Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-11-18
TARIFF REFORM.
Mr.. Eaton Bswails the Failure OF
His Tariff Commission.
A Baek-Handed Lick at President Arthur
The Cause Of the Republican Defeat
in Connecticut-What the Next
Congress Must Do.
SENSIBLE REVIEW OF THE SITUATION.

NEW YORK, November lI.-Mr. w. w.
Eaton, ex-senator from Connecticut, and
now member of !Congress-elect from that
State, arrived in this city yesterday. To a
reporter who called upon him at the New
York Hotel last evening Mr.. Eaton said in
reply to question:
"Men who have doubted the ability OF
the Americans to govern themselves see in
the overwhelming success OF the Demo
cratic party in the recent elections great
uprising OF the people in emphatic asser-
ton of the essential Democratic doctrine
OF self.government. This fact and the un-
doubted rebuke to the Republicans for their
corrupt and extravagant legislation in the
last Congress prove to my mind that the
victory is q permanent one and that the,
Republican party has been finally over
thrown"
"Were there any particular reasons for
the Republican defeat in Connecticut
at was
Due TO Many Causes
which have been accumulating during the
last years of the Republican lease of power.
But however imperfectly the general course
of the scandalous legislation of the last
Congress was understood the rascality OF
the River and Harbor appropriation was
patent TO ali. As in Ohio, the Democrats
in Connecticut owe much of their success
to the large German vote which the Re
publicaBs lost by the cowaydly way IN
which they lodged the question OF the pro-
hibition amendment in the last legislature.
To the credit of the Democrats be 1t said
that in Connecticut they have always con-
sistently favored the adoption of fair Ii
cense law, and the Germans, recognizing
this fact, knew what they could expect
from Democratic legislature, while they
could not tell what the Republicans would
do"
Was tariff reform an important issue OF
the campaign in Connecticut
MY success was largely due to the
known fact that | am tariff refOrmer
Hundreds of Republicans and business
men whom l know voted for me for this
reason"
How, in your judgment, can the Demo.
cIats best profit by this great success
The Democrats in
The Next Congress
must act wisely in administering the great
trust which the people have committed to
them; they must be wise in regulating the
expenditures OF the Government; wise in
adopting an adjustment OF the tariff which
will tighten and equalIze the burdens OF
taxation. If they act thus wisely the bat
tie of 1884 is already won. If the Demo
Gratis are unwise they will be kicked out in
1884, and will deserved TO be kicked out If
they can possibly make such fools of them
selves"
do you believe that the Democratic Con-
gress will make good record?'
II do; they will undoubtedly cut off the
unnecessary collection from the people of
the $l55 0O0, 900 collected annually as inter
nal revenue. A wise and just equalization
Of the taft will be adopted. and before the
next Presidential election the beneficial Ell
fects of these and other Democrstid meas.
ures will be felt and appreciated all over
the couRtry."
: What do you think of the proceedings
Of
The Tariff HCOmmIssiOn?''
II do not care to criticise the action OF
the gentlemen comprising the Commis-
sion, for several of them are worthy, fair
minded men and very good friends of mine.
But will say that, with the greatest re-
SpSCl IOT lnc IIcsluCht VI
States, was greatly disappointed in the
appointments made by him. l had
several conversations with the President last
winter on the subject OF the Tariff Com
mission, and at his request mentioned the
names of several eminent economists,
Democrats and Republicans, possessing the
minds and experience requisite to the
thorough investigation of such an impOr-
tant subject. Not one of the gentlemen
named was appointed. The stability
which is so important to the advancement
of our manufacturing in terests is only TO
be gained by proper settlement OF the
tariff question outside of politics. l drew
and introduced the Tariff Commission bill,
and it is remarkable that every member of
the Senate voted for the principle OF my
bill. Less than one fourth of the Senators
voted for Mr.. Gorham's bill. The Presi-
dent is responsible for the nullification OF
the effect intended by the appointments
he made