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PROTECTION!!

Cartoon by Frank Beard

From the collection of the New York Public Library

The bill was passed on May 6 by a vote of 151 to 83. It was passed on May 9 by the Senate, by a vote of 35 to 19. President Chester A. Arthur signed the bill on May 15, 1882.

The commission reported in December, 1882. Out of this report the House Committee on Ways and Means framed and reported a tariff bill which made an average reduction of about 20 per cent. In the midst of discussion thereon the House bill reducing internal revenue came back from the Senate amended in such a way as virtually to revise the entire system of the tariff. The House adopted this bill in lieu of the tariff bill.

On March 11, 1884, a tariff bill was reported in the House by Mr. Morrison, from the Committee on Ways and Means, of which he was chairman, making a 20 per cent. "horizontal reduction" of customs duties. This bill was discussed at great length, and was finally defeated on May 9 by a vote of 159 to 155.

As the principle of "horizontal reduction" had been previously applied in revising the tariff [see the compromise tariff of 1833-chapter vi), and this new bill failed to pass, the debates upon the latter are therefore omitted.

The tariff entered into the presidential campaign of 1884 as an important, although not crucial, issue. James G. Blaine [Me.], the Republican candidate, was represented by his followers as the "plumed knight" of the protective principle, while Grover Cleveland [N. Y.], the Democratic candidate, stood for "reform" of the tariff, no less than of the civil service and other affairs of the Government.

REDUCTION OF THE SURPLUS

[MILLS TARIFF BILL OF 1888]

Accumulation of Money in Treasury-Speaker John G. Carlisle [Ky.] on Reduction of the Surplus-Third Annual Message of President Grover Cleveland Is Devoted to Reduction of the Surplus and Decrease of the Tariff-Roger Q. Mills [Tex.] Introduces Bill in the House to Authorize Secretary of the Treasury to Use Surplus in Purchase of Non-Matured Bonds-Debate: in Favor, William C. P. Breckinridge [Ky.]; Opposed, William McKinley [O.], Thomas B. Reed [Me.]-Bill Is Passed; Amended and Passed by Senate; Conference Committee AppointedMr. Mills Introduces in House a Bill to Decrease the Tariff-Debate: in Favor, Mr. Mills, Benton McMillin [Tenn.], William D. Bynum [Ind.], Isidor Rayner [Md.], William L. Wilson [W. Va.], Gen. Joseph Wheeler [Ala.], Richard P. Bland [Mo.], John M. Allen [Miss.], Benjamin F. Shively [Ind.], Samuel S. Cox [N. Y.], Mr. Breckinridge, John G. Carlisle [Ky.]: Opposed, William D. Kelley [Pa.], Julius C. Burrows [Mich.], Nelson Dingley [Me.], Joseph G. Cannon [Ill.], Seth L. Milliken [Me.], Thomas M. Bayne [Pa.], William H. H. Cowles [N. C.], Samuel J. Randall [Pa.], Mr. McKinley, Mr. Reed; Bill Is Passed by the House John Sherman [O.] Introduces Substitute Bill in the Senate-Debate: in Favor, Sen. Sherman, Nelson W. Aldrich [R. I.], et al; Opposed, Isham G. Harris [Tenn.], James B. Beck [Ky.], et al-Mills Bill Fails to Come to a Vote-Benjamin Harrison Elected President.

D

URING the congressional session of 1887-88 the tariff was the chief subject of legislation. Not only were all parties agreed as to the necessity of reducing the surplus, but it was the general opinion that the laws in relation to the collection of revenues should be simplified. At the opening of this session John G. Carlisle [Ky.], Speaker of the House, had urged a general revision of the tariff. He said in part:

REDUCTION OF THE SURPLUS

SPEAKER CARLISLE

It must be evident to everyone who has taken even a partial view of public affairs that the time has now come when a re

vision of our revenue laws and a reduction of taxation are absolutely necessary in order to prevent a large and dangerous accumulation of money in the treasury. Our effort should be to afford the necessary relief to all without injury to the interests of any; and it seems to me that course of legislation should be pursued which will guarantee the laboring people of the country against the paralyzing effects of a general and prolonged financial depression, and at the same time not interfere with their steady employment, or deprive them of any part of the just rewards of their toil. If this can be doneand I believe it can, if our deliberations are conducted with the wisdom and patriotism which the gravity of the situation demands this Congress will have cause to congratulate itself upon an achievement which promises peace and prosperity to the country for many years to come. [Loud applause.]

On December 6, 1887, the third annual message of President Grover Cleveland was read. It was the first of all such messages to deal with only one subject, bearing entirely on revenue reduction.

REDUCTION OF THE TARIFF

THIRD ANNUAL MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT CLEVELAND

You are confronted at the threshold of your legislative duties with a condition of the national finances which imperatively demands immediate and careful consideration.

The amount of money annually exacted, through the operation of present laws, from the industries and necessities of the people largely exceeds the sum necessary to meet the expenses of the Government.

There seems to be no assurance that, with such a withdrawal from use of the people's circulating medium, our business community may not in the near future be subjected to the same distress which was quite lately produced from the same cause. And while the functions of our national treasury should be few and simple, and while its best condition would be reached, I believe, by its entire disconnection with private business interests, yet when, by a perversion of its purposes, it idly holds money uselessly subtracted from the channels of trade, there seems to be reason for the claim that some legitimate means should be devised by the Government to re

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