Mr. Mills' Bill Attacked

MR. MILL'S BILL ATTACKED

MINORITY REPORT ON THE TARIFF

BY M'KINLEY OF OHIO.

Washington City, April 2 - A Washington special to The Pittsburg Leader says: The minority report of the committee on ways and means against the Mills tariff bill occupies almost twice the space of the majority report in favor of the bill. It was written by Maj. McKinley, of Ohio, one of the minority members of the committee, and is now in the hands of the public printer. The report begins with a severe criticism on the manner in which the Mills bill was complied. It states that the minority were never consulted till the bill was laid before the full committee in complete form, and then it was voted through by strict party lines, no opportunity being given the minority to be heard. The manufacturers of the country were refused a hearing by the majority of the committee, as were also the working men and mechanics, although they are the most directly interested. A few manufacturers known to be in favor of just what the majority wanted, and a few who wielded potential Democratic influence, were given clandestine hearings by the majority of the committee. Then to cap the climax of shutting the mouths of the people, members of congress were refused a hearing by the majority of the committee.

The report then enters upon a review of the bill, showing how it will not reduce revenues except by transfers to the free list. The reductions it makes in customs dues will but have the effect of keeping up the present inflow of surplus. The report states that during the time the Republicans have had control of congress, from 1869 to 1883, they reduced incomes over $200,000,000 a year; but though the Democrats have never reduced the tariff 1 penny, they have still been crying: "Tariff reform" vigorously, and campaigning upon it for the last five years, when they have had a majority of the house of representatives, and yet they have not passed a tariff bill, and will not. Mills' bill is declared to be sectional. The slight cut it makes in sugar, rice and other southern products are pointed out, while its inroads on farm and other products of the north and west are cited in an impressive way. Free wool is given extended comment, and is treated as one of the sectional provisions, by which the south strikes at the north. The minority state that the Republican party favors a reasonable reduction of the tariff, but that it should be made with respect to the interest of manufactures, labor and protection in general, with a fair regard to the government's income; that there should be impartiality as to sections of the country, as well as to interests, and this can not be done without a full, free, impartial hearing from those most interested. Although the report is a strong Republican document it is intended to meet the approval of all elements in the party.