Kansas City journal., 1897-05-26

IL NAN A'-AD -
in which cattle are raised have been for
many years insisting THAI duty on hides
should find place IN a tarln hill which
terests. This condition has been resisted
by the tanners of the country, who be-
| lieVed that il would place an unnecessary
burden upon their important industry.
shall not attempt to enter IN detail into
the reasons which led the Gommlttee 20
suggest the imposition Of the duty. Speak
ing for myself. / believe that the fears
which have been so emphatically expressed
as TO the injurious effects Of the duty nave
been largely oVerestimated. and that no
very serious burden will be placed upon
either the tanning, the leather or me boH5
and shoe industry If the amendment should
Many changes are suggested in the free
list. Among the more notable OF these Is a
recommendation to return to the liberal
provisions of existing law with regard 10
the free Importation Of books, works cl art
etc. under certain conditions.
AT the time the bill was reported from
the committee. / stated in their behalf that
an amendment looking TO the more rapid
development and extension OF reciprocal
trade with foreign countries would be re
ported from the committee at later day.
The committee has not Yet found the op-
portunity to prepare such an amendment:
1t seemed TO them that the prpNlslous OF
the house bill in this respect would not
prove effective. 1t is the purpose or the
committee to prepare ii PROVISION MHlth
will enable the government of the United
States. within certain liked limits ana WITH
out further legislative action 10 enter upon
arrangements or to negotiate reciprocity
treaties looking to an extension OF our Tor
eign trade.
The Reciprocity Policy.
"In suggesting the striking out of the
house provision. the committee had no pur-
pose of abandoning the Republican reel
procity policy. They hope to be able 10
suggest such provisions as will enable our
government to greatly extend that poncy
and make its adOptlOn permanent.
The committee also hopes, before the bill
passes from the consideration OF the senate
to be able to present certain needed amend
mentS to the customs administration law.
In conclusion. Mr.. AldIich said:
The Industrial system OF lhe Onlteu
States is growing more and more com
pick every year. 1t is becoming more
difficult every year to satisfy. in a tarln
revision. conflicting claims of sections, or
so to adjust rates as to do no injustice
to any of the varied interests of this
great country. The revision OF para
graphs and rates recommended by the
committee are undoubtedly far from sat
isfactOry in many cases to interested par
ties The amendments recorded represent
the consensus of opinion of majority OF
the members of the committee. We have
no pride of opinion or authorship IN re-
gard TO any of the provisions reported.
We have given careful consideration 10
the numerous important questions IN
volved in the various schedules. We pre-
sent TO the senate the result OF our IA
bOTs. and shall Cheerfully accept your
judgment as to the wisdom Of our conclu-
Mir. Aldrich closed at 1:1O p. m, having
spoken a little over an hour;
Mr.. PettigreW presented the amendment
of which he had heretofore given notice
a trust, articles of such character import
ed from abroad shall be free OF duty.
He said he would ask its consideration i'm
mediately after the committee amend
Senator Vests Speech.
Mr.. Vest. Democratic member Of the
finance committee, was then recognlzed;
dition of the country. the ruined homes,
the blasted hearts. If prosperity can come
from any source, even from our adversa-
ries we will bless the movement. | DO
not believe the imposition OF higher tarlH
duties will dispel the clouds hanging above
us, bringing back the sunshine and lllu-
minating the whole country"
1t has been said. Mr.. Vest continued. that
adversely came with the advent of the
Democratic party and prosperity with the
Republican party. But that adversely dld
cratic party. Mr.. Vest said he would sum-
mon a witness no less an authority thdn
Mr.. William Mckinley. The senator read
from a report made by Mr.. Mckinney ApTll
! 1890, setting forth the distress which the
farmers of the country were suffering. How
was it expected. the senator asked. that
by increasing the burden of tarin taxes
the farmers would be helped to buy more
goods? All agreed that there must be sur
ticient revenue to meet the requirements
of the government, that government creuil
shall be sustained and her nag honored.
But dollar collected Dy lle govern
ment beyond its needs is a crime.
Why was it, Mr.. Vest asked, that the
Republican party was about to abandon
its record and urge tariff, not Tor pro-
lection, but for the amount of revenue
it will produce? Why does it abandon its
record and propose tax on teaE Ihe
senator said there was at this time an
available balance in the treasury of s229.-
350.650. DeduCting the gold reserve OF SlO,-
0O0G00. the available balance was Sl29, 500
$50. This vast amount of idle money was
now accumulated in the treasury. And
yet the senate was told that il must i'm
pose on our suffering people additional
taxes. When President Harrison turned
over the government to President Cleye-
land. the treasury balance stood at S4.-
12S,0S7. To-day there was SlO9O90OOO more
than when Mr.. Harrison turned over the
government affairs to MIR. Cleveland. How
could this obvious fact he avoided?
Governor Dingley admitted it. Mr.. Vest
said, and tried TO explain It on the ground
that subsidiary coin and certain dehicits
were included in this present treasury bal
ance. But with these items about $50
OO0.OOO out there remained about $1,000,
600 available for the uses of the govern
ment. To overcome this. Governor Ding
ley says we ought to increase the gold
a deficit of so 600. 900 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 dollar unneces-
sarily boarded by the government IS
crime against the people, Mr.. Vest said
| il was most unfortunate that the Repub-
| lican side had offered no estimate of rev.
enue until to-day. Inquiry had been made
| of StatistiCian Ford as to the promised
| comparative statement and he had stat
| ed that il was turned over to the senator
| from Rhode Island (Aldrich).
Mr.. Vest asked what the estimate of
Mr.. Ford was on the oiIi.
| 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 gov
ernment.
Protective Policy Abandoned.
Mr., Vest, proceeding. declared that the
proposition to raise 81. 600 0O0 of revenue
| by a tax on tea and Increasing internal
revenue was a naked and bold abandon
/ ment of the protective policy of the Re-
| publican party. Where was the projection
| to American manufacturers in these taxes,
he asked
| The senator said that the greatest suf-
fering i'm the country was felt in the ag-
| ricultural states. With abundant harvests
| the people were without money and were
| appealing TO congress for relief.
| Mr.. Chandler interrupted with an inQUi-
~ as to what the vast accumulation in the
| treasury to which Mr.. Vest had alluded
to came from.
| hill put it there. and if not, how did it get
| there?" asked Mr.. Chandler.
| I'VE all know answered Mr.. Vest, that
| N came from the sale of bonds which did
not approve. but il makes no Inference
where il came from. There il is in the
| treasury, and. what right have you to
| increase the taxes on the people when
| enough is in the treasury already
| The senator declared that the urgent need
ls for rqlsn 10