Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-06-03
VEST ON THE TARIFF.

| TarifT, and Cites the Proposed Tax on Tea
and Increased Internal Revenue Taxes to
Strengthen His Argument.
WASHINGTON, May 26.-At ? D. m.
| yesterday Senator Aldrich, of Rhode
Island, in charge of the tariff bill. had
the measure laid before the senate. and
| took the floor for the opening speech.
AT that time every availab BILE seat in the
| galleries was occupied. The republi-
can side of the floor showed an almost
solid representation
| At the conclusion of Mr. Aldrich;s re-
marks, Senator Vest. of Missouri. DEM
ocratic member of the finance commit
tee, was recognized.
we know he said. the desperate condition
of the country, the ruined homes the blasted
hearts If prosperity can come from any source.
even our auVersarIeS, We will bless the moment
do not believe the imposition of higher tariff
duties will dispel the clouds hanging above u.s.
| bringing back the sunshine and illuminating
the whole country
1t had been said, Mr.. Vest proceeded. that
adversely came with the advent of the demo-
cratic party and prosperity with the republican
party But that adversely did not come with
the ADVENT OF the democratic party h:r. Vest
SAID ne would summon as a witness no less an
authority than Mr.. William Mckinley. The
senator read from report made by Mr. Nc
kinney April l. 1890 setting forth the distress
which the farmers of the country were suffer
ing How was it expected. the senator asked,
that by increasing the burden OF tariff taxes the
farmers would be helped to buy more goods:
All agreed that there must be sufficient rev.
enue to meet the requirements of the govern
ment that the governmea1 credit should
De sustained and her fla honored. But
every dollar collected by ttc government be-
yond its needs is crime WHY was it. Mr.,
vest asked. that the republican party was about
10 abandon its record and urge tariff not for
protection, but for the amount of revenue it
will produce? Why does it abandon its record
and propose a tax tea? The senator said
there was at this time an available balance in
the treasury of 1929 $50. $50 Deducting the gold
reserve of SI00 100000. the available balance was
Sl29,30O-650 This vast amount of idle money
was now accumulated in the treasury. And vet
the senate was told that it must impose on
suffering people additional taxes. When Pres
1dent Harrison turned over the government to
President Cleveland the treasury balance stood
at "a. l2o,o8.. To-day there was s105, OOO,OOC
more than when Mr. Harrison + rned over the
government affairs to Mr.. Cleveland. How
could this obvious fact be avoided
Gov Dingley admitted it, Mr.. Vest said, and
tried to explain it on the ground that subsidiary
coin and certain deficits were included in this
present treasury balance. But with these
items (about $50, 00O. OOO) out there remained
about S92OO0,00O available for the uses of the
government. To overcome this. Gov. DingIey
says we ought to increase the gold reserve to
~loO'OOO-OpO- Even II IQerG was q Celclb OF 800
100000 this year-which Mr.. Vest did not admit
yet there was ample in the treasury to meet
that deficit Why, then. should we hurry to
put more taxes on the people, when every dol
lar unnecessarily boarded by the government is
a crime against the people. Mr. Vest said it
was most unfortunate that the republican side
had offered no estimate of revenue until to-day.
Inquiry had been made of StatiStician Ford as
to the promised comparative statement, and he
had stated that it was turned over the senator
from Rhode Island (Aldrich).
Mr.. Vest asked what the estimate of Mr.. Ford
was on the bill
Mr.. Aldrich replied that the statistician stated
that in his opinion neither the house nor the
senate bill would furnish sufficient to meet the
expenses of the government.
Mr.. Vest, proceeding. declared that the prop
osition to raise the S31, 900 900 of revenue by a
tax on tea and increasing internal revenue was
a naked and bold abandonment of the protec-
tective policy of the republican party. Where
was the protection to the American manufac-
turer in these taxes, he asked? The senator
said that the greatest suffering in the country
was felt in. the agricultural states. With
abundant harveSts the people were without
money, and were appealing to congress for re-
lief.
Mr.. Chandler interrupted with an inquiry as
to where the vast accumulation in the treasury
to which Mr.. Vest had alluded came from.
Does the senator mean that the Wilson bill
put it there, and, if not, how did it get there:'
asked Mr.. Chandler.
we all know" answered Mr.. Vest that it
came from the issue of bonds, which I did not
approve. But it makes no difference where it
came from there it is in the treasury, and what
right have you to increase the taxes on the peo-
pie when enough is in the treasury already
The senator declared that the urgent need was
not for greater taxes, but for more money and
better prices.
The fall in prices must be stayed before there |
could be any prosperity. He mentioned as one |
source of evil that our workers were paid on q |
gold basis. and came into competition with those
paid on a silver basis.
The senator from Nevada (Stewart usually |
makes that argument. interpoSed Mr.. Gallin- |
ger, of New Hampshire. He has based it usual |
ly on Japans use of silver, and now Japan has |
repudiated silver
You mean Japan was bought out" Mr.. Stew |
art put in.
Mr.. Vest then turned to several OF the sched- !
uleS and discussed them in detail. First he |
took up the sugar schedule Ingenious tables |
could be prepared as to sugar diferentials and |
the tables of the senator from Rhode Island |
(Aldrich) were of this ingenious kind. The |
whole thing turned on one point said Mr.. Vest, |
and one but the expert inside the sugar re-
fnery able to tell this. 1t to how
much raw sugar would make 100 pounds of re-
fined sugar, and what amount of waste will |
there be. One of the Sugar trust officials had |
testified before the Lexow investigation that
profits of 81 per cent had been realized. That
amount could be made only the waste. and
the sugar expert was the only man who knew
about this waste. Without discussing the Ha-
waiian treaty Mr. Vest said it would have been
at least more honorable to propose to abrogate
the Hawaiian treaty rather than kill it indi-
rectly.
How is it possible to defend the increase Of
duty on lead asked Mr.. Vest. when the Lead
trust is making enormous profits and is deeiar-
ing u per cent. dividends on its stocks, common
and preferred? Why double the rate on lead
product going into every poor home. in order
to feed the cormorant taste of these monop-
olists:'
On earthenware and crockery, the senator
said, the increased duties were appalling. The
trainers of the bill had undertaken to make the
duties absolutely prohibitory. And this on
goods which go into every home It was OUT
r9geous oppression. the senator declared.
Referring to the wool schedule, Mr.. Vest spoke /
of the conflicting claims of the wool manufac-
turers and Mr.. Lawrence, the shepherd king
As to hides, Mr. Vest said. he warned repub-
lican senators that hides would go back on the
free list as result of thrifty New England sem
timent
In conclusion, Mr.. Vest said there was no dis
position to delay the consideration OF the bill
There would be no factious opposition and NJ
unnecessary objection.
In favor of Old Soldiers.