Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1884-04-23

Seymour, Connecticut; Love, Della
ware; Hoblitzell and Talbot, of Mary
land; O'Neill and Clardy, of Missouri;
Beach, New York; Jordan, Murray,
Lefevre and Seney, of Ohio, If these
16, who were pledged at the beginning
to Mr.. Randall's side, lad stuck to
their colors it would have been the last
OF tariff legislation this summer Four
more Of the so claimed-Sumner, of
California; Nichols, Georgia; Campbell
and Hutchins, of New York, were alb
sent.
The vote of James, of New York, on
the Republican side, was one of the un-
expected things which happened. As
soon as the vote was taken Mr.. Morri-
son took the floor in labored speech,
which he read rather dryly from manu-
script He was followed by Judge
Kelly, who made one of the best off
hand efforts of his life.
THE MAN WHO SURPRISED THEM.
Mr.. Strait was asked to explain his
vote in favor of considering the bill,
and replied as follows: Il believe
that reduction of the tariff must come
sooner or later. | believe that the
tariff is much too high. The reduction
made last Congress is step in the
right direction, but the tariff will stand
further reduction without doing
harm, in my opinion, to the manufac-
turing interest Of the East. While |
don't desire to cripple the manufactur-
ing industries, | do believe they can
transact their business under reduc-
tion and still be able to compete with
foreign markets, and | further think
that the people of the West will insist
upon fair and proper reduction. This
bill, in respect to many items, is not
what / or many others would like to
have. ] would like to place many
items on the free list, and possibly
there are many items in the bill that
ought not to receive 20 per cent. reduc-
tion."
Don't you think that the discussion
is unavailing, will amount to nothing
and is an unnecessary waste Of time 2"
81 do not think so, because believe
in reduction, and any discussion on
that subject / do not think waste of
time.
"Do you think the bill as it now is
should pass; in other words, would
you vote for it 2"
81 am not clear whether the bill in
its present shape should pass or not,
and shall have to reserve my judgment
on that point until after fair discus
sion of it"
On being asked for an explanation of
his vote, Mr.. Nelson replied: "In the
first place am not free trader, in the
full sense of the term. | believe in
reduction of the tariff, and believe a
majority of the people of my district
are in favor of reasonable reduction.
The resolutions and addresses Of the
Farmers Convention which lately met
at St Paul indicate that the sentiment
Of the farmers is for reduction of the
tariff, and the platform on which | was
nominated and elected was also in
favor of tariff reform. | voted to take
up the Morrison bill because that was
the only way of getting the question of
tariff reduction before the House. /
am not prepared to say it is perfect
bill, nor am | prepared to say at pres
ent that | shall vote for it. But do
feel that the people of the West are en-
titled to reasonable and equitable re-
duction of the tariff, and it is great
outrage to have a system of taxation
which leaves surplus of $3.50, 900, 900
in the Treasury every year"
But it will be said that the tariff
bill cannot pass the Senate, and what
is the use to vote to do something that
will amount to nothing 2" was suggest
ed