The Portland daily press., 1884-02-01
The Tariff.
An Hnisrview with Censrsssnsn Hard Of
0hie,

Ohie,
Especial Correspondence of the Press.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. Is.
Mr.. Hurd of Ohio. who is member OF the
Ways and Means Committee and who has
pronounced ideas about free trade, ia of opin-
ION that the tariff-iig is by no means up with
the House yet, as many would have it believed
but on the contrary, there is to be tariff bill
that will prove quite satisfactory.
II can't say very definitely" he said, "whst
We shall do in the committee for we haven't
had general consultation on the subject vet
not even general consultation of the MAORI.
ty Of the committee. We have talked the
mstter over among ourselves, ons man with
another man, until we know pretty we'll the
standing of each. know, for instance, inst
about the views and standing of every mem
Der OF the committee, and presume that ia
the case all round We shall have meeting
pretty soon to discuss the matter, and prepare
to frame BILL"
800 you think, then, that the somuittes
will be able to agree upon measures"
II have no doubt OF 1t. Just what that
measure will be do not know, nor does sry.
body know. l do know this however, that
whatever the remainder of the committee can
agree upon in the way of reduction, L shall
be content to accept. OF course my position il
we'll understood as that Of an absolute free
trader, bat I do not expect to attain to that vet
for some time, but whatever advances rec In
tnst dlrection Welcome. / am In favor OF q
bill ON which the other members Of the com.
mittee can agree. So long as It Ii reduction
from the present ubiquitous rate will accept
1t II 1t seems to be the best that can be had"
and do you think that same sort Of thing
animases the other members Of the COMMITTEES,
Mr.. Hurd2"
II think the other members OF the commit
tee are, like myself, willing to get as near to
their own Individual views as consistent with
the general sentiment of the COMMITTEES and
the country, and let the matter rest there.U
do you think that the bill which will be
framed will be in the shape OF horizontal re-
duction or general dissection of the present
tariff law. article by srticle7"
That cannot answer, except to say that I
should not be in favor of horizontal reduction.
though"
Then the report that Mr. Harrison Is pre-.
pairing Dill aking reduction Of this SORT Is
proba bly, incorrect. Ia it?'
II do no not known as to that II he Ia pre-
pairing bill OF that kind it is at his own sug-
gestion. He has not had any instruction from
the committee on the subject"
"How much OF reduc io. do you expect to
get 10 Dill that the committee would be like
ly to adopt?"
THAT is impossible to answer with ANYTHING
like accuracy. want to see o radu OF
one-third In the rates at once, quite . number
of articles placed on the free list that are
not there now, and general revision OF the
tariff rates don't know that we .hall get 90
mach as that, but shosld be glad to see it.u
"And would reduction Of thirty per cent
sn the tsrif mean reduction Of the revenue
ON tne d., me ratiof'
son no. 1t would not reduce the revenue
SO much, perhaps twenty per cent, perhaps |
without the trial. The revision OF the tari& .
year ago made very little Reduction in tbs rev.
epue?'
Glow about WOOL"
"Oh that ought to be reduced along with the
other articles"
"Then you don't join with Mr., Converse and |
the Ohio Democrats who think the wool tariff |
oRgkt to be increased to iJs original rate before
the tariff of last Year,"
mo indeed, I am in favor Of putting wool |
done this session, but think it ought TO be- all
the same"
'Mr. Converse thinks that the bill increas-
ing the wool tariff to the old rate will pass tho
House,
~ think he is mistaken in that. It NAV be
that there will be no reduction, but there viii |
think surely be no increase"
"What will be the fate of general tariff I
reduction bill when 1t reaches the Senate?"
"That, don't know, and don't think that !
care very much. l want our own party b
make q record on the tariff, and 1 think IL |
will. / believe that the Ways and Means COM
mittees will frame bill upon which We csn
unite, each making some concessions perhaps
and pass II through the House, and 80 to tue
country nsxs fall upon that record.n
"And VIM"
"Undoubtedly."
While Mr.. Hurd is sanguine, 1t Is learned
that others of as great prominence and polti.
cal foresight IS he are still undetermined as to
tbs future movements in regard to the tariff.
M Ill lie
ters from all parts of the country, asking him
what is to be done in regard to the tariff. To
all of these he replies that he cannot yet give
any definite information upon the subject, but
hopes to be able to do so at very early day.
He Is evidently not yet fully determined in his
mind what will be the decision Of the commit
tee or the House ou the subject.
Regarding Mr.. Randsll's position, II ia stated
here that he has recently expressed himself as
determined not to take any steps backward.
He proposes to retain a state of armed neutral
ity, as it were, until some overt act is commit
ted on the other side, and then he will marshal
his forces for war. He declares that he
stands now just where he stood in the Speaker
ship fight, and expects to remain there. That
he says was q contest of principle, and he Is
satisfied that the stand then taken by himself
and followers was the true one, and one which
the country desires to see followed by the party
in power, whatever that party may be. he
says that the developments of the past month
show that the people desire the tariff to be let
alone, and he proposes to do all he can to pre-
vent an agitation Of or change in the rate.
1t ia interesting to note that even some of
Mr.. Carlise's supporters are beginning to
openly oppose tariff legislation, or agitation,
at this session. Mr.. Follett OF Ohio, who was
o supporter of Carlisle and who was honored
by him with place on the appropriations
committee, Is now outspoken in opposition to
any agitation of the tariff at this session.
Talking with your correspondent, few hours
ago, he said frankly that he hoped there would
be none. 81 don't Think he said, 'that it is
wise to sgitate the question at all now. The
public, am satisfied, do not want it, and do
not think 1t will be of any benefit to the party
We lave tariff law, only recently adopted,
and IL ought to be given chance to show
what 1t is bel fore we take any further action ON
the subject.
'Do you think there will be any legislation
in the Houee on that subiectqn