Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-15
THE TARIFF coMMI ssION.


LEADING DEMOCRATIC CoNGREssMEN oP-
POSED TO IT AS CHEAT AND A SNARE.
WASHINGTON, June 14-Democratic Con-
gressmen, almost without exception, sharply
criticise the tariff commission appoint
ments. Carlisle, of Kentucky, the ablest
and most Influential Democrat in the House,
and a member of the Ways and Means Com
mittee, says: "The commission is worse
even than the most stubborn opposers of
the scheme predicted. So far as l know,
nothing can be said against the personal
character of the gentlemen composing it,
but their opinions, pursuits and surround
ings are such as to destroy all hope of q fair
and impartial investig alton of the subject
submitted to them, and of course their re-
port will have very little weight with the
country. Neither the people nor Congress
will ever approve of their work, and the
result will be indefinite postponement of
harsh in my judgment, but it seems
to be tolerably clear now that the
commission will be employed as one of
the most effective electioneering instruments
ever placed in the hands of the Republican
party. 1t will travel about the country dur
ing the fall elections, and all whose interests
can in any way be affected by its recon-
mendations on the tariff will be made to feel
that their welfare depends upon the success
husnced by such a consideration, they will
be driven to its support. Ii is partisan
body and will be used for partisan purposes.
We are assured on every hand by Democrats
who formed the bill that the Pres dent would
appoint a fair commission, and some men
went SO far as to believe his personal assur-
ance that the advocates of revenue reform
should have just representation.
do not b. lieve there is a single revenue re-
r. a., h.
ton of Mr.. Phelps. Mr.. Underwood may
be, but if so, he is the only one. Yet Dem
ocrat who is not now a member of Congress,
and who was active in urging this measure,
told me in the presence of other gentlemen
tha at the President had said to him that he
would consider himself disgraced man if
he did not give to the revenue reformers-
the free-traders, as he called them a fair
representation on the commission, and when
this gentleman was asked what he meant by
fair representation, he said that four out
of the nine members of the commission was
what he considered fair representation"
General Singleton, of Illinois, said: "I
am not sufficiently acquainted with the men
named for the commission to give an opinion
as 10 the work it will accomplish. l think,
however, that this commission is organized
in the interests of high protective tariff.
| opposed the bill when it was before the
house on tne SrOunu that IL asheu SonSreeS
to delegate to the commission powers and
duties imposed upon it by the constitution.
never doubted for a moment that when a
commission was appointed it would be COM
posed OF men obnoxious to tariff reforms.
II this commission makes a report at all, it
will be one for influencing the next presi-
Dental election"
Representative Waldo Hutchins, of New
York, said: 81 think the tariff commission,
as nominated, is weak, as all the work Of the
present administration is and will be. i do
not think it would be possible to pick out
nine men in this House who would not be
more competent TO deal with this subject
than the nine men who compose the tariff
L opposed the bill because 1
thought Congress should not tHrn over amy
part of its duties TO any other body. Now
that the commission has been named, can
see that it means delay, as it was intended it
shouldo u