Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1897-07-09
DUTY OF CONGRESS.
ZINES UPON WHICH THE TARIFF
,.-,.~s SHOULD BE DRAWN.

Republican National Platform Very spo-
ciao-Protect American Labor, Industry
and shipping-Party's Policy Will Pro-
vide Ample Revenue.
+ The following paragraphs from the
Republican platform Of 1896 are per-
fectly clear and indicate what should
be expected of congress in proposed
tariff legislation:
"We renew and emphasize our allegi-
ance to the policy Of protection as the
bulwark Of American industrial indie
pendence and the foundation Of Ameri-
can development ord prosperity.
ave favor restoring the American
policy of discriminating duties for the
upbuilding Of our merchant marine and
the protection of our shirping in the
foreign carrying trade, SO that Amcri-
can sbips--the product of American la
bcr, employed III American shipyards.
sailing under the stars and stripes. and
Manned: differed and owned by Amer
icans-may regain the carrying Of our
foreign commerce..
We recognize the great difficulty in
preparing tariff bill which may be ap-
plicable to all sections Of the country
and to all industrial interests, but We
believe that the duty Of congress is:
First.-To pass such an act as will
restore prosperity.
Second. -Such an act as will produce
sufficient revenue for the needs Of the
government. economically admins
tered.
>. The members Of the senate finance
committee and of the ways and means
committee of the present congress de-
serve and will receive the thanks of the
nation for their painstaking efforts and
arduous labors in the preparation OF the
tariff bill. We have no desire to criti-
else any section of either the house bill
or the senate bill, but we feel that, in
the consideration of schedules and the
annoying details of the same, the prin-
ciples underlying protective tariff and
the instructions CT the platform Endorsed
BY the people of the United States have
not been followed in their entirety.
We believe it to be the duty Of con-
gress to pass a law upon the following
lines:
First.-That import duties shall be
placed upon all competitive articles
equal to the difference in the cost Of
production between this and competing
countries, thus protecting American
labor and adequately securing Ameri-
can industrial products against the COM
! petition Of foreign labor.
Second.-That discriminating duties
in favor of goods brought here in Amer
ican bottoms, the principles Of which
are enunciated in the Elkins bill, shall
be made portion Of the proposed tariff
| bill.
| Third.-lf a bill framed upon the
lines indicated above will not produce
! the revenue needed, low revenue tar
! if should be placed upon all goods now
upon the free list, or what is generally
known as the noncompetitive list.
A protective tariff bill upon this ba-
sis would provide adequate protection
| to oil American industries and secure
ample revenue, thus. carrying out the
pledge Of the Republican party to re-
| new prosperity. This bill should be
drawn upon national lines, not local;
| it should BE- drawn on lines represent
ing all industries, not individual in
dustries, aud it should be drawn upon
lines which will carry out the pledge OF
the party of protection.