The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-23
THE HOUSE.
Argument of Mr.. Mckinley Against the Nor
rison Tariff Bill.

met at II o'clock.
Mr.. Dingley asked unanimous consent for
present consideration of bill authorizing the
Secretary of the Treasury to invest the lawful
money deposited in the treasury by national
banking associations for retirement of their cir
culating notes. There was, he said, no more im-
portant measure than this, which related to the
currency of the country, that could probably be
presented to Congress- 1t was recommended by
the Secretary of the Treasury, and had the
unanimous approval of the banking and curren
cy committee. Under the law, national banks,
in withdrawing their bonds and going into
liquidation, were obliged to deposit in the treas
ury lawful money, and the currency was con-
tracted to that extent.
Wipe out the whole SYSTEM" suggested Mr..
Weller; | object.
Mr. Dingley hoped the objection would be
withdrawn, because the bill was necessary to
prevent contraction of the currency at the rate
of 81, 000 900 a month.
Mr. Weller remarked that nothing which could
be said would induce him to withdraw his oblec-
ton, and so consent was not granted.
On motion of Mr.. Budd a resolution was
adopted setting apart the Sd of May for con
sderation of the chinese immigration act.
1lr. Turner of Georgia, gave notice that he
would tomorrow, call up the Kansas contested
election case of Wood VS.. Peters, }''
Mr.. Calkins introduced bill authorizing the
President to appoint an additional circuit judge
for the Seventh Judicial district .
On motion of Mr. Morrison, an order was
made providing evening sessions, until further
notice, for general debate on. the tariff bill
The House then went into committee of the
whole, Mr. Cox, of New York, in the chair, on the
tariff bill ...
Mr.. Mckinley proceeded to criticise thedetails
of the bill, which he characterized as too uncer
tain for great public statute 1t was difficult
if not impossible, of execution, and mathematical
aNna yo11l1 ha 10 Aafa
mine the duty on invoices.
Would the bill commend itself to you if the
Morrill, clause were stricken outl" inquired Mr..
Morrison.
81 would not support this BILL" replied Mr..
Mckinley, 'if it were simple, straight 20 per
cent reduction of the duties of 1888 and will
tell you why. Some of the articles of imported
merchandise can better stand a reduction
of 20 per cent, than others. A re-
duction of 20 per cent. will destroy some
great manufacturing industries of the country.
Twenty inches off the leg of the gentleman from
Illinois would leave him stump: but twenty
inches off the leg of one of the smaller members
of the House would not leave him astump at all.
'That is good stump-stump Speech" sug-
gested Mr.. Tucker
Mr.. McKinley-During the last Congress, the
Republicans were criticised because they created
tariff commission to revise the tariff, and it was
asserted that that co nfession of incapacity
on the part of Republican Congress to make
revision What would be said of this bill-this
Dill OF Two DageS-JnlS horizontal CUT why, 1t
bore on its very face the highest evidence of alb
solute incapacity. Nobody would ever suspect
this bill ever passed the scrutiny of a commits
sion of experts. 1t was the invention of indo-
lence, and not only that but it was
the mechanism of back 7woodsman. The
trouble with the Democratic party was that it
had determined on doing something, no matter
how mischievous, which looked to reduction of
duties on imports even when doing it in opposi-
ton to the universal sentiment of the country.
When power was in their hands, the Democrats
could determine to put the knife in, no matter
whore it cut or how much blood it drew, and it
was not to stop with one horizontal slash-there
was to be another and another, till nothing of
life was left and then the doctrinaires would see
the exemplifcaton of their pet science in the
destruction of the great productive inter
ests of the country, and the starving poor would
be found without work. shelter food.
1t was well the Senate yesterday passed the
bankruptcy bill; it was fitting corollary to the
Morrison bill 1t was an appropriate and neces-
sary companion and the Senate had done wisely,
In anticipation of the action here, in providing
legal means of settling with creditors, wiping
out balances and rolling from the shoulders of
the people the crushing burdens which the Nor
rson bill would put on them. The only persons
who demanded reduction of the tariff were the
members of the free-trade clubs of Brooklyn and
New York, and they were like the lilies of the
field, they toll not neither no they spin"
Their capital was not invested in active indus
tries; they cut their coupons and bought most of
their goods on the other side. If Con-
gress lowered the duties they could
get thei- goods a little cheaper.
He declared the bill was in the interest of Eng
land, and created great deal of amusement by
displaying an advertisement of an enthusiastic
importer, who, on Mr.. Carlise's elevation to the
speakership had named after him certain
shaped crockery, which was surmounted by the
head of a lion. 1.-THE Carlisle shane below the
British lion above" exclaimed Mr. Mckinley
Pass this bill, and he will give you all shape
He then dwet upon his main objection to the
bill, that it would reduce the price of labor and,
in conclusion, appealed to the Democratic party
not to take leap in the dark by passing
this bill. If it was party necessity to enforce
Democratic doctrines and discipline in little
segment of the party, it could afford to wait or
clear its deck for mutineers in some other way.
Let the ship be saved and the insubOrdinate
members punished without endangering the in
terests cOnfided to the care of Congress The
free-trade wing of the Democratic party might
disturb the business of the country while yet in
power, but it would not, under the policy it was
now pursuing, be long permitted to dominate the
popular branch of Congress-happily the only
branch of Congress in its control.
Mr. Herbert made an elaborate argument in
favor of the bill He cited as example of the
style and argument to which the protectonists
resorted the action of Mr.. Mckinley in produc-
ing the advertisement of the Carlisle shape"
and sarcastically referred to that advertisement
as reason for maintaining high duty on the
cheap class of crockery used by the people of
this country. If Mr.. Carlisle should be instru-
mental in bringing down the iniquitous tariff he
would deserve to live in bronze and marble, and
would receive the thanks of the people for his eff
forts in their behalf
The committee rose and the House went into
committee of the whole (AIr. Springer in the
chair on the pension appropriation BILL the
pending amendment being that offered by Mr.
Rosecrans transferring the duties of pension
agents to the pay department of the army. The
amendment was lost
On motion of Mr. Rogers lof Arkansasl, an