The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-05-17

| duties and revenues of the Dingley act.
/ From "standpatters' some five years age
| the republican leaders were driven last
/ year % declaration for revision. II the
/ revision was not to be downward, why
| abandon their former position2 Was ii
| to deceive the voters Of the country or to
mislead their nominee for President: for
hesstated in his inaugural that We should
/ make the taxation as light as possible.
| The argument during the campaign was
made everywhere that we were TO have a
revision; that it should be had, but it
| ought to be made by the friends of the
/ protection and not its enemies; ii was
| conceded that the democrats would re-
| wise downward largely, especially on the
necessaries of life, and the republican po-
| sition was that this would bring on num-
| erous disasters. Now when the bill is
brought into the chamber it is complete
disappointment to all those who hoped
for a reduction Of duties. and when the
| administrative features are added it will
| be distinctly more oppressive than the
| Dingley act. The reduction is upward.
We ridiculed the "standpatters; we
| prayed to be delivered from Them but
| we had Jared better at their hands, and
now they begin to have a more amiable
| appearance. The letter of the platform
may have been kept, but the spirit and
! the understanding of it by the people is
| crucifed.
one good thing will result the people
will become convinced that they cannot
rely upon those now making the laws,
and, despairing of securing any revision
downwards by the friends of protection,
they will turn to the friends of the peo-
pie.
May Have Been Deceived.
Is it possible that the eloquent senators
from Iowa or the wise senators from
Wisconsin, and other senators of great
ability we're deceived last year when In
supporting the republican ticket they ad-
vised the voters that the platform meant
revision downward? Did any one contra
dict them then? If not, why not?
Republicans are amusing themselves by
charging that democrats are leaning to
protection, because they desire to see the
products of their states treated fairly.
When we find ourselves confronted with
a bill framed on protective lines we
want to see ii made equal and fair In
its operation upon all sections OF the
country. We do not want a protective
tariff for one section and free trade for
another; that would not only compel the
people of one section TO pay their share
fthe burdens of government, but at
the same time compel them to pay trib-
ute to another section. So far as l have
vocated protection for a single article,
and in no case so far as l have OBJ
served has a proposal been made to i'm
pose revenue duty greater than 20 per
cent, whilst the average rate under this
bill is nearly 40 per cent, Reductions
have been made In this bill in only three
schedules and it is noticeable that two
of these include articles largely pro-
duced in the south and in the other
the reduction is less than l per cent
Protection has enough sins to answer
for without adding to them unfair dis
elimination.
Relying Upon Laws.
Mr. President, I shall not by my vote
add one protective infant to this chosen
band whose interests and profits are to
be secured through congressional legis
lation, by laying burdens upon the Shout
ders of the people of the whole country.
I do not wish to see another industry
relying upon laws and not its own skill
and industry for profits.
To do this is to strengthen the band
who already seems able to dictate sched-
ules and to measure the extent OF its
exactions
these men, wiser 70 their generation,
permit the Victims to live and work so
that they may be plucked again.
I am persuaded that every article i'm
ported into this country, produced here,
not controlled by a trust. should bear its
equal share in furnishing the revenue
necessary for the expenditures of the
government The chairman OF the COM
mittee frankly informs that If we
reduce the rates imposed by the bill to
a revenue basis that 1t means an abso-
lutte increase of revenue rather than a
reduction, and that the only way the
revenue can be reduced substantially, is
lit he Il
ties or by placing articles on the free
list, and this is the answer of the
senator to the Presidents statement
that in the making of a tariff bill
the prime motive is taxation and there
by securing a revenue" The senator
seems to think a reduction of taxes the
least desirable of the three.
Aldrich is Confident.
The senator seems to be confident that
this bill will supply the necessary reve-
nue.. others, amongst them myself, have
grave doubts, but the senator seems
willing to incur the risk and to supply
the deficiency of revenue. in a time of
profound peace and republican prosper
ity, by an issue of bonds rather than
increase the revenue by a reduction of
duty, even on articles of common use
and necessity. He assumes that the re-
ceipts derived from the internal revenue
treasury report that it has declined Sc 000,-
900 during the present fiscal year, and it
seems to me 1t must continue to decline
more largely under the constantly in
creasing prohibition laws of the several
states.
We are indebted to the honorable SEN
ator for some very frank expressions
He says the fact that Congress appro-
priated less than the estimates of the
departments, does not relieve 1t from re-
sponsibility for its unprecedented ex-
/ travagance" and that no excuse can be
found for similar legislation In the fu-
ture. Again he speaks of the 'inconsid-
crate waste of the public money" He
says that from an Investigation, more
or less superficial, that the appropria-
lions made last year could have been
reduced $50 900, 900 without impairing the
efficiency of the government" He con-
cludss his interesting confession that IL
the revenues are less than anticipated 1t
is the imperative duty of Congress to
reduce expenditures. the last resort of
, republican extremity.
Three Dollar for One.
! Now, Mr.. President, this is good.
. wholesome. honest confession. But con-
LESSONS have no virtue unless they are
accompanied by repentance and some
times by restitution. According to the
senator's admission 1t shows that in so
Isr as the people of my own state are
concerned that his party took from them
in extra VACANT and unnecessary appro-
priations mere than q, ON. 400 and all the
other states fsre equally as bad What
pity that the senator did not make
these discoveries when the appropriation
bills were before U.S. Where was Rod
erick then? One blast upon his bugle