The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-03-27
THE MORRISON TARIFF BILL.
It's Probable Fate when Brought UP for
ActiOn-A Count of Noses Indicates the
Likelihood of its Defeat-TOO Many Local
Oxen Liable to be Gored.

Action-A Count of Noses Indicates the
Likelihood of its Defeat-TOO Many Local
Oxen Liable to be Gored.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 10
The probable fate of the Tariff bin is
the subject most discussed at present.
Colonel Morrison admits that several
members of his own party will vote
against the bill. He could give a list
of them if he chose to, put he does not.
He hopes for a few Republican votes, but
does not pretend to put much reliance ON
these. He recognizes, as every one else
does, the plain proposition in political
arithmetic that detection of thirty-five
Democrats, and perhaps few less than
that will defeat the bill, supposing that lie
gets no Republican votes, and no such
votes are to be relied on. That there are
more than thirty-fve high-tarif Demo
Gratis in the House is known to every
body. 1t is hoped by making the bill
party measure to make some of these high.
tariff Democrats vote for it, but every
member of Congress cares more for his
own chances for reelection next fall than
he does for party interests, or reduction
of the tariff, no matter how much of
revenue reformer he may be. Before the
bill was introduced, it was believed by
many Democrats who did not favor low
duties that party policy required, in view
of all the riff-fOr-revenue-onIy declara-
tions made by the party, that bill
moderately reducing the duties should
be introduced and could be passed by
the House. without this it was feared
that the name of free-traders would beat
them in the coming election. With it,
they believed they could maintain show
of consistency and yet prove that their
policy was not of a revolutionary char
acter. Democrats whose interests are
altogether with the Protcctionists, and
whose means of information are excellent,
believed that for these reasons a bin
moderately reducing the tariff would be
passed with little opposition.
INFLUENCE OF LOCAL INTERESTS.
But no sooner did the measure come
before the House than it was found that
local interests were too strong for party
considerations. The interests of the
party might demand reduction on
wool, but the interests of Ohio,
Texas, and California Democratic
members demanded nothing of the kind
Not only has it been impossible to bring
the high-tariff Democrats into line under
the plea of party necessity, but Demo
Gratis who have talked loudly about
revenue reform are found to be kicking
sturdily where interests in their own dis
tIicts are touched. Revenue reformers
from Missouri declare that they can.
not vote for the bill unless something
is conceded to lead, zinc and glass.
Free irOn-ore has been discarded
To placate Virginia, New York and Michi-
gan, to say nothing of Pennsylvania,
whom there is no use in placating; but
the West Virginia members can not vote
to put lumber and coal on the free list.
A good many members are not prepared
to say that they will vote against the bill,
as they are not entirely informed as to its
effect, but many of them are evidently
disposed to vote against the bill, and the
present outlook for the bill is not very
encouraging.