The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-16

more minute scrutiny diseloses that in
many items where there are apparent re
concentrations of important reductions,
| the report really recommends higher duties.
These insidious proposals are wrapped up
in language which can only be understood
| by experts, but fortunately experts have
not been wanting to expose their real
/ nature Aud as if this discovery were not
enough to vitate the report, the ways and
means committee of the house, in revising
the schedules proposed by the commission.
| is Selling the opportunity to recommend
| higher duties in still further particulars
The general impression now is that the
commission's report could not be adopted
as it stands without doing more harm than
| good, and that what little good there is in
| il will be found eliminated by the time the
modification of the WAYS and means com
mittee are completed. It is bee oming more
| and more apparent every day that it will
remain for the next congress, with its
democratic Majority to effect reform of
the tariff that viii be something
more than sham. The work of
the tariff commission has justified
all the predictions made on the
score OF its legislative uselessness, while it
has also belied the hopes of it's friends as
to its influences in giving greater stability
to the existing system of import duties.
But the creation and work of the commits
sion has had one good resultant of fore
ing the absurdities of tariff legislature on
the attention of the people. and compelling
discussion which will inevitably have the
effect of leading to a more radical revision
than before the appointment of the com
mission was deemed possible. Apropos of.
this tariff subject l am constrained to
quote a letter recently received by
the Hon. S. s. Cox. 1t is in the nature of
an appeal for an infant industry yet un-
born but of which the accouchment is
soon expected. Mr.. Cox will doubtless
see TO it that in the great work of tariff re
vision, the plaintive voice is not drowned
out by the bawling of Judge Kelly's more
lusty infants; Il am going into the bust
ness of raising pineapples and
other fruits in hot-houses and l want pro-
lection againt the pauper labor of the
West Indies for my infant industry. | pur
pose employing two small boys, and Amer
lean labor must be protected even if pine
apples cost five dollars apiece. Don't you
forget it, Yours c.. CHowDER SMITH,
A protectionist.'
The matter of the enormous fees paid to
Mr.. George Bliss, attorney in the Star
route cases, has attracted so much atten-
ton and excited so much comment that an
inquiry into it has been started in the
house. Up to this time Mr. Bliss has
drawn over $3S, 000 or over $50, 900
year. This is larger pay than any of the |
eminent lawyers on the other side get
much more than the attorney general, and |
wholly disproportionate to the value of the |
services rendered. Mr. Bliss is not much |
of a lawyer and not much of a man in /
any respect, but he happens to have been
q chum of "Chet" Arthur when the latter
was ward politician in New York aud |
hence his employment at such big figures. /
There is a strong notion that he is not try
ing very hard to hurt anybody by the
prosecution. but is making believe as hard
rs he can, and prolonging the case to the
800 per day.
A Washington man the other day sent
some superannuated household effects down
% an auction room to he sold. Among
hem was an old clock that went for 80
tents. 1t was bought by a secon,. hand
furniture dealer-of the Israelitish persua
Jon and exposed for sale. A day or two
afterwards the original owner of the clock
:ame down and without revealing himself
.sked to see some old clocks. The Israel
tie showed his stock and among them was
he identical one which had belonged to
lis customer. He asked the price, which
vas 50. This he cheerfully paid. Then
aking the front of it out he hauled out
wo $500 notes, which he had hidden there
md forgotten. The Israelite's wrath and
Despair may be imagined; he wept and
ore his hair. when l bought der CLOCK"
e walled, 81 tells Isaac-dot's der boy
OF schleeps and schnores and blays nit
er accordion when leafs him der tend
. bishness-'|Isaa I says, Il bought
at pIOnk from Mishter r and T off hin,
wo dollars for dot CLOCK. Now don't you :
hust go and sell dot CLOCK mitout you dells
hat | dells you" Isaac stood by and ev-
lently felicitated himself that he had not
cen an active agent in selling der CLOCK. '
tut what man of sense would ever have t
ut the money there or would ever have I
)und it again. There is certainly a spe- q
al providence for fools. t
PHONo 5