Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-05
By HENRY Loomis Nelson.

IS
By HENRY LOOMS Nelson.
The protected interests have always
gained their esad by deceiving the con-
sumers upon whom tariff taxes weigh
most heavily: First-They ask for pro-
lection during infancy only. Second
They promised to the farmer a home
market, which has never been estab-
lished. Third They promised lower
prices, but at the same time came when
prices would have been lower through
the increase in the number Of Compel
ing manufacturing establishments,
protected from foreign competition by
the tariff, they forced up the price of
these goods to Americans killing do
mestic competition by the. establishment
of trusts. The motto Of the tariff-de
Tended trusts is Economy OF admins
tration for US; cheap production for us;
low prices for the foreigner; high
prices for the American; and high
profits for u.s."
Thirty years ago there was general
movement throughout the west in IA
vor of lower duties. Hardly a Repub-
lican Senator or Representative dared
to withstand the demands of the agri-
cultural regions for relief from the bur-
dens of tariff taxation. Among the
leaders of this Republican movement
for revenue reform were Garfield, AL
lison and Senator Morrill,, of Vermont.
The Democratic party, or majority OF
its members, were of course for freer
trade. The movement had every pros
pect of success.
In 1871 the House passed bill great
ly reducing rates of duty. The protect
ed industries became alarmed and in
1872 secured the repeal of the tax on
tea and coffee in order to reduce the
revenues of the government. Their OBJ
ject was to prevent the revenue reform
ers from employing the growing sur
plus to point their arguments against
protection. Having accomplished this,
in the same session they substituted for
the House bill a measure reducing tar
If taxes 10 per cent. This was hori-
zontal cut, precisely like that suggest
ed by Mr. Morrison twelve years later.
1t was scientific" when made by pro-
tectionists in 1872; it was ''unscientific"
when proposed by revenue reformers
in 1884 This 10 per cent reduction was
a cheat. The cid rates were restored
in 1875.
Congress the Tool of Protected In
dustries.
This date marks the period at which
the control of tariff legislation passed
entirely into private hands, although
private influence had been strong since
1928. The movement began with the
wool and wooden act of 1867. Since 1875
Congress has not legislated on the Ia
riff; it has simply affirmed or ratified
the DEGREES of the tariff benefeiaries of
the tariff These people have trans
formed the government into a social
ism in which they are merely the IA
vored class; they constitute the only
class. The House of Representative
passed the Mills bill of 1888, but the
Senate was then Republican and pro-
tectionists and the protected interests
turned the bill into protection mea-
sure. The popular branch of Congress
also passed the Wilson bill in 1894,
but the protected interests transformed
it in the Senate through the aid of DEM
ocratic Senators. In 1890 and in 1897
the protected interests framed the laws
named after Mckinley and Dingley, the
managing agents on the floor of the
House.
Ilome-NarI&et Decisions.
During all the years that the taxing
power of the government has been
turned over to the beneficiaries of the
tariff they have been promising the