The evening times., 1897-08-07
WORK OF THE EXTRA SESSION
j. Hamilton Lewis Thinks Its Best
Act Was to Adjourn.

Representative j. Hamilton Lewis, OF
Washington. left yesterday for his home'
where he win remain until the approach
OF the regular session Of Congress In
talk with a Times reporter before his de-
parture Mr. Lewis discussed the recent ses-
sion of Congress and its labors entertain
lngly. Among other things, he said:
1T is with regret that 1 am forced to
acknowledge that the recent extra session
of Congress has not passed "A measure FOR
the benefit of the many who were In need
of legislation, while every measure that
has passed is wholly in favor OF the Few
who can well do without governmental
aid. That such is true a concise reference
TO the legislation will demonstrate. Toilius-
trate, the tariff bill. Sugar, necessary
commodity to the poor, is made the sub
ject of a tax of $36 600, 900 year, all
of which goes absolutely into the pockets OF
the Sugar Trust, the revenue OF the Gov
eminent not reaching 5000 900 out OF
this sum. similar tax made in the
Wilson bill, but only half as high as that
in the Dingley bill brought forth from the
Republican member of the Ways and Means
Committee-(ien. Payne, of New York-the
following criticism: ''Itis q tax by actual
coml utation of one dollar TO every man in
the United States, 1t is laid upon the break
fast table OF the poor, yielding not cent
to the Government. but goesinto the private
fortunes OF the sugar magnates III
true then, the only difference now is that
the favor is doubled so that the tax is
81 upon every poor mans breakfast table
instead of 81 and l must add upon those
breakfast tables which never knew the
luxury OF a table cloth.
"A tax of So to the mill companies on
white pine or house finishing lumber, with
nothing In the world to compete against T.,
is, as Governor Pingree, the Republican
governor oil Michigan, Gays, "a contribu-
ton of S2b out of the pocket OF every
poor man who attempts to build house
or barn 10 the lumber trusts Of the North
west" The wheat farmer finds his wheat
taxed the whole benefit of the increased
market, the full extent of the raised
price cr wheat; the Southern farmer s
bagging and cotton ties are taxed for the
benefit of the manufacturers in excess
of the amount of the increase of the price
of cotton
Admitting that the tariff should he
sufficient to raise complete revenue for
the Government necessary uses, so long
as form of indirect tax can be tolerated
at all, il is the manner of the laying OF
the tax that produces the great Injustice.
| assert, aud has. it upon the schedule Of
the tariff bill, that there is not one single
object now under control of the trusts
which manipulate prices to their own
pleasure hat what has been taxed higher
than has ever been laid before in an Y other
bill, with 95 per cent OF the amount
going to the manufacturers, peg cent
to the Government, and per cent To
the officeholders.
Three million and a half dollars TO the
Lead Trust, to he paid by every man who
attempts to paint his house: two million
and a half as an absolute premium to
the heef packers, such as Armour X Co..:
while three and half million is given
to the Leaf her Trust out of the tax on
hides, who exact it from every man who
buys shoes, particularly of the common
grade. Tie tax on wool gives a profit Of
100000 absolute fignres, to the wool
manufacturers, who collect it out OF the
common grades of wool which, OF course,
is paid hy the poor, W no buy cheap clothes.
Not more than three million of this whole
sum can the farmer get the benefit of,
averaging not enough to each individual
farmer WHO grows wool to pay the freight
OF the shipment from his farm to any
market, however near. and yet he is To
be to- a tnat this tax is for his benefit In
the manner it is laid.
1T viii be recalled from the Con-
Cressional Record and public press that
these different items and statements Were
by me TO the distinguished gentlemen,
Messrs. Dingley and Grosvenor, having
charge of these items; that the former gen
tleman refused to answer these questions.
aud that the latter said that he did not
Know whether my figures were correct;
that he dill not dispute them, and that h
did not care
The bill is framed to exact 81 so, 600 900
OF taxes from the people. The question
is, can a man be made more prosperous by
taxing him an extra 81 so per month, aud
providing him not a dollar to pay the
tax; or if We admit the claim of the Me
KinleyiUes, that the tariff will raise the
price CT the product, what is the diff
ference to the producer to have the price of
his product raised certain per cent, il
the Government is to tax that increased
amount. or more, from him. Does he not
remain In his original condition, GO worse?
1 assert that no permanent prosperity can
follow the prescribing of higher prices to
the consumer to pay for what he is to
obtain, and with less money afforded him
to purchase with.
Among Mr.. McKinley's front-porch
speeches was the axiom, Close the mints
fh.a oil I.,ti In,
TO the Manufacturers Club, at PhiladeI-
phia. two months ago, excusing the present
condition, he said: 1T does not matter
how many mills you open, if the people
have no money to buy with The latter
was an admission which disposes OF the
subject, but as a statement from our
side OF the question in the Campaign fl
was flouted. 1t is now acknowledged a
little too late.
II see no prospect for silver I'm this
country under the present Administration
but, to the contrary, the prospect is for
the retirement of the greenbacks and a
contraction of the present supply of money.
with the adoption OF the gold standard,
which means limited supply of money.
I'VE have conference commission sent
abroad; 1t is the fifth one we have had.
They averaged in expense S114 900 apiece.
with the printing of their reports, agcre-
eating 100000. We are now paving
81 ,oOo to the present foreign commis-
sion, and another ST 90, 900 for the local
commission to meet at Indianapolis; $780,
600 for commissions to inform us whether
we shah have more money or not, and, if
SO, what kind-instead of applying that
S1O0,oO0 to lessen the taxation upon the
people TO that extent and nrnceedinp with