The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1905-01-06
TARIFF REVISk.
Governor Douglas Message
to Massachusetts House.
COST OF LIVING UP IS PER CENT.
Recommends Direct Vote of People
For or ARninst Franchises, Kind
Treatment For Poor, Leniency
Toward Unemployed.

Treatment For Poor, Leniency
Toward Unemployed.
BOSTON. Jan. Elm his message to
the Massachusetts legislature Governor
William H. Douglas declared against
the present tariff laws, urging immedi-
ate relief and stating that the present
high prices Of leather are weighing
heavily upon Massachusetts greatest
Industry. He recommended the re-
moval Of the duty on hides as neces.
sary to relieve present conditions.
The principal needs as outlined in the
message were revision Of tariff laws,
including removal of duties on hides.
Direct vote Of the people to deter
mine whether franchises shall be grant
ed
Kind treatment for beggars instead
of severe punishment
Leniency toward unemployed found
lettering instead of arrest
That those convicted of minor of
lenses should not stand committed tc
prison because Of inability to pay fine.
His message was in part as follows:
Since the passage Of the present
tariff law, in 1897, the cost of living
has increased about IS per cent AS
prices have not risen half as much In
England since 1891 It is fair to suppose
that large part of the increased cost
of living in this country is due to the
tariff law
Because Of her isolated condition as
to materials and food supplies Massa-
chusetts feels the burden of tariff taxes
more than most other states. Against
these taxes she is now vigorously pro
testing
Whether relief from these tariff
taxes be granted to us through legisla-
ton reducing tariff duties or through
reciprocal trade treaties with Canada
and other countries is less important
than that 1t be immediate.
ITO determine as accurately as pos
sible the nature and extent of the great
injury which. as | believe, is inflicted
upon our commonwealth by excessive
tariff taxes, TO suggest remedy or
remedies and to put this knowledge
before our citizens and our representa-
tlyes In congress, | ask the general
court authority TO appoint commits
sion TO inquire into and report upon the
effect Of the present tariff laws upon
Massachusetts Industries.
'"The present high and rapidly sd-
vancing prices Of leather are weighing
heavily upon Massachusetts greatest
industry, that OF boots and shoes So
great has been the advance In the cost
of making shoes that manufacturers
must soon increase their prices or use
cheaper and inferior materials and
thus reduce the quality OF their goods
The small margin for profits in many
establishments and the difficulty of
holding trade If the prices of goods are
advanced or their quality cheapened
causes great anxiety to many Of our
manufacturers. Confronted by these
conditions, the prompt removal of the
duty on hides is necessary to relieve
/ our boot and shoe manufacturers from
a most dlstressful condition
IF the people are given the right by
I direct vote to determine whether fran
/ chises shall be granted and how with
in legal limitations they shall be eXer-
I cised the seekers and holders of such
franchises will be compelled to meet
the popular requirement.
There seems To he an unreasonable
provision in the law for the unem-
/ ployed which deserves correction.
! When without work they loiter on the
/ highways they may be imprisoned
! therefor, while If they beg FOR food to
keep them alive they are likewise sub
ject TO punishment Such laws seem
/ barbarous and inhuman. and different
/ methods of treatment are demanded. |
! would suggest also an inherent evil in
the requirement of the law that those
! guilty of minor offenses should stand
committed when unable to pay a fine.
, The commitment of necessity takes
away the opportunity TO earn money
with which to pay the fine, and it
seems possible to devise system by
which such minor offenders may be al
lowed a period of probation in which
they may earn the amount Of the fine
and thus he spared imprisonment
Il believe that unfortunates, the hun
CRY, the unemployed and the intoXi-
Gated should not be taken to a cell
when door of charity is open to them
and improvements may be hoped fol
without Imprisonment. Some discre-
ton may also be vested in the police to
take offenders TO their homes rather
than to cells and even to release them
under proper safeguards from appear
ance In court"
Santnn,aH EAw Itca