Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-03-22
Our Washington Correspondence.
TARIFF LEGISLATION,

Sumner was the topic Of absorbing interest
| This week the " revenue reformers opened
the ball in the House with their successful
assault on a portion of the tariff; and eau
cuses, filibustering, the personal collision be-
tween Speaker Blaine and Mr.. Butler, and
the news from New Hampshire, have supplied
abundant themes of conversation. As a
sensation the new Congress may be called a
success, whatever the sober judgment of the
people NAV be as to its wisdom or discretion
The votes in the House, last Monday,
striking off the duty on coal, salt tea and
coffee, were unexpectedly large in favor of
the propositions. The Democrats generally
voted for the repeal of these duties, although
few of the party who represent districts in
which bituminous coal is produced, opposed
the repeal of the duty on that article. Quite
number of the Republicans who generally
favor tariff for protection voted for all
these propositions of repeal; and many high
tariff Republicans voted to strike off the duty
on tea and coffee, hoping thereby to make it
all the more necessary to retain the present
duties on iron and steel and manufactured
goods generally. The action of the House
on these questions renders it certain that, so
far as that body is concerned, the present
tariff will be essentially modified next winter,
and the duties in most cases considerably
| reduced. The Senate, however, is not so
demoralized generally on the subject of the
tariff as the House has proved itself to be,
and the tariff may therefore remain without
any very damaging modification for some
time to come. If action could be reached
this session, the Senate would probably agree
with the House in taking off the duty on
coal and salt, but would not agree with the
House in taking off the duty on tea and
coffee. The treasury now receives annu-
nually over twenty millions of dollars from
duties on tea and coffee, and this amount of
revenue, in the present condition of the
treasury, could not well be spared. The
abolition Of the duty on coal and salt will
lessen the revenue about two millions Of
dollars annually. 1t is not easy to under
stand how any one who holds the tariff to
be matter of principle and sound measure
of political economy, can vote for the entire
repeal of the duties on salt and coal, which
are produced in this country and are entitled
to be protected equally with any other do
nestle product, or industry; but it is not
difficult to understand how those who look
upon the tariff as mere grab game may be
ready to repeal all duties on all articles not
produced by their constituents, while they
insist upon the highest duties on al articles
manufactured or produced in their immediate
localities Mr.. Hale of Maine offered the
resolution repeating the duty on salt, but he
would resist any repeal of the duty on lum-
Der. The reason is plain. Maine produces
lumber, and wants it protected against Cana
dian lumber, while the State does not pro-
duce salt. The Representatives of Maine
also are anxious TO have the coal Of Nova
Scotia come in free of duty, but they are op-
same privilege. The explanation again is
obvious. Maine has no coal fields, but it has
potato fields. Even the Pennsylvania tariff
men 90 so far in their anxiety for " protec-
ton " that they are ready to cut off all other
sources of national income, in the expecta-
tAOh eLAdb AACAl bliC IdA anu OlllcT IN
ternal revenue taxes and the duties on tea
and coffee and other foreign articles not pro-
duced in this country are abolished, it will
then become absolutely necessary to maintain
a high tariff on pig iron and other products
Of Pennsylvania, in order to keep the treas
ury in funds This looks so much like mere
ly selfish legislation, that it seriously lessons
the influence of the real arguments in favor
of a tariff for protection, and gives the
4" revenue reformers an advantage which
they are quite ready to turn to their account.
The result IS likely to be that the country
before many years will be brought again to
the experiment of a " revenue " tariff
Vermont and New England can undoubtedly
stand such a tariff as!well as any portion of
the country, although they ought not to be
anxious to contribute to such a result
LEGISLATION FOR TUE SOUTH
Both the House and the Senate have been
considering what legislation if any can be
adopted within constitutional limits for the
suppression of what are called Ku Klux out
RACES in the late rebelIious States Both the
Republicans and the Democrats have been
in caucus several times, the former to devise
if possible some remedy for these outrages,
and the latter to consider how they will be
most likely to prevent any legislation on the
subject. The Republican caucus Of the
members of the House finally agreed by
majority vote to recommend the passage of a
bill drawn by General Butler, adding to it
another bill drawn by Mr. Shellabarger of
Ohio. 1t was expressly understood, how
ever, at the caucus that no Republic an was
under any obligation to support the bill I'M
less he approved of its provision. The
Democrats resolved to resist the passage of
any such measure by flibustering if neces-
sary, and accordingly when General Butler
endeavOred to introduce his bill in the House
they commenced making diatory motions,
and calling the yeas and nays. They kept
this up for two hours more, but finally
suspended operations. General Butler then
had his bill offered, but it was ruled out on
the point of order that one days notice of
its introduction was necessary.
A resolution written by Speaker Blaine
was then offered by his colleague, Mr.. Peters
The resolution provided for committee to
travel through the South during the Spring
and Summer, and make thorough examina-
ton into the state of affairs in that section,
reporting to Congress next December A
vote was taken on this resolution without
debate, and it passed by large majority.
Fifty-eight Republicans voted for IL and fftv
against it Nearly all the Democrats voted