The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-16
THE NEW TARIFF BILL.
THE coNsTITurIoNALIrY OF II
nlsputtd By Some-Jndss Kelley Eneetually 81
lsne,s all QuibblsE bysstting Forth nl' Rea'
= sous to the CoutrarJ-Best Law Ever
Euaeted-RAilroGd Matters.

| PHILADELPHIA, Mafcn l0.-lne fFeS na'
the following interview with Congressman
W. D. Kelley on the consiitutionality O
the tariff bill: The attention OF Judge
William D. Kelley was drawn yesterday Il
dispatch to the Press from Pittsburgh
in which several prominent constitutions
lawyers were quoted as saying that they
had doubts as to the constitutionality o
the recently enacted tax and tariff bill II
Congress. Judge Kelley read the article
over very carefully and then expressed th'
very decided opinion that to attempt TO at
tack the tariff law on its constitutionalit!
was the veriest nonsense Imaginable:
"The article is purely sensational, said
he, "and l must cay that read 1t Will
mingled pain and indignation. There il
no question in the mind OF any lawyer o.
the constitutionalitY OF the tariff bill as
passed by Congress. Mr.. Joseph D. Weeks
who is quoted as saying that he has nc
doubt OF its unconstitutionallty, is not a
lawyer. In another part Of the despatch
he is also quoted as saying that many able
constitutional lawyers, among them Sen.
ator Edmunds and Representative Ran
dolph Tucker, agree with him in this
opinion. Now, l can say, after having had
direct intercourse with these getlemen on
the subject, that neither Of them entertains
any doubt OF the laws constitutionality.
The author OF the article also quotes Sen
ator Sherman-on alleged intormatlon-as
having said that he regards the bill as OF
doubtful consttutionality, Having myself
discussed this very feature with Senators
Morrill,, Sherman, Dawes, Edmunds and
Hale, all OF whom participated in the con.
troversy OF 1862, in what has been referred
TO as a parallel case, ! can say that not
one OF them has the slightest doubt oi the
constitutionality OF this law. The dispatch,
still quoting Weeks, refers TO a cores
pondent who is stated to be an eminent
tariff student, says: 1T seems to me that
after all the manufacturers have more than
fighting chance TO defeat and nullliy TINS
calamitous tariff act passed by Congress.
PURE BosH.
"This," continued the champion oil pro-
lection with some emphasis, "is pure bosh'
The truth is that the manufacturers Of the
country are not fighting the bill. The
manufacturers OF Pittsburgh are not fight
ing it. The hostility to the bill, so far as
the direct expressions Of hostility have
reached me, is confined to individuals
who may be named on the fingers OF one
hand. The last letter received by me came
by the noon delivery, and is an expression
OF thanks from one OF the largest iron and
steel manufacturers in Pittsburgh. The
President OF the Book Trade Association ol
this city has abounded in coarse abuse o
me, while here have scores Of letters IRON
men in Boston, New York and Philade!
phia, all engaged in more extensive busi
ness operations than he, thanking me
warmly for my services to the trade as 9
member Of the Conference Committee, and
in securing the adoption Of the committee
report by the House"
Judge Kelly exhibited thirty or forty
letters and kilograms FROM the head OF some
OF the most prominent industries OF the
country. All oi them contained the warm
est expressions OF approval OF the labors o.
the Pennsylvania Representative. In re-
ply 10 a question as to whether he consid
cred the law as passed as good us the one
already in existence, the Judge replied in
the affirmative.
AN IMPROVEMENT Of FORMER TARIFF LAWS
"In many respects" said he, "it is, in its
protective aspects, an improvement upon
any tariff laws this country has ever had. II
operates harsnly and uniustly, as believe
and 80 said in debate, on lew industries
Thus. it ailirms the erroneous decision o.
the Treasury Department, in the matter o.
cotton ties, it formally aitirms the placing
OF quinine on the free list, and put
cincnonidia on the same list, IL
violation not only Of the princi
pies which uaderlie the protective
system, but the dogmas Of the adherents o
tariff for revenue only. its provisions o.
lower rate OF duty for the material fol
steel wire rods than it imposes for iron
wire rods is a gross inconsistency, and
fear, that by exposing crucible and open
hearth steel to the effect OF traudulen
under valuations, it may prove as dis
astrous to these two industries as its pro
visions with reference to nickel must in
eyitably do for the nickel interests. Ye
with these grave objections in view,
again affirm the confident belief that the
protectionists OF the country will find, II
one year, this tariff law to be the best they
eyer had"
HThen you do not attach much import
ance to the opinion oil Mr.. Weeks on thil
subject" :"
"None at ALL" was the reply, "and hi'
alleged correspondent is as much out o