The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-22
Statements of Free-Trade Congress-
men and Newspapers Proved to he
False and Misleading.
OFFICES FOR REPUBLICANS
POsTMAsTERS At MADISON AND DEL
PHI IA DANGER or REMOVAL.
Ex-Eeprescntative LciEhty booked
for Pension Agent at indianapolis
NowIin to he Revenue COLLECTOR.
necial tc tLe Indiananolis journal.

Special tc tic Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. March 2l---The fact that
the new tariff bill is based largely upon
the Mckinley law is leading Democratic
congressman and editors TO a revival OF the
false and misleading statements in which
they have at various tines asserted that the
Mckinley law was failure as revenue
producer. 1t may be worth while, now that
the new bill. based upon that law. is to be
discussed in detail. and now that these
charges are being revived at the very be-
ginning of the discussion. to show just
what the law did i'm the matter of revenue
production.
The Mckinley law went into operation
Oct /. 1850 On Nov 6. 1892. a free-trade
Congress and President elected under
a pledge of a repeal of the Mikinley act
and the abolition OF protective duties. On
March 4, 1893, President Cleveland was in
augurated AID the country expected from
that moment forward repeal of the Nc
Kinley law and a substitution Of low tariff
rates for the protective duties which 1t
had maintained. The Congress which was
pledged to the reduction OF these duties
met in special session Aug Z, 1893 and be-
gan its work of destruction of the McKin-
ley law, the ways and means committee
appointed at that special session beginning
the preparation of the low tariff measure.
During all the months following the elec-
tion and inauguration of President Cleve-
land the country was in state of financial
panic and collapse business was suspended,
banks were tumhling and people were omit
ting to purchase imported goods. thus re-
ducing the importations and consequently
reducing the revenue Yet up 10 the very
day that the free-trade Congress met. nine
months after the country had ordered the
enactment of low tariff rates, the Mckinley
law supplied. it had done during its en-
tire existence, ample revenues for the run
ming expenses of the government. Even
in the face of the panic which swept over
the country after the election and inaugu-
ration of Cleveland and in the face of the
great reduction of importations which was
consequent upon the panic and the prospec-
tive change in the tariff rates. it held its
own ground as a revenue producer until
the free-trade Congress INST and the work
OF its destruction was looked upon as actu-
ally begun In but single month from
the date of its enactment, in 1880, until the
meeting of the free-trade Congress. in Au-
gust, 1883. did it produce less than sl.coO-
900 revenue for each business day. From
the date of the meeting of the free-trade
Congress, in no single month. except in
the last one of its existence. did IL pro-
duce an average of s1.OOO.oOO. The line OF
its failure is sharply marked as absolutely
| coincident with that of the meeting OF the
| free-trade Congress called TO destroy IL.
| That Congress met Aug. z. 1889. During
| the seven months of that year preceding its
| meeting the receipts under the Mckinley
| law averaged 100000 per month, while
| during the remaining five months OF that
| year, following the meeting of that Con-
| gress the receipts averaged less than s2i.-
| 600 600 per month. Here are the receipts.
| month by month, during the calendar year.
| 1893 The free-trade Congress met to begin
| its attack on the Mckinley law Aug. Z.
| Observe the fall in the receipts from that
| date