Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-02-18
THE GREAT SPEECH OF THE GREAT
SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY.
Senator Beck Exposes the Mon
strous Imposition of the High
Protective Tariff.
An Unan.werable speech.

The senate having under considera.
ton. the bill Is. No. 22) TO provide for
the appointment of u commission to
investigate the question OF. the tariff
aud internal revenue laws-
Mr. Beck said:
Mr.. President | said to the senat Q
In December, when L hurrlsdly con-
truverted some of the many asser-
lions made by the senator from Ver-
mont Mr.. MORRILL, Ill his elaborate
speech III support of his high protec-
tive tariff, that [ would. if oppor-
tuni:y offered, answer him more full
ly. I propose to do so now, stating
first II few additional suggestions in
opposition to his bill for a uommis-
sion into whose hands the whole sub
ject of taxation is to be committed
and no report even to be required
from them until January 5, 1888, less
than sixty days before this congress
expires. That, OF course, means, and
is Intended TO mean, that we shall
agree ill advance that this congress
will not disturb the existing tariff
taxation, but give assurance to all
who HOW have moHopolies secured
by restrictive legislation that they are
safe so far as this congress is con-
cerned, and they need trouble them
selves only 50 far as to secure the re-
election of their friends to the next
TO secure a further extension of their
privileges.
The senator from Vermont in the
opnniDg of his speech tells the senate
that changes in the frame work of
his tariff legislation "should be made
with much circumspectiou, after de-
iiberate consideration, by just and
friendly hands, and not by ill-inform-
ed and>reckless reOolutionists." There
fore he urges the appointment of his
commission, which deprives both
houses of congress of any voice in
the consideration of the changes to be
proposed. Is congress so ill-informed,
SO reckless, SO revolutionary. that it
cannot be trusted with the cousidera-
| tion of the changes necessary to be
inade in the taxation imposed upon
| the country by former congresses :?
Why does the constitution require all
| bills raising revenue or changing the
rate or mode Of taxation to originate
in the house of representatives? Be-
cause the people 1T the biennial elec-
tiohs OF members to that body can
pass Judgment upon their conduct,
and their accountability, it was as
sumed. would make them careful. By
| the OIL OF the 'senator from Vermont,
| which the senator from Delaware,
regret to say. has taken charge of,the
| house OF representatives is excluded,
republican president is to select the
| friendly hands" 10 " whltewash all tn 9
| enornl,lss OF the present high pro.
| teet've and a republican senate
Is TO ratify his Selections, or rather
the selections which Daniel j. Nor
rel!, OF Pennsylvania, aud his CO.
| monopOlsts, who devised this scheme
III order TO obtain delay, may direct
| TO make such report as they may
dictate.
These nine men are not responsible
to anybody, now or hereafter; they
can neither be cross-examined nor
questioned. They can hear who they
please aud refuse to hear whatever
does not suit them. No senator or
representative of the people can bs
heard before them, or direct that any
person in the interest of the tax.pay
crs shall be heard; and when the re-
port at last comes, the men who max e
1T cannot be questioned. far less be
held accountable, for any falsehoods
or Misrepresentation, however glar-
lng, that the report may contain.
There need not be democrat nor q
rcvehue-tarlf man OH it, snd they
need not allow one to appear before
them. During the last congress-, w hen
we had pronounced majority of
democrats on this floor, there was
some plausibility in the suggestions
mace by the senator from Delaware
and other democrats who then sup.
ported similar bill, that we could
reject the nominees Of the president
II the commission was not composed
fairly. Now, when there is no such
power, L confess my amazement at
the absolute surrender by any demo-
crat to the president and the protect
ed monopolists of tie powers, duties,
and Obligations imposed by the COLI
s'itu'len on the representatives of
the people. The commission PROPOSE
ton is a cunningly-devised scheme in
inc interest of monopoly TO obtain
delay, AID the country will SO accep,
1t. Whatever it is proposed to do
ought 10 be done at ouce-iudeed all
that any nine men the president could
select would fad out could have been
ready TOR Use now if tie senator from
vermont on the day he made his
speech had asked authority from the
! senate for the committee on finance
10 proceed and procure the inform l.
tloii necessary to enable the senate to
mako Judicious reduction of taxa
tioii. We can Go it now by the lst
day Of March if he will ask for the
authority to-day, and we can furnish
thr iacts SO developed TO the com
hi'tec of ways and means OF tie