The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-28
Entered at the postoffice at Raleigh
~. G.. as second-class matter.
NOW THE TARIFF PROMISE WAS BROKEN

The first tariff law, passed lOS years
.yo. smposed an average tax Of eight
per cent. the highest rate being hfteen
uer cent. McKinley's tariff of abomina-
sion. was forty-seven per cent, While the
nfngIey tariff exceeds fifty-six per cent.
This shows that the Republican party
violated its platform declaration at st.
Touis on the tariff, the platform SAID:
I'VE demand such an equitable
tariff on foreign imports which come
into competition with American pro-
ducts as will not only furnish ade-
ouate revenue for the necessary ex-
nenses of the government, but will
5,rot,Act American labor from degrade
fion to the wage level of other lands.
We are not pledged to any particular
schedules"
In recent speech in the Senate, COM
nenting ON this plank, Senator Teller
said. ''This l was assured at the time
was for the purpose of convincing the
American people that we were not go
ing to re-enact- the Mckinley law" Not
only was Senator Teller assured at
the time but the leading Republican
speakers declared in favor of moderate
rates Of protection, and the party was
virtually pledged to enact a tariff tax
not so high as the Mckinley law. 1t
ss exceeded about ten per cent.
The platform claimed the right to
enact a protective tariff only to protect
American labor from degradation to the
wage level of other lands" and tariff
carrying out that pledge would have
been endorsed by everybody except the
gnen who are to get the big pulp given
70 the favorites. While the bill was
pending Senator Gray offered an amend
ment that tested whether the tariff
makers wanted to protect American
labor or give big bounties to heavy
campaign contributors. The amend
znent was promptly voted down. In
,yiew of the claims that will be made for
ahe new tariff, the amendment ought to
be known to all. 1t was in these
words:
aThat any citizen of the United
States residing within the United
States, who shall be a consumer Of
any article imported from foreign
countries upon which any rate of
duty is levied pursuant to the pro-
visions, hereinbefore, contained, shall
have u right to present to the Secre-
tary of the Treasury petition show
ing that such rate of duty is in excess
of the entire cost of the wages which
were paid or payable in the manufac-
Ture of such article. The Secretary
\ Of the Treasury shall thereupon
cause inquiries to be made into the
truth of the allegation of such peu-
ton. and if it shall be made to ap-
rear TO him that such allegations are
true. he shall have the power, and IT
shall be his duty, to reduce the rate
of duty upon the article mentioned
in said petition to a rate which shan
not exceed the entire cost or such
wages. No duty in excess of such
amount shall be levied, collected, or
paid upon any such articles which
shall be imported from foreign coun-
tries or withdrawn from consumption
sixty days after the date of the de-
cision upon such petition"
The man who voted against tina
amendment virtually admitted that pro
faction to American labor" was the pre-
dense under which he served the trust
and monopolies.