Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-05-03
Our WASHINGTON LETTER.



from Our Regular Correspondent,)
The lower branch of Congress is
making determined effort to work,
and nightly sessions are held. in or
der to expedite the Tariff debate.
The Democratic Representatives
are on the point of calling caucus
to take into consideration the pres
eat status of business, and to devise
some plan to push matters along for
the remainder of the session. Old
members, speaking of the hardness
of business. say they think only
such measures as are admitted to
be necessary to the proper admins
tration of government, stand much
show of passage.
The leaders in the Tariff discuss
ion contemplate closing the general
debate on Tuesday, May the sixth.
They propose devoting Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday of this
week, and Tuesday of next week to
the consideration of the measure.
Mr.. Kasson, of Illinois will make
the closing speech on the Re-
publican side, and he expects, to
make the motion to strike out the
enacting clause of the bill. A Rep
reseatative from Maryland, who
supported Mr.. Randall for the
Speakership, and has agreed with
him on the Tariff question, said to
me the other day that the House
was going to pass the Morrison bill
as sure as fate. "With amendments?
inquired I. "They will pass it pure
and simple" was the reply. There
have been more changes of opinion
on this question than most people
think"
Among the notable free trade
speeches of the week was that of
Congressman Wood of Indiana,
who explained the Democratic doc
trine to be, that duties upon imports
should be levied to raise revenue
sufficient to support the Govern
ment and pay its just debts. This
kind of Tariff, he urged, make suffi-
cient revenue the object of the law,
and protection to home industry
the Incident. The Republican doc
trine he said, was that protective
Tariff makes protection to home in
dustries from foreign competition
the object of the law, and sufficient
revenue the incident. Quoting from
the Presidents message the clause
''The question still presses what
legislation is necessary to relieve
the people of unnecessary taxes"
he SAID these taxes existed to such
an extent as to call to them spec
ial reference even from Republic
can President. The orator contend
ed that the great industries of this
country must get out of the notion
that the Government stimulus is OF
any lasting benefit. Like any other
stimulant, it made for little time
brilliant light, than left desola-
ton. The protective system he
claimed had made labor an auction
block, around which monopolists
gathered bidding in the chained,
slave, buying him and his vote at the
same time, and counting, the profit
saved, while the brawny arms inn
plore the mercy of providence for
him and his in this land of over
flowing plenty. He illustrated
what he called the abandoned wick
edness of the protective system in
several ways, calling it class legis-
lation to favor one class over all
others. He appealed to the farmers
to unite for their own interest, say
ing in the near future stronger laws
would be enacted to satisfy the creed
of the protective Glasses, that would
yoke them down like the Hebrew
children, while their appeaIes for
fairness and justice would be scoffed
at mercelessly. Mr.. Woods said
if revenue reform drives old Demo-
Gratis out of the party, be it so. They
ought not remain in the ranks and
stab its vital principle to death I'M
der the cover of Democracy.
The Senate hopes to dispose Of
the Pleuro-Pneumonia bill to-day. !
The last able assault upon the meas
ure was made by Senator Jones of
Fla, who saw in it several Consti-
tutional objections.
The Woman Suffrage question
has assumed four phases in Congress
From Committee there comes a re-
port made by the minority which is
in favor of extending the ballot to
the fair sex. Another report from |
the mgjority is-strongly opposed to |
the proposition. Representative
Dorsheimers report says it is proba-
BILE the interests of society will re-
quire that the woman shall be allow
ed to vote after a while, but not
now, and Representative Polan says
in his own behalf, that the duties
which nature has devolved upon
woman during the active part of
her life, makes it impracticable for
her to enter into politics.
Washington, April, 26 1884.