The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-03
TARIFF DEBATE OPENED.
Senator Voorhees, Leads or for the
Cause Of Low Taxes on the
Necsssaries.
The Bill Reduces Taxes and Pro-
vides for all Necessary
Revenue.
A Long Step In the Direction of AmeIio.
rating the Condition of the
Poor Man.

WASHINGTON. April 2.-Phnoipal interest
in the senate to-day c,ntersd in the speech
of Sen itor voorhees,. chairman of the COM
mIttes on hnancs. While the speech was
read from manuscript. IL was delivered with
all the fiery energy which oharactsrizss his
usual eKtemporsneous eforts There was
an unusually full attendanea and the con-
clusion of the speech was greeted with
hearty applause.
Senator Hansbrough asked that unfn-
ished business should be temporarily laid
aside IN favor Of the opening speech on the
tariff, without losing It's place as unfinished
business. This led 10 a motion from soma
tor Harris that tho tariff bill must now be
made unfinished business. or majority OF
senators must declare against it, Senator
Hansbrough announced that In view of the
present circumstances he would withdraw
his proposition. the tariff bill being made
unfinished business In enthusiastic acola-
nations Of the majority.
Senator voorhees, said: Mr.. Pfesidsnt-
Great abuses In government. strong By
sanction and the growth of years. imbsddel
in the powerful interests of privileged
classes. created, fostsrsd. encouraged and
protected by the laws thsmselvss, have
rarely. II ever. been totally sTAdlcatsd. ex-
eept By forcible revolution and bloodshed.
Such Is the concurrent and unbroksn tssti-
mony OF history. The spirit of political
and practical reform, on the other hand. is
a reasoning and progressive spirit, moving
forward, step by step. no matter how rad
cal and thorough its ends and aims may be,
and overcoming tho most gigantic evil
with patient wisdom and ooutage, rather
than by violent and Wholesale assault.
The protective system of tariff taxation.
ss developed and fastened upon the busi-
ness and labor of the American Isople.
during the third Of century past, has been
growing worse at every stage; IL ia q system
Of indescribabs oppression, and yet who
will contend that all its vicious principles
and workings, th, ough every branch oftrade
and commeTcs. can be annihilAted by a
single blow, or wiped ont by single legis.
lAtIvs snactment7 For abe bill now under
con side ration no such claim is made. but
in it's behalf il can bo nuthfully asserted.
and will be successfully naintaiued. that 10
accomplishes a world % tariff reform, sm-
bodies a great relief 10 the people from
iniquitous existing laws, and constitutes
long stride though not nnal one. towards
the approaching day OF full and perfect
deliveTance.
Sir. challenge the attention OF the sen.
ate and country to the great and command
ing fact that by the provisions OF this bill
toe seeming paradox OF a reduction OF
taxes. and at the same time an
increase OF public revenues will
be rseonoilsd when Il becomes
law. Il is enough for present purpose 20
say that We have liboTaliz3d American mar
kets, made them more accessible TO the
tFAfic OF the wo Id, and while not estAb-
fishing free trade we have made trade
frser, and more even-handed between
manufacturer and consumer.
but over and above and beyond this wide
aud we'll known field of Oxtortion aud IN
justice. ~ will be found from the schedu ules
of this bill that the ,if taxes now off-
cially astettained and paid undeF existing
laws on the wants nsoessitisa and daily
consumption of the lAborinR men, women
and children of the United States. have
been reduced more than S76,O00.0OO per
anuum. To this must be added the further
inposing fact thHt the bill provides
for full and Ampls revenue. largely In eK-
cess OF present supplies, with which to meet
all she requirements of public credit. such
a consummation as this, so full of relief to
the people and of strength safety anu
honor to the government. may well atone
for the imperfections and shortcomings al
leged against the pending measure, ana will
constitute a rock on which the temple OF
which. In the AmelioTsted future. the RaieI
Of fraud shall NOT prevail.
With such bsnshcsnt and stupsndous
result now plainly within the reach OF the
American Ioople. anG almost ready for
their eager enjoyment | envy not the fate
of the party, nor the man nor the set of
men, who shall constitute themselves a him
trance and an obstruction TO its speedy full
hliment. Faults anu impetfsctiona can, OF
course, be pointed out. do NOT hesitate 10
say the bill, taken as a whole, as 10 now
stands. with its combination OF lower taxea
on the nseessaries Of life and al ths same
time increased revenues for tho govern
ment, will be hailed as a substantial meas
urs OF reform and relief by tue great pro-
ducing masses OF American people.
The enactment Of the Mckinley eill was
a gigantic crime, not only against eveTF
wo,kingmAn and woFkingwoman In the
United states; 10 declared policy so faQi-
tious in principle, 30 rotten In morality.
and so TaVsnoua IN its sxhations on the
absolute wants OF life, that it's possl BILE
du alton was only q question of time when
tho neIt election by the people should oe-
cur. And yet the vast manafaotu ing In.
tsfests OF the country we're tempted aud
ssduood int1 accepting its dslusivs bribes,
and into an eager adjustment of themselves
to its allurinq though evaneHosnt and short
lived provisions.
II can never be forgotten that the enact
meut OF the hlchinley lhW IN OctoDer Waa
followed almost Immediately bY n rsduc-
tion In wages OF all workers IN iron and
steel, beginning at Homestead. In Pennsyl-
Vania. under Carnegie. resulting in blood.
shed aud wholesale murder, aud extending
/ 90 all parts OF the country. and TO amoat
every interest OF manufacturing industry
Daring the present hscal yea. ending
June 80 thore will be paid By the treasury
/ 81, 900 600 rs "A bounty 90 the producers OF
susRr. aud every dollar of this vast sum ID
for taxes collected from those who plant
com. raise wheat and engage IN ali the
various pursuits OF labor. Nearly $50 600 .
90 Of bounty money has beOa handed over
60 the sugar makers Of ths country since
the law went into operation, aud each year
/ the sun 10 rapidly increasing. IL was
thought when abe law Was under discussion
that the bounty wOuld not exosed - 600
600 Ter yea but the stimulating innuencs
OF such an enormous bounty WAS under
/ rated. II the law 10 10 remain unreueAled
the time ~ 40 hand when 10 will confer, &c
a mere gratuitY. more than $2O.0O0 900 per
/ year en- = small fraction Of our population,
engaged in no public service. bat Ia their
own private enterprises
In securing a sufficient revenue for the
support OF abe govsTnmena With as liqht q
tax a. possible on the noessariss OF life,
have a. all times earnestly favored an in.
creased tsH on whisky. would be glad 90.
day ~ the psnding bill provided for a taH