Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-02-13
WASHINGTON.
The lnterminabIe Tariff Talk In
Congress.
An Unsatisfactory Bill the Probable Out
come-Yesterday's Work in the
House-TIt Between Kelly
and Morrison.
GENERAL RUN OF NEWS AND GOSSIP.

WASHINGTON, February l2.-Opinions are
divided about the chances Of tariff bill
passing before the 4th Of March. On the
whole it is probable that some bill will
PASS and that it will be bad one.
It is believed that there are not less than
seventy. five Republicans in the House who
will unite to prevent the passage of bill
having the features Of the Senate bill as 1t
now stands amended. The seventy-tive are
extreme protectlonists, who prefer the
present tariff to anything lower. But
these gentlemen hope that .ths---Ssa-
ate will replace in its bill the high
duties which have been lowered during the
debate in Committee Of the Whole, but
which will this week come up for hnal
vote in the Senate. The chances are that
they will be gratifed. In that case they
will support the Senate bill, and they VIII
have ready to help them all the Democrats
in the House whom Mr.. Randall can con-
troll. With their help really bad bill can
pass the House, especially with the aid OF
Mr.. Kasson's resolution, giving majority
the right to suspend the rules and sum-
marily pass bill.
Mr.. Randall and those Democrats who
adhere to him have strong desire to get a
tariff bill, no matter what kind OF one, pass
ed at this session. Their theory is that the
tariff must be got out OF the way OF the
Presidential election, and they believe that
no matter what kind Of a bill is passed, its
passage will allay the agitation and kill the
tariff question, at least for two years. They
hope then, at the next national convention,
either TO make no mention OF the tariff at
oil in ha r,la n Sfra1Ilp fence
as usual and make a Swlndling platform.
To this policy of Mr.. Randalis the tax
reform Democrats, headed by MesSrs. Car
Isle, Morrison, Cox and others, are very
positively opposed. They hold that it is
above all things necessary 10 keep the tar
if issue alive. They insist that the Dem
ocratic party ought TO make the Presiden-
tial canvass on that issue next year, aud
that it cannot hope TO succeed on any
other.
The issue is made between these two
factions of the Democratic party and 1t
remains TO be seen which will carry the
day. The Republicans, in the meantime,
are tolerably united in favor Of high pro
teCtive duties and do not wish to avoid this
issue in the Presidential canvass. They say
they succeeded by making it in 1880, and
that, disunited as the Democrats are upon
the question, they can succeed with it
again in 1854. A certain number Of them
would like to throw 3 tub to the public
whale by lowering somewhat the present
scale of duties, but these are regarded as
timid brethren and are faced down by q
compact phalanx OF high protectionistS,
who want higher duties and who are not
alarmed at the word monopoly"
This is the condition OF parties in the
House and in the Senate also. Far Western
Republicans desire free lumber and lower
duties on iron, but they are few in number,
and there are probably as many Demo
Gratis who will vote with the high protec
tiOnists.
Under these circumstances it seems most
probable that bill will pass, and that this
bill will be a new bill of denominations,
favoring monopolies in every way. The
compact phalanX of extreme protectionistSs
will not support bill lowering duties, and
the Randall Democrats will not obstruct the
passage OF the worst bill likely to come be-
fore them, because they are ready for any
thing which in their hopes, will take the
tariff out OF politics