The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-02
MIX. WILSON IN DEFENCE OF HIS BILL

Ircf. w. l.. Wilson has an article in
the current nu.aber Of the Forum in
which he uphclds ana maintains the
principles upon which his bill is construct
ed. lie says that every one knows thai
the chief Issue in the presidentioi cam
paign OF 1882 was the reform OF our tariff
system, and that every American voter
knew. therefore, when all the departmnls
OF the Government were turned over TO
the Democratic party that 1t was ito re-
peal the Mckinley act and TO reverse
the principles on which all'the tarin laws
cr the previous thirty years had been
framed" lie adds that every member OF
Congress who took part in framing this
bill did so with the oft-quoted declara-
ton of the Supreme Court OF the United
States before his mind, that ito lay with
one hand the power OF The Government
on the property OF the citizens. and with
the other TO bestow 1t upon favored in
diyiduals. TO aid In private enterprises
and 10 build up private fortunes, is none
the less robbery because IL is under the
forms OF law"
with these declarations of the prin-
ciples which guided IT. it is simply amaz-
Ing that the bill reported by Mr.. Wilson's
committee should be bill for the adj
mission Of many important imports free
OF duty and a protective tariff for many
private interests in others in the United
states, yet that exactly and nothing more
Is the Wilson bill.
Mr.. Wilson thus states the argument
which IN his opinion sustains his bill:
THE really great and beneficial reform
OF the bill IL the release from taxation
OF tho great basic materials OF modern in
dustry. III large part OF our revenues
must be gathered from a tax uprn CON
sumption. let there be but one tax and
that a tax upon the finished iro1uct. not
upon the processes and ma ariaiS Cf in
. dustry If We lay heavy duties on wool,
ana machinery. and 'uel. and Il ansporta-
ton. and dye-stuffs, and everything else
that goes 10 the making OF the final pro-
duet II Is clear that the fabric reaches
the consumer freighted with a medley of
cumulative taxation that is burdensome
and oppressive
All this has a rythmcal sors OF fiuency
thu. Is very imposing. but when 1t is
examined 1t is found to be nothing but
q confused jungle of words.
Who told MIR. WILSON that he had any
right to release from taxation ''the great
basic materials OF r,Cdcrn Industry" and
impose all tsxation upon the finished
products? Suppose he was framing bill
20 impose direct taxes. Does he suppose
the people would allow him to pick out
some things and exempt them from all
taxation because II entered into his cob
web spinning head that they were basic
materials" and impose all taxation upon
some other things that he considered
FINISHED products
suppose his bill aimed at raising revenue
for the Government By imposing taxes
directly upon properly In Virginia. lie
would find AT Pocahontas one man with
prodigious pile OF coal worth 100000. that
he had mined. and another man near by.
IN Allegheny county. with prodigious Pile
Of iron ore. that he had mined. worth
tOo,ooo. and another man near by the
tatter. with stock Of plows and wagons
that he had just completed the manu-
fsc;ure OF. worth SDooOo: Does he think
the people OF Virginia would stand his
imposing all his taxes on the stock OF
wagons and plows. and exempting the coal
ND iron ore from Oil burdenfy TO ask the