Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-04-17
PORTY-EIGHvH CONGRESS.
First session.
sen ATE.
WASHINGION. a

WAsHISGToS, April l6.
Among the memorials presented in the Sen,
ate today and referred. were the following
BY Mr.. Blair. resolutions of the State
grange of New Hampshire, recommending
that the head of the department of agricult-
ure be made a member of the Cabinet.
BY Mr.. Logan, a number of petitions from
Grand Army posts relating to pensions for
soldiers of the late war.
A memorial from the chambers of COM
merce of New York and Kentucky, opposing
further coinage of silver dollars.
The bill to divide a part of the great res.
ervation of the Six Nation Indians in Dakota
into separate reservations, and TO secure the
relinQuishment of the Indian title to the re-
mainder. was passed.
Mr. Morrill, obtained unanimous consent TO
reply to criticisms on his (Morrilfs) course
on the tariff, made by Mr.. Beck in the
course of his remarks on the educational bill.
Among other things Mr.. Morrill, said he had
not been inclined TO make a party issue of
the tariff question, but if the democrat party,
departing from the teachings of the earlier
and moee renowned leaders, choose TO thrust
this new issue on the republican party, they
may rest assured that the conflict will not be
stunned
Mr.. Morrill, entered on historic review of
the democrat party to show its shifting policy
in regard to the tariff. The policy now rec
commended by that party was the policy of
the guillotine. with nothing to recommend it
but its brevity. In America it was only men
who did not labor who were in favor of free
trade or tariff for revenue.
Referring to the wages of laborers, Mr..
Morrill, said that free trade would compel
Americans to do something like so per cent.
more work or to accept 80 per cent. less
wages. He remarked in conclusion that Mr..
Tilden's favorate candidate for the Presidency
was well known to. be Henry b. Payne. an
Ohio protective tariff man.
The Senate proceeded with the considera-
tion of the bankruptcy bill, and several
amendments were adopted.
I he bill was read to the end and substan-
tally agreed to. several amendments, how
ever being indicated to be made when the
bill is reported from the committee of the
whole,
The Senate went into executive session
and later adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Dibble of South Carolina. from the
committee on public buildings, asked leave
to report a resolution reciting that charges
have been made of completely between gov
ernment officers and owners of certain real
estate in Brooklyn, n Y, touching the pur-
chase of a site for public building in that
city, directing the committee to investigate
the charges.
Mr. Skinner of New York objected.
The House went into committee on the
tariff bill.
Mr.. Russell of Massachusetts, made an
elaborate argument in opposition to the meas
ure, and deprecated the reopening of the tariff
agitation.
He said, let the protective tariff be sub
mitted to the people, and if after free, fair
discussion they desired to eliminate the pro-
tective element from tariff, let them assume
the responsibility if they accept the conse-
quences. He proceeded to discuss the question
of labor and wages affected by tariff legis-
laton and controverted statements made by
Morrison that the wages received by 6,000,-
900 shop and field laborers in the country did
not average $500 year by citing the situa-
ton in Lawrence, Mass, where the popula-
of 49, 900 wholly employed in labor had de-
posits of SI7 900, 900 in the savings banks.
He contrasted this state of facts with the fact
that that in Manchester, England, having a
population of $50, 900, the savings deposited
in the banks did not amount to half that sum
The same necessity existed today for the
protective system as when first established
The attempt of free traders to bring reproach
on the system of any 'infant industry
should not blind Congress to the fact that
though new industries needed more protec-
ton. few industries in the country would
ever become old enough to be able without
protection to pay American wages. He
hoped the democrat party would not be hasty
and inconsiderate in their action and disturb
the business interests of the country for
politician purposes.
Mr.. Blount of Kentucky, said it was COM
mon observation that if the democratic party
did not abandon its attempt to revise the
tariff it could not elect a president. If on
such suggestions the democratic party aban-
doned its policy, the time would come when
farer representatives would be sent to Con-
gress to resume the contest The reduction
of revenue which would be accomplished by
the bill was estimated at $50, ,000, 900, and
this opened way to the reduction of the
tax on distilled spirits to ten cents per gallon
and encouraged farmers to put in brandy
which by decay would otherwise be lost. 1t
would also enable Congress to abolish the
entire tobacco tax.
Mr.. Chace of Rhode Island, contended that
the logic of the free trade policy was to reduce
American labor to level of European labor
and spoke strongly against the proposition.
He then criticised the various features of the
pending bill and especially antagonized that
portion which reduces the duty on wool. The
REDUCTION of 20 per cent on the entire tariff
list would throw out of employment 1.700,-
600 persous. who with their families consumed
SO ,O00, 900 bushels of wheat. They would be
forced to cultivation of the soil and the pro-
duction on wheat would be increased to the
extent Of $50, 900, 900 bushels. The produc-
ers of cereals were already in danger OWNS
to the competition from the wheat fields o.
Russia and India. The only safe market for
wheat was the home market.