The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-12-09
XLVII tn Congress-1st Session
SENATE.

Upon the expiration of the morning hour
Mr. Morrill, addressed the Senate at consider
able length upon his tariff commission bill.
He said: If early legislative action was to be
had on the tariff, the measure was wise and
indispensable preliminary for securing essen,
tial information upon which the country could
rely, and legislation could be safely based,
while it would save to committees OF Congress
weeks and month of labor, and possible blum
ders and defeat He held that changes IN to
framework of a law that had more stability
than any other of its kind in our history, and
from which an unexampled growth OF varied
industries had risen up, should be made with
much circumspection by just and friendly
hands and not by ill-informed and reckless rev.
olutionists. We were to consider how much,
if any,of internal revenue could be rellnquiSu-5
ed, and such safe revision as would ieaVe tns
tariff properly productive and in harmony WIN
all interests preserving the proper equilibrium
among the different branches of trade, and JUS
ice to every section. 1t would be necessary to
determine the amount of revenue required.
The requirement for ordinary expenses, name
ly, interest on the public debt, pensions, some
enlargement of our lilliputian navy, and the
decent equipment of our military Notifications,
was still SO great that extreme protection was
not SO much the question as that OF revenue,
and with barely moderate discrimination IN
favor of American fields and workshops, not
leaving them in danger of unfair foreign COM
petition, little more, it was believed. would be
found necessary. An enlargement OF the Tree
list, essential reductions and readJustments OF
rates, were to be considered and some errors OF
conflicting Qualifications corrected.
Discussing the general subject OF the tariff,
he said that when Great Britain straddled
across the Atlantic and intrusively sought to
impose her free trade shackles upon the Unit
ed States he claimed the rightto protest against
it, AID repealed the idea that America was ever
to be exhibited as one of the fettered captlves
of the "CoJden Club" No suspicion of part
isanship could adhere to him if he did not out
run the Examinations against free trade OF the
late Democratic candidate, and he was not
more.disgusted with "a tariff for revenue only"
than was the Democratic Vice President can
didate of 1876. who now supports the measure
for a Tariff Commission. After quoting
from the writings and sayings OF Hamli-
ton, Jefferson, Monroe and others OF orr
earliest statesmen. who We're ardent
advocates of protection to domestic manufac-
lures the speaker said our nearest approaches
to free trade had been seasons OF national DIS
aster, as were the years 1888, 1847 and 1857,
and the furtherawe have receded from free trade
the better had labor Jared and the greater had
been the material, and he did not hesitate to
hav the educational advancement of the coun-
try. Free trade with foreign nations afforded
no buoyancy to life at home, but, like a
patent life preserver wrongly eadlusteq, Wouio
put our heads undes water and our heels upper
most. The Morrill, tariff of 1861, notwithstand
ing the amendments piled upon it with every
fresh demand of the war. had been, as
financial measure, an Unprecedented sue
cess Both revenue and commerce had
Increased in a much greater ratio than popua-
ton Agriculture has made immense strides,
as shown in the increased production of cereals
the more remunerative prices therefor, the
average gain in the yield of cotton and rice
aud the rise in the price OF Western LANDS.
AS protective measure, this tariff had proven
more satisfactory to the country and to various
industries than any on record. Statistlcs
showing the increase in cotton and wooden
manufactures between the years 1860 and 1850
were here quoted by the speaker. showing as
to the latter that while the number of hands
employed is three and half times larger than
in 1860, the wages paid and capital employed
are about five times larger.
The evidences that the free trade prosperity
of Great Britain was on the wane were appar-
emit in the 5 900 bouses in Sheffield and the
10 900 in Pi-..,insha-,. ,ae:r marked ITO let"
and the steady diminution OF brIols,r s~Dsst~
since 1873 amounting in 1880 to $lOO,O0O,VUO,
with diminution in the total of exports and
imports of $3.50 900 900 This was conclusive
proof as well of British decadence as of the ad-
vancement of our nation. In regard to COM
mercial protection, the fact was that we mad
voted in the aggregate untold millions for the
protection of our foreign commerce, and as
our manufacturers did not complain that this
was needless and excessive favor TO import
ers why should the latter object to some pro-
lection to the much larger amount OF capital
invested in another laudable enterprise.
The speaker Ethen proceeded to refute the
theories of the free trade propagandists OF
of England as expounded by her ablest states
men aud Journals, and contended that the
British policy had been everywhere relectea.
Mr. Garland wished to be heard on the sub
ject and it was informally passed over for the
present :..s A.. uo,-
ponse of the Secretary of the Interior TO the
Senate resolution May 10Th transmitting list
of officers, clerks and other employees on tne
rolls of the department with salary, date OF
appointment and grade OF office each state
to which charged and indicating VINO served
in the Union and who in Confederate armies
Tabled and ordered printed.
National Guards Association of New York for
amendments to the militia laws. Referred to
the committee on military.
Bills were introduced and referred as fol-
lows:
By Mr.. Pendeton to provide that the princi-
nal officers of each of the executive depart
ments may occupy seats on the moor OF the
Senate and House. Referred ON motion OF nir.
Pendleton to a special committee OF III 10 De
appointed by the chair.
1t was argeed when the Senate ADJOURNED To-
day it shall be until Monday.
Resolution was tabled and ordered printed
for reference to the committee on nhance Oh
recommendation iu the Presidents message IN
favor of the repeal OF acts authorizing me
coinage of silver and the issue OF silver certlh-
Gates and their retirement from circulation.
Mr.. Garland introduced bill in relation to
the Presidential succession upon which ne
gave notice of his intention to speak tuesday
Tabled.
On motion of Mr.. Hoar memorial pre-
sented at the called session in relation to the
title BY which the New York Senators hold
their seats was referred TO the committee on
privileges and elections
Bill granting the ranking privilege to the
widow of President Garfield was then without
objection passed under suspension of rules.
After short tribute to Doorkeeper Bassett
by the President pro tenn. Davis, to-day being
the fifteenth anniversary of Bassett's appoint
ment Senate adiournedluntil Monday.