The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-10

limitations OF his Office inexcusable i'm an
intelligent American citizen, has usurped
the functions of congress, not TO meet
any exigency, or for any justifiable end,
but TO undertake and miserably fail in
foreign policy which would be grotesque
IL they were not contemplate. A mem
Der of his cabinet, trained, in an en-
vironment OF whatever his character
may be, necessarily disqualified
him for any position that has to deal with
the men who saved his country, has
demonstrated how unfair the policy
OF the Democratic party can
be in its hostility to the Union soldier.
In this deplorebe condition of things
clouds and darkness all around us, what
do those who rule our destines propose
by way OF relief? A tariff bill which, in
stead OF relief, brings aggrayation.
What is tariff for revenues only? ]
will tell you what IL is not. IL is not such
tariff as beggars the treasury. 1t is not
such tariff as reduces the national income
so as TO compel a prosperous people to
borrow money IN time OF peace for the
ordinary current expenses OF govern
ment. 1t is, on the other hand, charac-
teristicelly and conspicioasly such a tariff
as will raise revenue.
Do you find any duty in this bill on tea
or coffee or sugar? There are no sources of
revenue so sure as these.
Why are they not taxed?
They are the necesssries OF Vie and a tax
on them will certainly raise the revenue.
The general average OF duties under
this bill, the committee says, is about 50
per cent.
According to the statement Of the COM
mittee the duties realized had the pro-
posed law been in effect in 1895, would
have been S75, ,707, ,7s4 less. To realize the
amount of duties then IL this bill be
enacted into law as was realized in 1892,
under existing law, our imports must be
increased to the extent of S21S 062 1888; TO
realize the same amount as was realized
in 1893, they must be increased to the ex-
tent Of s252, 1855, $50.
Will you tell me what would be the
effect of thus increasing our imports? /
will tell you.
1t will, in the first place, take just that
amount of gold out of the country
TO pay for these imports. 1t
will, in the second place, sub
stitute just that amount of foreign
manufactures for American manufac-
lures. There are two subjects essential to
be considered in the framing of wise
tariff law, the subject OF wages and that
of transportation under existing condi-
tions, in utter disregard OF both of which
the pending bill is framed.
The advocates of protection do not de-
mand anything more than that conditions
be equalized to enable us TO compete in
our own markets at rates Just to our own
capital and labor.
Freight rates by land have fallen as
they have upon the ocean,
but land and water rates still maintain
their relative differences, as they
always must. Hence the foreign
manufacturer dealing across the ocean
with New York has an advantage by way
of frefghts, over the inland American
dealing with the same port. This
bill gives to the pig iron manufac-
turer OF Alabama protection 22h
per cent. on his product, while freight
notes and European wage conditions have
given his foreign competitors protection
of rom 135 to 200 per cent.
Aside from any question as TO rendering
useles American mind, sacrific
ing American furnaces, American
labor and capital, are yen ready
10 subject yourselves the European mo-
nopoly Of product that lies Ut the founda-
tion of the great iron and steel
industries of the United States. The
pending bill is direct blow at labor in
two ways. First IN its putting
upon the free list raw materials, so called,
and second, in falling to provide for
duties that are protective upon manufac-
turers, the products of labor.
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