The Portland daily press., 1882-04-01
WASHINGTON, March 20.

WASHINGTON, March 20.
After repeated and determined efforts, in
the face of Democratic filibustering and OBJ
struction the Republicans yesterday succeeded
in taking up the tariff commission bill in the
House for discussion. The Democratic opposi-
tion t, this bill is something difficult to Under
stand with people at distance from the CEN
tire of Democratic councils. Protesting to be
in favor of what they call "revenqe reform
and changes in the tariff which shall reduce
taxation, yet they fight by all means il their
power a measure which is calculated to reform
the revenue laws throughout, and to re-
dace taxation so that. while burdens may be
ightened, the benefit of reductions may be
equitsbly distributed, and no industry shall be
slaughtered To those who study the ami
mus of the present Democratic minority in
Congress, the cause OF this fight is not difficult
to find. The appointment Of commi ssion to
revise the whole tariff system does not suit the
free trade Democratic idea, which issimply des
tructive of all measures to foster and care for
domestic industries. What the Democratic
managers want is to pass some fragmentary
laws striking down protection on particular in
dustries, and thus to make fatal breaches In
the system which has thus far proved so bene-
fetal to all our industries alike. At every
stage therefore they have fought this commits
sion bill, and it should be remarked in this
place that the two Democratic members from
your State--for Ladd and Murch have leaped
from the Greenback cradle into the lap of
Bourbonism-helped this Democratic scheme
as far asslay in their power, by supporting dila
tory motions and obstructive movements.
They have thus done all they could, as direct
ly as they could. to break down the system
which has fostered alike the agricultural
and manufacturing interests Of Maine, and the
farmerand artisans will not forget this when the
account is made up next fall. However, the
bill is now fairly up for discussion, and will
probably pass after a protraeted contest The
debate is likely to continue for two week. Mr..
Kasson Of Iowa made fine speech yesterday
in favor of the bill, and OF such revision # the
tariff as shall conserve the interests Of all busi
ness pursuits Mr.. Carlisle of Kentucky, the
leader of the Bourbon free traders, spoke in
favor of sweeping reduction, in fact,of abolition
of protective Duties claiming that the Demo-
cratic party must be free trade party, and
thus inimical not only to the manufacturing,
but also to the protected agricultural interests
of New England His speech was in line with
the sweeping communistic raid upon the reve-
nue. policy, which has promoted the present
prosperity of the country, recently made by
lne conclave OF moss-back Democrats assem-
bled at Chicago to lay down policy for the
party 1t is another example of the Demo-
cratic facility for blundering since many pro-
gressive Democrats are coming away from the
ancient and demoralizing ideas thus promulgat-
ed. Witness the utterances Of Mr.. Wilcox,
readjuster Democrat OF Virginia the other day.
Disguised with the obstructive and destructive
policy of his old friends he said: 81 desire to
enunciate my political faith. propose to fol
low the fortunes of that great party that will
foster all the enterprises and develop the great
wealth of Virginia. face to the sunrise Let
US forget the things behind and press forward
to great future of prosperity Let the dead
bury the deed" He then announced that he
would hereafter "act with the National Re-
publican party And so they are breaking
away in many of the Southern States. 1 heard
Representative Spear of Georgia yesterday say
that his state was too much interested in man
ufactures as well as in agriculture to hold
longer to the dogma of free trade, which the
Democratic party has tried to force upon the
country. The vote in the Senate, where this
commission bill passed yesterday, shows that
although the Democrats tried to kill it
by indirection, by amendments and dill
atory motions, many of them dared not
defy the manifest public demand for contin-
uance of the Republican policy. So it will
probably be found on the final vote in the
House, when they can no longer dodge the di-
rect issue, the two assistant Democrats for
Maine will no longer be found among the de-
structives. While all the time fighting against
progressive measures when they could do bat
tie under cover, yet they must try to save
their record for appearance at home. This
very instance is strong proof OF the danger OF
sending to Congress men who are equally afraid
to represent their constituents and to declare
their own convictions Had this Congress
been more evenly balanced politically, it might
have been in the power of Ladd and Murch
to have given the organization and control to
the free-trade Democrats, and then to have
blocked the plan for reforming and modifying
the system of taxation without deftroying the
system which has made this country prosper
GUS while other countries have been and are
suffering from business depression.
By the same perseverance and zeal to pro-
mote the business Of the country which have
brought this subject to the front, the Repub-
licans have now got all the more important
measures of the session in position for consd-
Grafton in due course. The bill to take from
Congress large class of private claims
and send them to the Court OF Claims is made
a special order and will probably succeed the
tariff bill in consideration. The bill providing
for the further distribution OF the moneys OF
the Geneva award is set down for April 18th,
and in spite of Bourbon opposition, the New
England shipowners at last through this will
have chance to recover their losses. The
legislation of the District of Columbia, per-
sistently neglected under the three Democratic
Congresses, now has regular assignment, and
will be carefully lattended to-. The bill for
making the Department of Agriculture sep
arate department. of the government with
Cabinet officer at the head thereof is set for
early consideration. The contested election
cases are awaiting, only the disposition OF some
of these more essential measures to dem and q
hearing. The bills for admitting Dakota and
Washington Territories as States are about
ready for report. These measures constitute
the larger part of the business outside of tho
appropriation bills which will be considered
this session, and everything seems to be in bet
ter form for early work than any Congress has
been able to present it at this stage of the ses-
sion.
Within few days the Democrats have been
Consulting" which means caucusng, upon
the question of the political outlook, and the
result seems to be so blue for them that they
have decided not to admit any new Republican
States. They have, it is believed, decided to
oppose, unanimously, the admission of Dakota
and Washington, on the pretence that they
have not sufficient population, although it is
probable they have more than any State ad-
mitted into the Union since the government
was organized. The general opinion, how
ever, is that the Republicans viii perfect tho
bills for these States and that they will be ad-
mitted. as they should be, without much delay.
The Republican congressional committee
has been satisfactorily organized, and will soon
be at work for the fall campaign. Mr.. Hub
bell continues as chairman of the executive
committee of Is, as in the last Congress. Sem
ator Hale, Senator Aldrich Of r. l., and Rep-
resentative Russell Of Mass, are the New En-
gland members of this committee, the person.
mel of which is admirable for campaign work
Edward Mcpherson, the veteran campagner,
will probably be secretary of the committee if
he will accept, and all demands for documents
and information touching the campaign, can
be had of him.
Representative Reed is universally credited
with having made a most able and courageous
contest for the assignment OF the Geneva
Award bill, and when it comes up in order
there is no doubt, judging from the vote that
sustained him before, that he will carry it to
victory. Mr.. Reed is one of the clearest
headed legislators in this Cnngress.
JW.B.
jackson and Benton.