability
to hold the markets Of It's own coun-
try"
The author of the pending bill
admits that it is not radical and
complete application of the revenue
principle. 1--WE have not believed
he writes, shat our commission re-
quired such headlong reductions as
might cripple or vitality distress
great industries that have rested for
generation upon tariff props, how
ever little they may have been help
ed by them" The suggestion was
recently made in the Washington
special correspondence of The Sun
that the tariff question ought not
to be dealt with strictly as a party
one 1t would certainly be better
for the country if the issue should
cease to be the foot ball of politics.
The continual reopening of it I'M
questionably unsettles business and
disturbs manufacturing enter prises.
But it has been we'll said that no vi
tai question will remainsettled until
it is settled right. The Wilson bill
patriotic, moderate and thoroughly
conservative measure that aims. as
its author says, not to realize radical
theories, but to do justice to all
without injury to any. 1t is an hon
est, sincere attempt to satisfy the
national demand for lighter and
more equal tax burdens, without
ruthlessly assailing any vested in
terest that has grown up under ex-
listing conditions.
If it is possible-and we feel with
the correspondent that it is most
desirab le-to lift the tariff issue out
of the ruts of party politics and
place it on plane above mere parti-
san contention and strife, the Wilson
bill offers fair ground work for a
new departure in that direction. 1t
is not extreme in any of it's features
or provisions. 1t is step forward
to freer conditions of trade, bnt there
is nothing destructive about it. eve
have aimed" says Mr.. Wilson, "to
leave no duty high enough to give a
monopoly of the home market, but
rather at such level as to permit
enough competition from without to
| protect American consumers from
exaggerated prices and from combi-
nations, and at the same time con-
tribute some revenue to the public
treasury"
| On the basis of the importations
of 1892 the Wilson tariff bill will
lessen the burden of taxation borne
by the consuming masses by about
$60,000,000. The late Samuel j.
Tilden and the still living Judge
Thurman concurred in the estimate
that every dollar of tariff tax that
reaches the treasury represents five
other dollars taken from the pockets
of consumers by indirection, so that
the Wilson bill will really tighten
by $300,000,000 year the burden
of tariff taxes now imposed upon the
American people. And, in the words
of Mr.. Wilson, 'sthe taxes taken off
are chiefly those that Cypress the
consumer, throttle and rob labor OF
employment"
CHASTITY DISCOVERY.
The Body Of Wetzel Comfy Man Who
MysteriOusly Disannearpd AhOut