National Republican., 1884-04-04
TARIFF And EDUCATION,
Senator Beck Evidently Got the Two Subjects
Mixed Yesterday.
He Utilized the Latter to Make an
Elaborate Tariff Argument.
Senator Morrill, Tells Pleasant Story and Applies II
10 the Kentucky Senator.
Tho indian Appropriation Bill Further
Discussed In the House.
THE SENATE.

levees OF the lower Mississippi.
Bills were reported favorably from committee
and placed on the calendar as follows
By Mr. Cameron, of Wisconsin, from the COM
mittee on public buildings Bills to. authorize the
erection Of public buildings at Wilmington, Del,
Sacramento. Cal, and Asheville, N. G.
by Mr. Vest, from the committee on commerce:
To give the assent Of congress to the construction
Of free bridge by the mayor and city council of
Nashville, Tenn, over the Cumberland river.
Also to authorize the construction of a bridge
across the Missouri river at White Cloud, Doni-
Bills were introduced aud appropriately referred
as follows;
u BY Mr.. Frye, (by request). To authorize the ap-
pointment of q commission Of naval architects
and marine engineers 70 examine and report upon
new designs for steamships
Also tby requesp; To authorize the construct
ion Of nsTShSnt ship R upon new y designs , ,0w,
and control Of the sault sante Marie Fslls canal.
BY Mr., Call 10 provide for the establishment Of
resolution was offered by Mr.. Groome and
agreed to instructing the committee on the library
TO inquire into the expedienoy OF purchasing from
the Lewis family for the United States the sword
worn by. Gen. George Washington upon the oc-
caslon Of his resigning his commission to congress
at Annapolis. Nd on the twenty.third Of Decem-
Mr.. Blair moved that the senate dispensing with
the calendar of cases unobjected TO, proceed at
once TO the consideration of the educational bill.
The motion was agreed to, Mr.. Cockrel saying he
WOulu not tDen ODJeCI 10 buCn DuL RbNO
notice that in future he should object to the in
terruption of the morning business.
Mr.. Pendleton made long speech in opposition
TO the bill. His remarks were moderate in tone.
Mr.. Beck snid he had at first regarded the bill
under consideration as sentimental proposition
which was unlikely to be seriously considered;
and he had even now no idea thatit would meet
with favor at the other end of the capitol. There
was one way in which to enable the people of all
the states to educate all their children and that
was to reduce taxation. One of the purposes of
this bill Mr. Beck believed to be to enable the
publican party 10 enter the coming canvass and
oppose the demands of the democrats for redue-
tion Of taxation by pointing to the large amount
necessary to meet the expenses of the government.
southern people, Mr.. Beck believed to be more
dangerous than the policy by which they formerly
stood a siege for ten years But fell when the
Greeks brought gifts. The hatred entertained by
the republican party for the white people of the
south was as intense to- day ever, and this bill
was the entering wedge of absolute federal dom
inatlon in the southern states. The bill did not,
meant. The Danvllie riot and the Copiah Incl
dents had failed to enable the republicans to
again raise the cry of the bloody shirt and educa-
ton was now deemed the most plausible means
Of producing discord and enabling the repubi.
cans to get rid of the surplus in the treasury and
keep taxation up to the highest point
Mr.. Beck then entered upon an elaborate argu-
ment on the tariff, in the course of which he said
he was glad that the Two parties had squarely
shown their colors. the republicans for protection.
the democrats for q tariff for revenue. The 30.
called Morrison bill had forced the republicans
W dNOW tudJ tnty OppOSeu any ana hll TeuucuOn,
and would permit no relief 10 the overburdened
taxpayers. That bill had at last developed the
plan OF Its enemies, s Who now thought themselves
intrenched with sufficient safety TO warrant them
in defying all their enemies.
NJ; Beck severely criticised the action on the
tariff of Messrs. Sherman, Morrill, Allison and
other republicans, and continued that the present
policy of the republican party in opposition to a
reduction of taxation when revenue was not
necessary was unconstitutional. If congress would
enable the south to buy her cotton machinery
free from tariff taxation tho south could educate
surplus in the treasury TO educate either negroes
or whites. What he wanted to do was TO remove
the burdens from the people Of ali the states 80
that they could attend to their own education.
