The Washington herald., 1909-01-02
RANDALL ASSAILS
PLAN FOR TARIFF
Democrat Says Public Must
Take Best It Can Get.
SPECIAL INTERESTS CONTROL
Believes Schedules VIII BE Revised,
but Insists the Burden of the Pro-
sened and that Attempt to Equal
ize Taxation VIII Be Limited.

That the people OF the country must
take the tariff revision 10 be allowed BY
Congress as the best they can get. Is the
statement made by Representative c. 3.
Randall. a Democratic member Of the
Ways and Means Committee, in a review
OF the work done by that body so far
preparatory 10 changing the present tar
iE schedules.
The position Of the Republican pa-ty,
and the special interests with which Il IS
aligned. should receive the closest sc-u-
tiny by all faIr-minded men" said Mr.
Randall. The scheme Of revising The
taTin is, as usual. full Of deception, and
Il IS quite clear that the toiling masses
IN this country VIII be left 10 the tender
mercies OF incorporated wealth
A taTin law has but one constitutional
function, namely, 10 raise rsvenus 10
pay the expenses OF the government: but.
with the Repuolican party the frsI con-
sideratioR is TO satisfy the yrus. mag
mates who keep = in control Of pubic
affairs. The party IS drunk with power.
and the trusts. confident OF their new
lease upon the resources OF the country.
are exUltingiy defiant
Burden Net LeSsened.
The tariff. VIII be revised. but the
burden OF the producing masses viii not
be lessened, nor viii there be any effect
ual attempt TO equalize the burden OF
taxation 20 al Parts OF the country. The
tariff can be revised with q great show
OF reduction IN duties. yet the result VIII
suit the convenience. and in no way
lessen the income. OF the monopoIisuc
interests which are beins, and VIII be.
consulted IN framing the bill
The welfare Of the people viii receive
little consideration The consolidation OF
influences TO control the government By
the Republican party Is the dominant
purpose. / am not posing as a prophet !
but simply call attention 10 conditions as
they exist
1t is a question Of bargain and sale I
The trusts claim that they have continued I
the Republican party in power. and are
therefore entitled 10 the opportunity Of 4
continuing their plInder OF the people /
From the standpoint Of honor among /
thieves the trusts have evidently a good +.
case.
To perpetrate fraud and steal aGvan- 4
tages by means Of tricks with tariff bills
IS a much pTaCticed and lucrative indus 4
Try For example. the farmers and cat
tlemen were cajoled with a tariff plum
OF duty on cattle hides in the Dingley /
bil. and they have only recently discOv-
cred that. by Republican construction, q \
large majority Of the cattle hides i'm
ported are admitted free Of duty. The
scheme now IS by encouraging the idea
OF free hides. leather and leather prod
uctS, harness, shoes, &c 10 put hides on
the free list and reduce The tariff on
leather and leather products Just enough
10 prohibit importauIons. thereby collect
ing 10 revenue for the government and
sCbjecting the farmers and stock men 90
the rapacity Of the harness and shoe
America Leads In Shoes,
America can produce the best shoes.
and more cheaply, than any other nation.
and IS supreme in the shoe markets Of the
world today, as tie honest uanufac-
turer admits. hence. a tariff on shoes
that produces practically no revenue. but
permits an increased price 10 consumers
IS bare-faced robbery
steel, iron, and iron products viii he
the subjects of great reductions. and
duties no longer Of use 10 the trusts vii
be removed and schedules Viii De changed
10 suit the manufacturers convenience
and TO deceive the people. yet giving
neither revenue nor relief.
The iron producers and manufacturers.
-r+f- f---rr p ---r-.e
similar interests are combined. putting up
he price Of their products and the rates
Or transportation. and now plead these
Ugh prices, by which they are unjustIy
dining great wealth, as not only an ex-
use, but q necessity for the continuance
y high tariff schedules. ii
The power Of tax impOrtations has
'een 50 abused that the system Of col
scting revenues By the tariff has become
he most expensive plan ever devised. Il
osts al least s. 10 get 81 into the Treas (
ry-
1t IS 70 be regretted that the distia- !
-uish7d chairman Of the Ways and I
leans Committee should endeavor TO ere S
te sectional prejudice in revising the 7
arif by charging that the South asks for 9
he highest rates and votes for the low
ST
Rates Discriminate.
He knows that the present law. as
7ell as the bill he Is preparing. gives
more burden and less benefit 10 the +
.outh and West than 10 other sections
2 the Union, and bears harder on the i
oor people North and East than on the I
ich. [
his action Is in keeping with his partT. Z
he plan evidently Is 70 punish any State
r section that voted for q revenue tariff
an honest vote by placing all
be burden possible on the people and >
lowing them none OF the Incidental
enefts. They must vote the Republican
clZet or be punished by law. 4
Thus the taxing power has becoroa q r
Official party club with which the foot =,
2d in Official position can sandbag arv -
ldustry OF protect a favored pilferer- For =
n egTegiOus fraud, watch the next tariff 4
H." a