The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-01
TO VOTE FOR IT.
Congressman BrOderick Makes
Wry Face
Over the Tariff Bill, Which
Does Not Protect
A Single Kansas Industry OF
ANY Description.
WILL GULP 1T DOWN
Because He Hopes Dimly That
It May DO Good
To the Country at Large
Kansas Neglected.
WILL GULP 1T DOWN

Washington. June 1.-Congressman
Case Brodericll, speaking of the tariff
bill. says:
Some of my constituents seem to
think that I should vote against the
tariff bill if it comes back to the house
in anything like its present condition.
1t is. therefore, only fair and reason
BILE that should make frank state
ment of my position in regard to this
legislation I have done all L could to
secure tax on gypsum rock. This
is prOba bly, more important to the peo-
pie of Kansas THAI any other item in
the tariff bill, and a customs duty on
the raw material would mean millions
of dollars to the people of my state
The senate committee on finance,
however. has refused to give US any
thing more than dollar and fifty cents
per ton on manufactured gypsum, lea-v-
ing the raw material on the free list.
This means a continuation of the
present policy Of patrOnizing the own
ers of gypsum beds located in Nova
Scotia and Canada. BY the assistance
of cheap water transportation the New
York manufacturers are able to pur-
chase the raw gypsum in Nova Scotia
and Canada and run it down to New
York on vessels to their manufactures
at a very low cost. With unlimited de-
p0sits of gypsum in Michigan, Kansas,
Ohio and other western states it seems
to me that it is the plain duty of the
Republican party to place a duty on
develop this great industry in our
country
The tax of a dollar and fifty cents
per ton on the finished product amounts
TO no protection at all so far as our
people are concerned. 1t is exactly
similar to that which existed in regard
to lumber when the manufactured pro
duct was on the dutiable list and the
crude timber was allowed to come in the
United States from Canada free of
duty The result was that no lumber
was manufactured on the other side of
the lakes, all of the Canadian product
being shipped to the United States in |
logs and then manufactured. The same |
condition now exists in regard to gyp-
sum.
Another important change which I
have hoped and believed the senate
would make in the bill is an increase in
the tariff on lead in pigs and bars,
which is only subject to a tax of cents
per pound, while lead ore is assessed
11a cents per pound There is invested
in smelling factories in Kansas City,
St Louis and Omaha at least S2OOO0,0 600
which have been closed practically for
the last three or four years wholly on
account of the Democratic tariff bill
which reduced the duty on manufac-
tured lead. Now it is very plain to me
that unless a change in this schedule IS
made it will result in the removal of
our factories across the Rio Grande
and the manufacture of this article on
the Mexican side, giving employment
There should be some equalization of |
the duty on the raw and manufactured
products of lead
The tariff on hides is not at all sat /
isfactory. 1t provides for a cent and
one-half per pound on hides of cattle, !
raw or uncured, whether dried, or salt |
ed or picked This is very ambiguous !
as certainly the duty on the dried or |
picked hides would be far less than on |
a raw or uncured hide, yet the senate |
finance committee does not seem dis |
posed to make any change whatever.
Il am opposed to the high tax on tea |
and also to the sugar schedule. There |
should be no increase in the internal /
revenue tax on beer while that on whis-
key should be increased rather than di-
Eninished from it's present figure.
THE wOOlen schedule is in my opinion /
TOO high and there are other features
OF the bill which are far from SatiSfac-
tory 1 am strongly in favor of a tax
on checks, drafts and receipts. In my
judgment the amount of revenue which
could be derived from such a source !
would be far greater than that from tea,
and the increase proposed on sugar
and at the same time would not affect |
the labOring man in the United States |
one particle
This I believe would be the most
popular step the Republican party
could take at the present time, and
would be applauded by the American |
people without regard to section. The |
rich would not notice a small tax of |
from two to five cents on every check
VI receipt S1NElts II NOulQ lOICe out DI |
the banks vast sums of money and put |
1t into circulation; it would stimulate
confidence and go long way towards
making conditions easier.
Notwithstanding this objection how |
ever, / could not afford to vote against |
the bill. There is no doubt the one be-
fore the senate will produce sufficient
revenue to meet current expenses; this
the Wilson bill has utterly and abso-
lutaly failed to do. My constituents are
not in favor of running the government |
on the credit system and they would |
prefer the proposed law, even with its
Irregularities to the one which is now |
running the government deeper and /
deeper in debt every day it remains on /
the statute books.
"Of course, during the last few
months the Wilson bill has produced |
enough revenue to meet current ex-
penses, but that is because of the enor-
nous impOrtatiOns which always pre-
cede the passage of Republican tariff |
bill and should there be no tariff leg
IslatiOn at all, the revenue of the gov
eminent during the next two years /
would fall from so to so million dollars |
below its expenses annually.
For this reason I am willing to vote
for the Republican tariff bill and sup |
port it. for it will at least remedy one /
Of the greatest evils that has been Gre
lted by the Wilson bill.
Il sincerely hope, however, that be
lore the house is called upon to take 4
inal vote on this great measure, the OBJ
ectionable features Will be minimized
md that the Republicans from every 4
section without regard to geographical |
ocatfon can unhesitatingly cast their
7otes for a Republican tariff bill, which