But If II was TO be done, Mr.: Beck thought
he would vote, for fund TO- be, set
incomes above $685. According eS' to newspaper VS.
accounts Mr.. vanderbt's income would yield to
such Il fund as much as $4,000. He would tax
the incomes of the rich, to protect whose property
armies were maintained. After referring to the
efforts for education made in the state OF Missis-
sppi by the republicans in 1869 and 1870, which
witnesses before an investigating committee of
congress had taid involved more taxes than their
cotton crop would realize Mr.. Beck said he
never trusted men twice; the republicans had had
control of those southern states once, aud The re-
suit had Deen ruin and bankruptcy. The demo.
cratic party had finally got possession of those
states, and since that time they had advanced in
every way in which states could advance. He
did not want tue republicans to get their hands
on those states any more.
Mr.. Williams inquired Of the chair as to what
The chair replied that the pending question was
on the motion OF the gentleman from Kansas
IMrPlumbl to reeommit the bill to the committee.
ITO recommit Yhat?' asked Mr.. Williams
THE educational bill. replied tho chair
"Ah r remarked Mr.. Williams, amid the laugh
Mr. Williams said that this debate had GOV.
cred so wide range that he had got out TO
sea aud lost his reckoning, and 1t required some
subject which the chair had informed him was
the subject before the senate. This bill, he said,
had been debated for three weeks and everything
but education had been talked about The pro.
vision of the constitution imposing on congress
the duty OF promoting the general welfare was the
same as that requiring It to provide for the COM
mon defense. Whatever right congress had as TO
one 1t had as to the other. No one doubted the
right of congress to provide for the common de :
Tense. Mr.. Williams knew that Southern states
men had stood by the rule of strict construction
but they had done II to protect slavery. They had
maintained that congress could do nothing what
ever under the general welfare clause
Mr.. Morgan inquired If the senator did not be-
leyo that those men were honest in their CON
Mr.. Williams replied that he did. They had
convinced themselves, as men often did, that they
were right, and they maintained that opinion
until IL took them into war, in which they lost
both their slaves and their theory. But the gen
eral welfare clause remained in the constitution.
As he viewed this question, local welfare was To-
be looked after by the states general welfare by
the general government Every government
must possess some power of expansion to
adapt itself to the growth of a nation. il
would be AS ridiculous TO expect a fulLgrOwn man
10 wear the Clolncs o hS DOynOOu as 10 expect that
nation Of fifty or sixty millions people, with all
the complication OF commercial relations imposed
by the accelerated speed which electricity and
steam had impaired TO modern progress could bo
governed by the simple rules that were ample for
two or three millions of people scattered over the
thirteen original colonies. MIR. Williams had no
doubt as to the constitutonality OF the measure
and II he had doubt he would give the benefit of
II to the poor struggling, human soul living and
dying inignorance and vice. He would try to get
some light into the prison house of the ignorant
that would lead them up to higher plane of
manhood.
In reply to a question by Mr.. Morgan, Mr.. Will
Jams said that education made n better man OF q
negro as well as of white man. Referring To Mr.
ShermRn's remark, that the southern states could
not be trusted with the money, Mr. Williams said
that that senator soYeTestimated the race question
in the south. To say that there was any intention
or prospect of this common school machinery be-
coming political engine was to trite with a
great subject. Those who supported the bill, he
said, even tho principal promoter of II, the sena-
tor from New Hamshire Mr.. BlairL in reply to a
question by Mr.. Williams, had distinctly dis
claimed any intention of the sort, and Mr.. Will
Jams had not the remotest idea that any such
question would ever arise in connection with it,
Mr.. Morrill, said that from the tariff character OF
Mr.. Becks speech he supposed that senator was
afraid that II he did not get the speech OF in
neOlion with the education bill, he would have
no opportunity of getting II off at all, and Mr.
Morrill, said II the country could DO assured that
the Morrison bill would never reach the senate he
thought the country would feel greatly relieved
reminded him Of q story told Of boy who when
whipped by his mother was not given to much
crying, aud when on one OCCASION seeing that he
Wept more than usual, his mother inquired why
he cried 80 hard. He replied: Mother, think
your strength begins to fail you You don't strike
aaA n ~ AZ. A..