New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-10
DEMOCRATIC DISTRACTION.
MoRR1soYs BILL A sTUMBLING-BLoON
,'oI ~ rp1yclrrr-uoEBIsoNs DELAY
lBY TELEGRAPH To THE IN'''

80 g. tbo House will succeed in administering an
,,iate i'm the form of a "modlhe0 Moiilson "i'''
to the Democrats who are opposed 10 t"rlh ag''"-
tom or whether the latter aided by leading Demo-
crots in the East, will he able to muzzle the men
who elected Carlisle Speaker, and proclaimed
their determination to redeem their PleuRos
to the people" in regard to revenue reform
Sone-of tbe men who voted for Carlisle advised nm
NOT 10 make up WAYS and Means Committee ol
which the majority should be of Morrison way ol
thinking This advice was dsregarded, ana ChaIT-
man Morrison has never had reason to lear lha' III
conld not get a majority Of his committee TO sup
port any tariff bill he might propose. lhe only
Democratic member who has any independent
views on the subject is Abram 5. Hewitt, ana 1t Is
40 secret that the free list proposed IN inc orsli
Morrison bill was framed with view OF securing
Mr. Hewitt's support.
Colonel Morrison also seemed TO believe 1hat the
halt of free raw materials in the form of lrOn-ore,
lime. dextrne jute butts, etc, would induce con-
siderable number of manufacturers to swallow the
entire bill without objection. 1t turned ont that
the only iron-ore producer or manufacturer OF iron
or other wares who approved the bill was Mr..
Hewitt.
That free list was dropped and Chairman Morr-
son set himself to work to cOntrive new free list
with which to catch votes He and his free-trade
colleagues were not satisfied with the result except
temporary CNptulcut lOI Inv pNhNhN Va 'AAN
partv - in the coming campaign, but that purpose
they believed it would serve admirably. Their
surprise when it was vigorously assaled showed
how completely at fault were they, and their nfor-
nation respecting the geographical distribution
and industrial Importance of the coal, lumber, and
salt interests of the country No sooner
were the details of the new bill under
stood than it was discovered that Cali
forna would give six Democratic votes
against it, Maryland votes West Virginia 3
votes OHIO o votes, and Michigan and Wisconsin
probably votes each. About half these votes
too, would come from who supported Carlisle.
One Of them said yesterday that the new free list
is TO share the fate of the first one and the bill is
to provide simply for a horizontal reduction of
twenty per cent in certain schedules. This change
is sexpected TO bring back the wandering votes from
Maryland California, Wisconsin and Michigan,
and two of the three votes from West Virginia.
DEMOCRATS AND THE PARTY CAUCUS
"The Morrison bill would be entirely acceptable
TO me if everything struck out of it except the
enacting clause said a Democratic Congressman
yesterday. He intmated however, that he might
not feel justified in voting against the measure if
the Democratic caucus should approve it, A South
ern Democratic Representative said: Il cannot
support the bill and do not well see how | can
vote against it in the face of a caucus
approval. The horizontal scheme of reduction
is indefensible." A ewEngland Democrat said:
81 am revenue TeformeT, but am opposed to tariff
agitation at this time. / believe seven-tenths of
the manufacturing industries of my State could
stand reduction, but some regard should be paid
TO the other three-tenths, as well to the |
newer and less firmly established manu- |
features Of Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, /
and other States" Another Northern Democratic |
Representative remarked 81 do not know yet what |
shall do. am rather inclined TO vote for the |
Morrison BILL because am tired Of this eyerlast- |
ing backing and filing and lodging and pickering
of the Democratic party on the tariff question. |
would like to have the party plant itself square in |
some position and stick to it. majority of the |
party in the House to think stand /
on this bill. | do not agree with them, |
but if they insist, |, for one, am |
willing to try 1t. We shall be whipped ont of our
boots In New-York Connecticut and New-Jersey, if !
we do it but, as ! said, prefer anything to this |
continual dodgng Of the question: Ex-senator /!
Eaton thinks the tariff question ought TO be taken
out of politics"
DIsGUsTED WITH THE MORRISON BILL.
Another Democrat petuantly exclaimed: u don't |
want 10 hear anything about the Morrison bill. l |
90 not care what become. Of it. do not see why |
people keep harping on that matter. The Demo |
cratic party IS not harmonious ON that subject |
If we pass the bill we'll be whipped next fall. and
if We don't pass it-well, | suppose we'll get !
whipped anyway. do not believe the people il |
my district care a snap about the duties and know
do not"
ADcmocratic Congressman from one of the Middle !
States remarked: &" ! do not think can vote for
the Morrison bill. If the people of my State
were demanding a reduction of duties / would
be ardent q revenue relomer the best Of them.
Ghe people may be suffering Spoliation at the hands
of the tariff robbers, but they TO care moth
ing about IT, for they getting along well as it is
When ! hear them III the ferry-boats and street.
Cars and shops calling for reduction OF duties il
it will be time enough for me to act"
II is noticeable that hardly Democrat who is op-
posed TO the bill will permit the of his name in
any statement of his position and all of them ap-
pear TO be looking toward with anxiety, to the
action Of caucus in which il is hoped some sort
Of a truce may be patched up to tide the party
over until the end of the session and the assembling
oi the National Convention. II should not be for
gotten that there are few Democrats in Congress
who as a matter Of general political policy favor
protection Of American industries.
When the statement is made that 80 Democrats
VIII vote against the Morrison bill, it includes
probably some men who believe that any action
no" wiz 'e injurious TO Democratic prospects,
while the others represent local industries which
would be dlsastrously affected by the bill.
THE CONSIDERATION THAT GIVES PAUSE.
II Large number OF lntlueutial Democrats did
not believe that the electoral votes of NewYorls
New-JerSey California and West Virginia are alb
Solutely necessary to Democratic success, the Nor
rison bill would pass the House without much diff
hculty.
1t Is true that Colonel Morrison, Henry Waiter.
son and some other leading Democrats insist that
On the square issue of tariff reform the Demo
Gratis can offset probable losses in the States men,
TONED by gains III the West but they do not seem
lief.
IL seems probable that in caucus two plans will
be urged Colonel Morrison and his friends will be