Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-04-26
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

(From Our Regular Correspondent)
AT the Capitol, the notable ora
tory of the week was expended on
the Tariff question. Among those
who made their "living issue" rec
ord in the Introductory stage of the
debate may be mentioned Repre-
sentative BIout of Ga, who believ-
ed in getting revenue from impor-
tation, but thought no legislation
should be enacted which would
make the rich richer and the poor
poorer, on the pretense of elevating
American labor above the pauper
labor of Europe, and keeping the
home market for ourselves. Repre-
sentative Jones of Arkansas said it
was in response to a widespread de-
mand for a reduction of the Tariff
that the pending bill was brought
in, and that its passage would an
nounce that the Democratic party
was in favor of reformation. Rep
resentative, Chace. Russell, KEEL
ley and Mills made opposition
speeches Chairman Morrison, in
his remarks which opened the
debate said, that if the Demo-
cratic platform had an honest
meaning, it was that the Tariff shall
be lowered to a revenue basis. He
held that gentlemen deceive them
selves who expect the people will be
deceived by a refusal to legislate in
accordance with this declared pur-
pose. II the protective policy was
to be the continuing policy of the
Government it would be, and, he
thought ought to be entrusted to its
friends, the Republican party. Mr..
Morrison referred to the free trade
quinine bill which he introduced
eight years ago providing for I'M
taxed alcohol for use in making it.
At once it was insisted that quinine
making would become lost art if
such a bill should pass into a law.
Later, when the story of free quin-
inc got among the people, another
placed the pill before the House,
emitting the free alcohol provision,
and the bill became law, protec-
tionists themselves voting for it,
The great Philadelphia house did
not go into decline, but continued
its business successfully as the Sec
ond largest quinine establishment
in the world, and the Chairman of
the Ways and Means committee in
sisted, so every legitimate industry
would go on with a revenue Tariff.
While this debate was progressing
in the House Senators Morrill,,
and Beck were having tilt on the
same subject in the other end of the
Capitol. The Senator from Yer
mont had undertaken to disprove
points made by the Kentucky sena-
tor in Tariff speech week since.
Senator Beck replied that he could
not be annihilated by poetry, stale
jokes, almanac stories, and unfav.
orable comparisons between him.
self and the statesmen who represen-
ted his state in former days. These
had no connection with the argu-
ment, and the Senator from Yer
mont could not succeed in making
Kentucky dissatisfied with her
condition or with her Representa-
tives.
During the week the Senate pass
ed the Post office and Naval appro-
priaIon bills, and will probably
decide the Bankruptcy question to-
day. The Pension bill is pending
measure in the House, but on legis-
lative days, the programme for that
branch of Congress will be Tariff,
Tariff. until the question is disposed
of.
Mr.. White a republican member
from Kentucky ran wild the other
day on the floor of the House, and
said that the difference betwene
and the Speaker was that
while the latter was trying to get |
bills through Congress for the big !