The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-01-29
3. G. Cook on Wells.

The little paragraph In our last, based On q
Washington despatch to the Chicago Times, Civ.
ing an account Of q "spAt'. between our repre-
sentative Mr.. Cook, and Mr.. Mccarthy, of New
York, was wide Of tho truth, that in justice to
our member We make q correction Mr.. Cook,
instead of attacking the Wells report, was defend.
ing it and arguing in favor Of its being printed.
As to tho "spat" with Mr. Mccarthy, the Con-.
gressional Globe has lot word about it, Either
there was no such spat, or the Globe, for shame's
sake, omits to report such scenes
Following is an extract from Mr.. Cooks
speech;
Mr.. LAFLIN. now yield five minutes to
the gentleman from Illinois, [Mr. Cook.
Mr.. COOK. Mr.. Speaker, DESIRE if can
in the very brief time allowed me, to analyze
the opposition to the printing of this report
The questions discussed in the report are Ger.
tainly of the very gravest Importance, and they
are exciting the most intense interest in the
country. The officer by whom this report is
made has been appointed BY authority Of law
and designated for the express purpose of arrang-
ing statistics and information for Congress and
for the country upon those vexed questions which
are exciting and attracting the attention of every
ouc Ala VIC CuSAV OouuGAys ANU NOW ~ 10 pIO>
prosed, after his work has been discharged, that
his report shall not be printed and spread before
the people. Why? Because some members of
this House disagree with the conclusions of the
report; not all the members, not a majoNty of
the House, think, but some members of the
House disagree with the conclusions of the
report
My friend from Syracuse fMr. MCCARTHY
objects to printing the report suppose because
he cannot agree with the conclusions of the Com.
missioner in relation to the salt interest infer
this from his locality, and not from anything he
has said or done here in relation to this interest.
Ny friend from Pennsylvania Mr.. CAKE objects
the printing of the report because he ditagrees
with the conclusions of the Commissioner in re.
lation to coal.
Mr.. CAKE. I say here and now that hope
the duty on anthracite coal will be repealed.
Will that satisfy the gentleman?
Mr. COOK. That is entirely satisfactory.
But at any rate the proposition of the gentleman
is that this report should not be printed because
members do not agree with the conclusions of
the Commissioner, who was appointed by law to
gather this information to be spread before the
country.
Now, affirm that I have more calls for this
report than for any other document; it is excit-
ing more interest among the people represent
than any other document printed by order of
Congress. Now, we certainly agree with some
Of the conclusions of the report, and for that
reason We should desire to have the arguments
to sustain those conclusions to go out before the
people agree with the conclusion in that re-.
port in relation to lumber, upon which heavy
tariff is laid which inures only to the benefit Of
those engaged in manufacturing it. It does not
protect any interest which needs protection in
this country; ON the contrary, under its infu.
encs our forests are dwindliag away and we sse
compelled each year to 60 miles further off to
obtain the lumber which our people living upon
tho prsiries are obliged to use. None Of the rea.
sons usually urged in favor Of protective duties
to develop and fosterthe manufacturing interests
Of the country apply to this duty upon lumber.
II 10 not for the benefit Of this country TO encour.
age tho rapid consumption Of our timber forests,