The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-06
THE TARIFF LAW.
mar. Reeds Account Of the Crisis Through
which the Bill Passed

Mr.. Reeds Account Of the Crisis Through
which the Bill Passed.
WASHINGTON, March SIN an interview
with correspondent of the Boston journal,
Mr. Reed, of Maine, gave the following inter
esting account Of the crisis through which the
tariff bill passed;
The people," he said, "have no idea how
narrow an escape it was. 1t viii never do to
forget that the Republican pa; in both Sen.
ate and House was numerical. weak; and Ia
Dody numerically weak no amount of strength
IN individuals can be certain TO bridge over the
oiineulties OF the situation. The Republican
party was just strong enough to have all the
responsibility in the public mind. with very
Httle actual power to lesisate. The Demo-
cratic plan was to defeat both the Senate and
House tariff bills by talk. They did not intend
10 allow the removal of internal revenue taxes
Iheir purpose was to keep these taxes as a sort
Of sn lever to aid in passing a low tariff bill.
Ihose who are interested in banks have been
very strenuous to be relieved of their taxes,
ana they have used their great influence to Sc
cure tnis under cover of a demand for tariff
revision 1t is easy to see what assistance the
democrats would have for the passage of a
low tariff bill in the next Congress if they
could have retained these internal revenue
taxes as a lever. When the Senate bill came
10 the House it became apparent that it was
injurious to the interests of Ohio, Pennsylva-
ma and New Jersey. The great majority of
nepuDlican Representatives held these opin-
IONS, out fifteen or twenty were disposed 10
vote Tor the Senate bill. The Democrats were
disposed to act entirely for their party advan-
tage and to defeat all legislation if possible.
Ohuer the rules of the House the Senate bill
would have had TO go 10 the committee Of the
whole where it would have been talked to
death by the same tactics by which the House
bill had been killed. 1t became necessary,
therefore, to have rule which would enable
the House to send the bill to the conference
committee; but Representatives, OF States
whose interests were injuriously affected by
the Senate bill had to be satisfied that the bill
would surely go to a conference committee,
fearing that there might be some union be-
tween Democrats and sufficient number of
Republicans to pass the Senate bill. The con-
clusion Of the Republican caucus was that if
the Dill could certainly 60 TO a conference COM
mittee it would be wiser to take all the risks Of
the action of the conference; hence the new
rule. Ii simpler rule, allowing the House to
concur, had been adopted there can be no doubt
that the Senate bill would have been non-cou-
CURED in, but the rule was reported carrying
the bill to the conference committee, as that
was the straightforward ways The fear was
expressed that the Senate committee would be
too strong in the conference on account OF the
idea that prevailed that the House was willing
to concur in the Senate bill, thing which was
never by any means certain. Hammond's mo
ton, raising the constitutional question, was
turned to good use insconference with power to
raise the constitutional question, backed up by
The conference committee, therefore, met to
consider the right which the House has under
the Constitution to originate such bills upon
pretty fair terms, and the committee met with
better grounds for an agreement than could
have been expected in such a situation. OF
course it was matter of very grave difficulty
TO reconcile the differences. and the proceed
ings had to be carefully guarded so to give
every one confidence that the rights and inter
ests of his constituents would be represented
in fh a nd inf fha
1t would have been much better to have had
an enlightening discuss ion on each Item of the
tariff bill, but the Democrats showed through
out in public determination, which they free.
y discussed individually in private, to prevent
any tariff revision, preferring to manage that
matter themselves at the next Congress- when
they would have the House at their disposal
Hence the time which might have been spent
in detailed consideration of the tariff, was
wasted"
Reduction of Wages and Strike Threat
ened.
PrTTsBURG, Pa, March 5.-Iron master in
terviewed on the tariff question are unanimous
In their declaration that under the new law
reduction of wages of all classes of workmen
will be necessity. If a reduction is persisted
in It will very probably result in a general
strike, as large number of employees seen to-
day assert that any attempt to reduce wages
will be atubbornly resisted.
CHICAGO, March 5.-The iron masters here
on being interviewed say the action of Congress
on the tariff is more injurious to the iron inter-
ests than any legislation within half century,
and that the only means of keeping the mills
open will be by sweeping reduction of wages
at such point that the laborers in turn must
have cheaper food.
Don't Like the Law in England.
BRADFORD, Eng, March 5.-There is great
disappointment here among merchants and
manufacturers with regard to the new triff
laws Just enacted by the United States Con-
gress.