The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-03
THE HOUSE.
The Entire Day Devoted to Discussion of the
Tariff Bill.

Tariff Bill.
WASHINGTON, May 2.-The morning hour was
dispensed with and the House went into committee of
the whole, (AIr Cox, of New York, in the chair) on
the tariff bill.
Mr. Nutting opposed the bill and deprecated the agi
taton of the question for purely political purposes
Mr.. Duester gave notice of an amendment he pro-
posed to offer providing that and after July 1,
1884 no duty shall be levied or collected on any kind
of raw material which may in any manner be con-
sued by the people by the factories of the United
States.
Mr. Belmont favored the bill.
Mr. McMen denounced the present tariff as a
monstrous piece of injustice, inequality and false pre-
tense 1t had destroyed commerce. down the sales
of American manufactures and depleted the revenues
of American agriculture. Let him who voted against
this bill remember that he voted to indorse and per-
petuate increase of duties the necessares of fe
In conclusion he pictured the dangers of overflow
ing treasury which led thieves to devise every
from larceny to legislative robbery to get their hands
Mr. Cox, of North Carolina, regretted the tone of
the speech made yesterday by Mr. Eaton who in order
to secure the applause of the Republican side and to
draw Odum a measure which his party advo-
eating, had appealed to sectional prejudice.
Mr.. Miller of Pennsylvania argued in favor of the
protective system. 1t had been tried and not found
wanting; it had stood the test and had Injured the
benefit of every class of industry. Let Congress
stand by and maintain that system and still wider,
Mr. Cox, of New York, briefly replied to some propo-
sitions advanced by Mr.. Kelley. He argued in favor
of throwing open the markets of the world to Ameri-
free ships and free material. He wanted something
more cheerful than Mr. Kelleys dismal science some
thing Christian, something more humane some
thing not utterly and terribly selfish He believed
in commerce and progress not in exclu-
sion, in stagnation, in starvation. He alluded
to the progress in favor of tariff reform
which going on in Massachusetts and Minnesota,
and in conclusion expressed his surprise that the gen
teman from Illinois (Mr Fnerty should vote against
the freeship amendment to the shipping bill and thus
give England and other foreign countries $40 000
900 in fares and freightage which should go to our
country.
Mr.. Springer gave history of the circumstances
which surrounded the creation of the tariff commits
sion, and quoted from the report of that commission
that the best conservative interests of the country de-
manded reduction of tariff duties to the extent of
20 per cent. In response to this demand the tariff
bill of 1883 had been passed but instead of making
reduction of 20 per cent the highest estimate showed
the reduction only 5.63 per cent 1t was i'm
peratve that this Congress make reduction of taxa
ton 1t was little less than crime to
impose war taxes in time of peace The pending bill
did no than what had been recommended by the
tariff commission. 1t was more than the commits
sion had said demanded by the bestinterests of
the country. Certainly a Democratic Congress would
not hesitate to enact such measure this and bring
some rellef to the people he expressed his sympa
thy with the masses of the workngmen of the coun-
try and denied that they protected against the
labor of foreign countries by the present high tariff
He contended that their condition would be improved
by low tariff in that the purchasing power of their
wages would be largely enhanced. He described the
pitable condition of the miners of the coal
pits of Pennsylvania and quoted from the
port of the committee education and labor TO
confirm his statement. That report showed that the
protective tariff protected manufacturers only, and
left the laborers to fight and starve and in
dictmeut which the people had drawn against protec
ton. On that the Democratic party was going before
the country this fall and workingnen would speak
then with uncertain voice in condemnation Of that
system.
Mr. Miller-AdOpt the platform you did in 1880,