The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-04-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
i fga Anril II 1882. o.

a.
The debate on the tariff comnA1sion
bill is about closed and there is no
doubt thatit will pass, the Republic
cans being all for it and a few Demo-
Gratis also. Mr.. Hewitt endeavored to
get a vote on his proposition for ar
immediate, moderate, and judicious
revision of the tariff OH raw materials,
and Mr.. Morrison and several others
have been trying TO shape matters SO
as TO obtain direct votes on PROPOSE
tions of a similar nature, but only with
the expectation that they would DE
voted down by the Republicans
While there are q few members fthat
party like Mr.. Dunncll, of Minnesota,
who understand the real interest of
the country, the majority are joined
to their idols and are determined that
the taxes shall not be diminished that
the people shall continue paying $780,
600, 900 per annum ove and above The
needs ofthe Government, for the ben-
eft of the lobby and the capitalists.
This commission bill is simply a
scheme TO postpone action until after
the next Presidential election. Mean
while, neither Mr.. Kelley nor Mr..
iAdSoOu, uoi any Vi iLC duNOCdttS Vi
high tariff, can tell us why pr, lection
does not protect. We have a tariff
maintained ostensibly for the benefit
of American labofers, yet strikes are
prevalent the country over because
the poor ~ manufacturers can not
pay w~orkingmen living wages. Could
anything speak more eloquentiy and
pointedly of the utter hoIioWness aud
falsity ofprotection?
The commission scheme is hoyered
over by the ghost of Mr.. Tite Barna-
Gle, who systematized the circumlocu-
ton Office, and pointed out the way
of "How-not-to-do it," If the tariff
Equestion becomes a serious issue the
Republicans can pointto this commits
sion and say to the people oflhis coun-
try. "We have initiated reform; our
commission is at work let us wait for
its report" And if there should be n
report, who believes that il will be
unanimous? What will it be but a
majority essay on protection and a
minority essay on free trade? The
bond Volumes oil the RECORD are full
of them; we need no more. For the
first tim in the history OF Republican
Congresses we find II without COM
biucd energy and courage, without
leadership without confidence enough
III itself and constituents to make or
meet a national issue squarely, and 90
before the country on it. 81 he wick
ed fee when no man pursueth, but
the righteous are as bold as a lion"
But it may as we'll be granted that
this dilatory measure will become q
law, and that the President will have
to appoint nine commissioners from
civil lite TO take in consideration the
present tariff, how il affects the vari-
Gus industries of the country and re-
commend to Congress what changes
ought to be made in it. There are al
ready a good many candidates fol-
these nine positions and the President
has, it is said, a considerable list OF
men who believe themselves or are
believed by their friends to be eligi-
/ BILE. There is some reason TO think
that ex-Secretary Kirkwood will be
one of the commissioners if he wish
es the place. Concerning the others
nothing is known. When the COM
mission comes to be made up if it is
honestly done il will be something OF
, q question to determine the scale up
on which the great industries of the
country shall be represented. The
nine commissioners should represent
ftirly amt proportionately the indus.
tries of the whole union. To begin
with, at least four of the commission.
ers should represent agriculture North
t and Sonih. This is the largest and
most important interest in the coun-
try. Wheat and the other grains, beef
and the other meats, cotton, sugar
. and hay, not to speak of minor agrI.
cultural industries, employ more PEG.
l pie than all the other industries in the
r country taken together, and to give