Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1893 — THE MINORITY REPORT. [ARTICLE]

THE MINORITY REPORT.

Republican Members of the Ways and Means Committee Oppose the Wilson Bill. The report of the minority members of the Ways and Means Committee was submitted to the Honse, Thursday. Thereaort says: The most surprising thing about this Dill, is the fact that this proposition to -aise revenue will lower the revenue of ibiscbuntry, $74,009,(9> below the revenue at 1893, which was only $2,000,000 above jur expenses. This fact, and the other fact that by this bill the larger part of the burden of taxation is transferred from foreigners and brought to our own citizens ihould always be kept in mind during the discussion, Ail the objections so often urged by the iominant party against the existing system, we repeat, lie against this bill. The difference is only one of a degree. If the -present system be one of “robbery,” as these men have iterated and reiterated, the proposed system is practically the same. It is true that the consumer will no longer pay tribute to the Western farmer for the wool of the sheep, but the New England and other manufacturers are still authorized to lay tribute upon the citizens of the United States, who must pay, so these men have always said. 30, 40 and 45 per Cent, to the Manufacturer upon every yard of woollens and worsteds, while the country will only receive, by way of revenue, a lessened sum, unless increased importations signalize the death of American production. What exact effect the proposed change of duties would have on the general rate of wages in the country can only be determined by actual test, but it is not difficult to see that It will be very depressing. Upon persons engaged in the industries directly Affected the resalt to be anticipated seems to be very cFar. To those of us who believe in proteettou It seems beyond dispute that the acknowledged rise in wages in this conntry has been caused by protection as the great, stimulator of Invention and progress. The committee, however, probablv believe the contrary. That higher wages exist, however, or did exist before this bill threatened the country, cannot be disputed. The wool schedule, as proposod In the committee bill, is in some respects the most reprehensible. It proposes to destroy at a blow the great industry of wool growing, which now ranks as seventh in the value of its products among the several branches of agriculture, and which has heretofore been recognized as an agricultural product deserving andrequiring protection under every administration ana by every tariff act since that of May 22,1824. Nothing short of the tatal destruction of this important industry can be counted upon as the consequence of placing both wool and mutton on the free list. It Is a fact, established by experience, that at tne prices of wool now prevailing in the foreign markets, our farmers cannot continue the business of wool growing without absolute yearly loss. During the past year, owing to the impending threat of free wool and radical reductions in the duties on woolen goods, the price of domestic wools of all descriptions have fallen from 30 to 50 per cent, below the prices that prevailed a year ago. Even at these figures there has been little market for wool, and many farmers have still on their hands this season’s clips, which at this time last year was being rapidly converted into goods by mills which now stand Idle. The value of the sheep has fallen equally with their clip. The depreciation in the value of this species ol agricultural property from the two sources may be conservatively stated at $50,000,o o. There are two provisions in the bill which, when brought side by side, disclose In a significant way Its sectional character. Hoop or band iron or steel bears an ad valorem dnty of 30 per cent, “except as otherwise provided for.” The “otherwise provided for” has reference to ties of iron or steel for baling cotton, which are placed on the free list, Tnere is no more splendid illustration of the benefits of our protective system than is to be found in the manufacture ol plate class, American enterprise and energy in the development of this industry have resulted hi a vigorous home eompetion. so as to bring down the prices of the product to one-half what It was ten years ago. We have now In operation In this country twelve competing plants, having a capital of $12,000000 and a capacity of 18,009,009 sqnare feet of glass annually. Every material used In the manufacture is of American production, excepting only soda ash. Eight thousand men are directly employed, and probably, with theli families, forty thousand persons are Interested In the maintenance ol this industry.