Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-07-22
THE TARIFF BILL.
Democratic Conferees Analyxe the
Measure.
They Argue that It Must Fan of Its Own
Weight-Not Designed to Raise
Revenue But to Pro-
fect Trusts.

WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE repub-
hcan senators made no less than ST.
amendments to the tariff bill as it came
from them to the republican house. In
other words, the DiDgley bill, upon
which the gag of Tom Reed prevented
democratic debate in the house. could
not secure the vote of a republican SEN
ate without 81 changes being made in
Its provisions The democratic repre-
sentatives were allowed but a few hours
IN which to express their opposition
10 the measure. They were denied de-
pate and the right of proposing amend
ments- The bill was railroaded through
the house by order for the previous
question, upon the passage of the bill
as a whole; and this in spite of the
mandate OF the constitution that bills
for the raising of revenue shall origi-
nate in the house of representatives
and, pres umably, shall be debated
therein.
As the bill is now, and as it will
finally go upon the statute books, it is
the work of the republican party. What
ever changes may be made in confer
ence will be entirely the work of the
republican conferees. The democratic
conferees have been notified that they
will be sent for if they are needed.
The rule that important legislation
is the result of some degree of compro-
mise therefore finds no example in the
pending tariff. 1t is the work of trusts
and of manufacturing combines, with
no opportunity given the representa-
tives of the people in the lower house
to modify or reduce the burdens inn
posed upon the people at their demand.
The tariff bill has to a remarkable
degree solidified the democrats in both
houses. The democratic expression
is unanimous that the new tariff is by
far the worst the country has ever
been afflicted with. The correspond
ent has talked with democratic
leaders in congress and their views
will be found of interest. They voice
but one belief-that experience will
prove that the new tariff is nothing
short of a public calamity.
WORSE THAN THE M'KINLEY BILL.
Senator Faulkner, of West Virginia,
who was chairman of the Democratic
national congressional committee in
the last campaign, said:
1.-The Dingley bill may be said to be even a
departure from the principles of protection
maintained by the republican party. 1t does
not stop at seeking to compensate for the diff
ference in the cost of material or labor in
ticles with which our manufacturers come into
competition (Which has heretofore been the
principle publicly advocated by republicanS),
but it goes far beyond this. and fixes the rates
of duty with a view to excluding all but the
higher grade OF goods from foreign countries,
so that the American manufacturer may in
crease the price abnormally and beyond all rea-
son his manufactured product. The average
ad valorem rate of the Mckinley bill 40
per cent; of the Wilson bill, 80; of the present
bill. as IL passed the house, about So. As it
passed the senate Ii is admitted that it will be
at least 81 per cent and many experts believe it
will reach IS, when the republicans have fin
ished tinkering with it in conference.
This enormous increase OF taxation over
that imposed during the civil war and the sue
ceeding years can find no excuse or justiaca-
ton whatever. Every article Of prime neces-
sity to the people has been studiously selected
as the one upon which to put high rates. The
bill will be known in history as the second bill of
denominations passed by an American congress.
Every trust and great combination of capital has
been singled out as an especial favorite in the
framing Of the schedules, from the great Sugar
trust, that controls almost all the product Of
refined sugar in this country ian article which
goes upon the table of every family, to the
Lead trust, whose product is used by every
householder. To these monopolies the people
are made to pay tribute in excess Of anything
known in the history of the country.
This tarin bill must fall of its own weight
Public sentiment will rebel against its exac-
tions; and although the currency question
will necessarily, in the present and in the
future campaigns, be the dominant issue, hun
dreds of thousands of voters will express their
condemnation of such taxation by voting for
the party that represents the greatest good to
the greatest number and whose organization
is not subservient to the wishes of a favored
class.
THE Wilson bill during the last year comes
within three million dollars of the receipts esti
mated for It when ii passed The receipts
under it have grown year by year since its
actment. until for the present year there is left
a deficit OF but twenty-five million dollars We
had a surplus in the treasury over and above
the hundred million gold reserve amounting to
O hundred and forty-two millions on the first
day of July. This money should be in circula-
tion and not boarded in the treasury. With two
hundred and forty million dollars lying idle in
the government vaults. excuse exists for in
creaSing the burden Of taxation upon our peO-
pie when business is Frustrated and enterprise
paralyzed."
The democratic conferees of the senate are
Messrs. Vest. Jones. of Arkanas, and White.
These senators followed every detail of the bill
during its tedious discussion in the senate. and
speak with authority in their estimates Of the
bill
PROTECTION DECREASES REVENUE.
Mr.. Vest says:
the bill, it seems very certain that there will
be no surplus revenue produced by it for the
next year at least The protective system car
ried to it's legitimate result must decrease the
revenue OF the country.
Whenever you reach the protective point
YOU diminish imports; and when you diminish
imports you decrease revenue. With demo-
Gratis who believe that should impose a
tariff upon imports for revenue only there
ought TO be no difficulty in constructing a tariff
measure but even with those who believe in
tariff for revenue only there always comes in
the greed and avarice of local and individual
interests When you undertake to reconcile
protection and revenue this evil is immensely
increased. because every producer in the coun-
try Immediately claims that he has the right to
protection if it is accorded TO anybody else
.Nr Manning. when secretary of the treas
11ry secured the most eminent statisticianS in
the United States, without regard TO politics,
and they made a careful examination as 70 the
question of how many Of the people OF the
United States with their labor and products.
came in competition directly or indirectly with
foreign labor and products They reported
with singular unanimity that but five per cent
labor and products. came in competition with
the labor and products OF foreign countries;
and vet with that small proportion OF the people
of the United States to be protected IL Is i'm
Y,oSsible TO construct n tariff bill for protec-
tiou and for revenue without giving a large pre-
nonderance TO protection. When you under
fake TO construct a tariff for protection you de-
efrov revenue, because, in order 20 meet the
demands of those who seek protection. you are
-om uelleS 70 put the duties high as to ex-
cn,de the foreign product and keepit from COM