The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-04-26
PETER HEARD FROM
SPEECH BY THE PEOPLES SEN.
ATOR ON THE TARIFF.
The Wilson Bin Surrender Eeven0s on
Luxuries and Discriminates Against
Farms and Labor-How the House Imbe-
Giles Waste Time and Violate Rules.


IL . Protection Measure.
Senator PETER in his speech on the
tariff bill presented the matter as
viewed by the party of the people. He
introduced his speech by discussing
the subject of taxation and the amounts
paid by the people of the United
States to support the Government.
All taxes, he said, paid by the people
of the United States amount to nearly
one-half of the Government debt at
the close of the war. He also discussed
the large payments of interest by the
people of the United States, which
had not been accurately ascertained,
but were enormous. He also men
toned the large amount of money
spent on sports, for spirits. tobacco. on
boards of trade, and in other ways.
In every way" said Mr.. PETER. the
people are taxed, and it ought to be
the aim Of statesmen to make these
burdens lighter" Mr.. PETER entered
into a discussion of revenue and pro-
tective tariffs. and said:
The difference In practice in the two the
cries is seen chiefly not In al aggregate re-
ductiOn OF duties, rs the same amount OF
revenue must be raised. but In the manner
OF adjusting rates. The most consistent
and practicable system OF tariff taxation
for revenue only Is that adopted by Great
Misunderstanding only such articles rs are
not produced in the country levying the
tax, and In addition such art:c Is as arc OF
more or less harmful character--:s liquor
or tobacco. But while this method is SIM
pie. it IS unjust In its operation. Sugar.
coffee. tea and spices would supply all the
Il system which operates unju>tly upon
poor people could not bs enforced In this
country.
The best representative tariff we ever
had was that OF 1S46. There Is not enough
between the two schools oftarif statesmen
worth quatrelins about. They are both
for protection. as may De seen by rompar-
ing the Mills bin with the tariff OF 1893 and
the Wilson bill with the tariff OF 1890. The
first tariff was for two purposes-ra;>ing
revenue aud to estab ish, domestic manu-
Featuring. lnduStrieS-aud the effect has
been what was desired and expected.
| In 1890 the Mckinley bill increased duties
| 100 per cent. on many articles. including
| wool. cutlery aud porcelain. The Mckin-
! ley bill was in some respects u legislative
! mOnstrO>ity. The Mills bill was "A protec-
! tion measure. drawn on n platform which
! adopted the Presidents message as one OF
! its pidnks. The platform states the doc
trine OF protection closely. The Mills bill
! was fr. med to cover the difference between
| wages in this country and others whose
| productions compete with ours.
The Wilson bill is protective measure.
| 1t Surrenders revenue on the luNurlts and
| d!scriminates against farms. The duties
! on many farm products are OF no benefit to
the farmer. but when they are OF any us,
| let them remain IL the protection Eolicy Is
to be maintained. The Wilson bill! allows :.
loss OF revenue that might as we'll be re-
tanned It. is no better on the Who'll. than
! the present law. 1t has fee wool. bu:
faxes clothes; free hides. but taxes shoes.
1t protects manufactures and gives free
| raw materials.
The chairman OF the Finance Committee
, denounced protection as robbery. How
| can he support this bill? His speech was
| AN arraignment OF his colleagues and an
apology for himself. When the tariff re-
formers bring us free wool and leave us
| burdens on the clothing OF men and women.
| who perform manual labor OF the country.
may we not inquire where the line is to be
! drawn between = tariff for revenue only
and the .'cnlminatins atrocity OF class leg
| i>latiOn:"
| The Poruists have no tariff plank in
their platform. We view the subject from
| the standpoint OF taxation. We under
stand that the levyinI OF tariff duties Is q
tax upon the people and we would make
| the burden rs light Ne possible. We look
upon this subject through the eyes OF the
point OF the poor and lowly. The wealthy
! and proud can take care OF themselves.
| The Pnpulists believe in 4 gradu tied in
) come tax and regard it as the mt st equit-
able system OF taxation. While p. liician-
| juggle with the tariff. Statement on, ht 10
make it Il matter OF business. The Popu-
| lists do not believe in pulling down the
rich. but in raising ~ the poor. We do not
believe in abandoning wholly the pre- ent
system. take it that profes>ed tariff re-
formers do not see how greatly their prac-
tice contrasts with their theory: they nae An
| we'll. but lack courage only.
Protection. as taught 10y our fathers Is
the proper doctrine-protectiun Ia do.n.s-
tic industries. Only such ministries as can
| be made MT onal. employing large mum
| pers of pecp.e. shall be protected. aud that
only long enough To e,'abi-h them; nfte,
that save the market for them and NJ
more. B"untie> In many cases are better
than cheaper duties.