New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-30
SENATOR BECK ON THE TARIFF
AN ISSUE TO BE FOUGHT OVER AGAIN


REJorNDER TO SENATORS SHERMAN AND MORRILL,
THE TARIFF QUESTION IN THE sPEAKEkshf
AND PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS.
TPRoM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBusE.l
WASHINGTON June 29.-A day or two after the
publication in The TRIBUNE. some weeks ago. OF
Senator Morrilps review of the new tariff law. and
of some criticisms thereon BY Senator Sherman, the
attention of Senator Beck was called to the matter
He showed much feeling regard to some illusions
to himself and to the course Of the FreeTrade DEM
ocrats when tho bill was in the Senate. and de-
clared that he would soon reply During the last
week or two lie has been in Washington and has
spent much time in preparing a statement IN con-
versational form, in which he not only replies to
the structures of Senators Morrill, and Sherman but
discusses with great vigor the new tariff law and
the bearing of the tariff question upon the Speaker
ship and the Presidential contest OF next
year. 1t s understood that Mr.. Beck sub
mittcd his statement to several other Demo-
cratic Senators before he decided to give
it to the public and that they fully intorsed 1T.
Senator Beck gives his opinion Of the new law in
plain terms follows:
II is absurd to suppose that the Democratic party
will either organize the House of Representatives.
make the Presidential canvass on the idea that
the tariff law passed last winter shall remain nm
disturbed that t is either wise, just or honest
and the conduct of It's members 1t Is only necessary
to say that the bill 1T submitted was buresque on
Legislation and even on the report accom- panying IT,
Careful examination by committees of both houses
developed Ghe miserable jObbery embraced In the
cunning changes of classification made n the Lead
ing schedules IN the interest of protected monopo-
lies. IL showed that each schedule was n1de up BY
the men who were personally interested IN making
American consumers paw them high prices ana VINO
sought TO prohibit IMPORTS and curtail revenues in
order TO enable them to add the tariff tax TO the
pilcs OF their home products. The revenues or the
country anu the interest OF the great mass or con-
suners ana taxpayers received no sort OF consdera
ton at Their hands and received even less from the
committee on conference that tna ly fastened the
miserable job upon the country.
he thing that Is now the tariff law OF the land
has hardly respectable title as Hayes and
Wheeer received from the Electoral Commission. lg
was the work Of half dozen men who dIsr gsrded
the known aud expressed Will of both houses or
Congress, and who violated the trust reposed in
them, and under the party lash and the gag-iaw
succeeded in fOisting it upon the country. or
course thev knew that the people were clamorous
for the reduction Oftsxes aud that surplus Of over
$50 900 900 beyond what the dominant party
dared TO squander star-routes, supervisors aud
marshals OF elections, custom-house and Internal
revenue spies and bummers. aud the horie OF su-
prrnumerarleS everywhere would not be tolerated,
when p2o,0OO,OO0 surplus annually was all that
could be applied. the averog, toward the Day-
ment of the public debt till the bonds of 1907 ma
tured. The reduction made in internal revenue
taxation the only real relief gwen. As TO that
both partles were substantially agreed. iha
wire pulers for the taIf protectionlsts knew that
neither the Tariff Commission the con-
ference committee had anything to do with,
would pull through many of their sch,nes or
punder, and they used 1t to the best advantage.
Even in an interview with Senator Sherman pub
iished March l3 last, there are many curious
charges admissions and Suggestions as also In thae
OF senator MOrrll made In 10 IL, 10 regard
to their action III that conference, which hope to
call the attention of the Senate to hereafter.
ACTION or THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.
Senator Beck next reviews the proceedings in
both branches de Congress the Tariff bill. He is
in error when Ne says: +" The House. it will be re-
membered. had Struggled long and labored hard to
peiect its original internal revenue bill by extend
ing it over the tariff question as well. but had
utterly tailed. and finally abandoned its tarR
amendments, with many important schedules not
even considered
After reciting the resolutions adopted by the
Senate and the House. respectively for the guidance
of the conferees appointed to consider the bill, Mr.
Beck continues:
The Senator from Delaware (Mr. Bayard and
myself were appointed two of the live conterees on
the part OF the Senate. We met the House con-
terees, and all matters pertaining to internal rev,
enue were agreed TO by all of us. When the tariff
amendment of the Senate was reached. We called
for the reading of the House resolution. 1t was
read. We read 10 them the resolution OF the Sell
ate and proposed at once to submit the question or
the constitu lona right of the Senate TO propose
the amendments it had 70 the House bill to our
L
willing To acknow ledge our right TO do so. They
declined TO take any action and declined TO admis
that our amendments were constitutional, or 10 say
that they would advise the House that they were.
u became apparent at once that there could be no
fair full and Tree conference. Therefore the Sena-
tor from Delaware and myself. III accordance with
the resolution of the Senate understood IT. re-
tired from the conference and reported to the Sem
ate for its consideration the resolution OF the
House, stating the facts fully and fairy. No DEM
ocrat could be found who was willing to act as
conferee. All who gave reasons Tor declining as
serted as had done, that there could be no fair
conference VITA that resolution OF the House hang
ing over us, and no man, not even Mr.. Morrlll or
Mr.. Sherman, asserted t1at there could be- or yen-
tured to tell tine Senate why they desired 10 con-
tinue IN conference with the House conferees in op
position To the Will OF the Senate as expressed in1ts
resolution. Senator Garland, OF Arkansas, promptly
offered tue following resolution and demanded I'M
mediate action IT, IN order to settle tue question:
Res0ped That conerees the part the Senatson
B No 5.53S be, and they hereby, instructed
with from the conferences heretofore agreed 10
touching such DILL
1t was evident that large majority of the Senate
stood ready to vote for that resolItlon-certsinly
the Democratic halt OF it was unit III it, favor-but
Senator Allison, of Iowa, came to the rescue and
saved tie prOleetion managers by objecting to the
cor onserati0n ot the resolution till next day. 1t was
of course, under the rule OF the Senate
which requires all resolutions II objected TO, TO lie
over one day. The vote, however, could not be-
postponed longer than next morning after the close
OF regular morning business. Mr. sherman and Mr.
Morrill, knew well what that vote would be. They
knew that the Senate would order them TO with
law from the conference, and that unless they
could report Ill advance of vote, all their schemes
for an increase OF taxation to protect their friends
would fail They knew tnat the House would then
demand the right to vote ON the bill as II passed the
senate and that it would agree to it: that what
ever they did must be done before the resolution Of
Mr. Garland could be called up.
REPLIES To SENATORS SHERMAN AND MORRILL,.
The record shows, Senator Beck says that On tho
next day. before the morning hour had expired, tho
regular order of business was interrupted
by Senator Morrill,. who obtained unanjnogs
consent to have the report of the conferences
printed. OF course. he adds, "the
conference report had been closed aud signed before
that time and the Garland resolution no longer
applicable; the job was done their work was be-
fore the Senate there was no longer a conference
from which the couferees could be instructed 20