The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1883-03-30
rATCnweRK,

The methods resorteu 70 shoWeu tho
desperate extreme to which the Repub-
lican party felt itself forced for bad not
the Tariff Conference Committee I'D.
iusted the sugar scale 20 AZ TO please
Louisiana, Congress would have ad
iourned with nothing done. But when
the bill was awsstsned with what Is
practically prohibitory rate on sugar
Of the grade Louisiana produces, the
scene shifted. Senator Kellogg ruver-
sed himself. Instead of proceeding TO
execute hia intention TO talk the report
to death, he espeuscd It. and his vote
carried the day in the Senate.
So much for political economy and
tho triumph of principle in the passage
Of the tariff bill | The bribe TO sugar did
it. Even then the result hung on the
vote of Senator Mitchell, who thought
he was paired. aud in so thinking
thought wrong. The error saved the
bill. Another triumph of political
economy as applied to practical legisla-
ton on customs duties
Five hours before the report was
agreed on by the conference committee,
there was scarcely any prospect Of an
agreement. II was meant there should
be one. kilograms began to pour in
from party leaders to the Republicans
in Congress. "Don't adjourn without
doing something" said score. "Givs
US something and call It REFORM" was
the substance Of many more. The cry
in general wss for the party. The cor
rect view Of duties and taxstion hardly
entered into the account.
Toward the last hour John Sherman
said: "Let US fix up something that
will suit this demand" IL was to be q
desperate effort to save the party, it
mattered little what. The work Of
patching up something that would car
~, not for any merit it might have rs .
piece Of true tariff work. but As device
for party advantage, was begun.
The immediate idea was low 20 get
votes enough to put some sort sf bill
through. Up to that time the let-things-
go-by-the- board idea was the dominant
one il the Hoaso. But under tie tele-
grams and the outside pressure to do
something, there was q weakening.
When the committee brought in their
patchwork, tho idea of doing something,
and not much matter what, if it only
bad the appearance Of reform, bad got
all other ideas pretty we'll on the run.
The plan of the pr0tectiOnists Of letting
well enough alone. as they called the
dO-nothing policy, Was upset.
It was fog this plan that Blaines
help had been sumnoned by the Penn
sylvania protectionists. From Grst TO
last they had scarcely exerted the cou-
rage to avow it. It was secretly worked
for, and under various DISCUSSES. When
the report of the conference committee
came in, large part of The plan failed,
for the leading point was to achieve the
victory through disagreement. The
agreement Of the conference managers
was the tocsin of defeat.
After that it was not much use to
continue the fght, though it was kept
up with show Of vigOr by Representa-
tives from high protection districts. AS
it was, the bribs 10 sugar and the slleg. |
ed mistake as to bis pair Ly Senator
Mitchell carried the report in the Sem
ate.
It is Law, but what il it. As patch
work solely, it may serve the purpose
Of the makers. But as an intelligent
treatment Of the question Of customs it
10 a mass of erudities which never will |
be tolerated. Probably not FIVE men
in Congress had any clear idea Of what
they were voting for-no, rot one. even,
taking the bill as a whole, for it is an
impossibility for any nAn to understand
it.
John Sberman's idea, expressed since |
the adjournment, is that the country
demanded something. So the commit
Zee shook up the two bills and drew
put what came first. Patching the pie
,ss together, the committee took the
result for their report. Congress took
the report because the committee made
i. How the country will make out
With the law heaven only knowsi
Snch is the tariff legislation by the
asst of Republican Congresses.
Public officials should not forget that
70 far as their relations to the public are |
they are agents, servants. or |
trustees duly appointed. employed, or
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