Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-05-31
WASHINGTONLETTER
SENATOR CULBERSON SCORES
ALDRICH TARIFF BILL.
Not for the Government or the peO-
pie, but for the Trusts, Says Cul-
berSOn. Texas Senator Shows
How Trusts Are Allowed to Fleece
the People.

WASHINGTON, d. c., May 27.---
After the senate had condescended to
brawlng over the rights and privi-
leges of some of its members to talk
and keep talking in and out of sea-
son, CulbertsOn, of Texas, leader OF
the minority, got chance to put in
few good, homely licks. He i'm
proved the occasion by delivering the
most powerful argument in behalf of
the cause of the great mass of people
that the senate has heard in many
a day. The Aldrich tariff bill, he
showed, is not designed as a measure
to raise revenue for the government,
and no more is it designed as meas
ure for the benefit of the people. 1t
is designed to continue the power Of
the trusts to collect $500. 100000 a
year from the people. They have
done this under the Dingley bill,
which imposed an average and va
lOl CHi IolC VI 11.cc pei NShe' uPOh oli
articles They will collect more un-
der the new bill, for it imposes an
average ad valorem rate of 46.45.
When Culberson, rose saying he
would deal with the fundamental
principles of the democratic party"
he added that he would mot long
detain the senate.
81 fear that it will take some time
to deal with such weighty sub
ject," remarked Mr.. Aldrich, sotto
voice, but with feeling.
This remark the Texas Senator in
terpreted as meaning that the chair
man of the Finance committee did
not approve a long speech from him
at that time, and he manifested some
spirit in his reply. 81 intend to Oc-
cupy as much time" he said, "as
wish to-"
Culberson went deeply into the
matter of democratic principles, and,
getting down to the bill, said:
Whatever may be thought of the
several schedules of the pending tar
iff bill, the measure as a whole is
avowedly constructed on the princi-
pie of protection; that is, on the
principle that the power of the gov
ernment may be used to tax i'm
ports not primarily to raise revenue
to support the government, but prim-
arily to protect American producers
and manufacturers against foreign
competition, whereby the price of the
home articles to American consub-
ers is enhanced to the extent of the
tax.
| BY legislative decree, by operation
Of law, a burden is laid upon consum-
erS not based upon natural trade con-
ditions, not their share of the eX-
penditures of government, but is lev
led for the sole purpose of augment
ing the profits and private fortunes
of manufacturers and producers.
This is the republican doctrine of
protection stripped of sophistry and
establishment. 1t is founded netth-
er in constitutional nor moral right
and is opposed to the nature the
spirit and the genius of our institu-
tions.
Individual democrats may doubt
less be found who believe in free
trade or in protection, yet the demo-
cratic party believes in neither. IT.
stands for a revenue tariff and is op-
posed to a protective tariff. Under
whatever grant of Federal power it
is sought to be justified, a tariff law
which compels the great body of con-
sumers of the country to pay mere
tribute to those from whom they pur-
chase is a gross and palable prostitu-
ton of legislative authority.
The average existing ad valorem
rate on all articles is 44.SS per cent.
In 1906 tariff taxes actually paid on
81 groups of articles We're 100 per
cent. or over. 1t has been estimated
iby a leading republican and protect
| ionist, that under the Dingley act the
people pay to the protected interests
annually a mere tribute or subsidy
of $5OO,0O0,000. This is practically
divided among the trusts, among
them the sugar trust receiving $2O,-
600, 600, the oil trust $40, 100000 and
the steel trust $S0,0O0,000 yearly.
notwithstanding the exorbitant rate
now imposed, the pending bill car
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