The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-07
What Indiana Representative Men Say
of the Morrison Bills Defeat.
Mcdonald and Hendricks Do Not Coincide
Views of Senator Harrison, Hon. R.
w. Thompson, and Gov. Porter.

Mr.. Mcdonald shortly after the news was re-
ceived. Mr.. Mcdonald had Just come from the
courtroom, and had heard the news of the
defeat of the bill only a moment before.
I'm tired" Mr.. Mcdonald said, when asked
what lie thought of the action upon the bill,
''and l haven't thought much about the matter.
The vote on the bill, L suppose, means its final
defeat, but the matter may be brought up in
another bill. do not think Congress will ad-
iourn without making some reductions in the
traiff."
"What do you suppose was the cause of the
bills defeat"
1T was probably brought about by Randall
and his friends. Mr.. Morrison's bill was not all
that might have been desired-there were some
things that it might have covered more fully,
and doubtless it had some small defects, but it
fered.'
"How do you regard its defeatf"
81 don't think that the defeat of the bill is the
end of the matter. i don't believe Congress will
adjourn without making some reductions"
MR. HENDRICKS SURPRISED.
Mr.. Hendricks was busily engaged in writing
when a Journal reporter called last night at s
o'clock, and the news of the defeat of the Morri-
son bill had not reached him. When the result
of the vote upon the measure was communicated
to hin by the reporter, Mr.. Hendricks leaned
back In his chair and looked like a man who had
been swooped down upon by a surprise party ar
ranged by himself.
you take me by SURPRISED" Mr.. Hendricks
said.
You say the motion to strike out the enacting
clause was'-questioned Mr.. Hendricks, for the
purpose of verification-
was adopted, y interrupted the reporter.
by a vote, continued Mr.. Hendricks, of
''of 156 to Isl, ~interposed the reporter.
'"Then the %enacting clause was"-Mr. Hen
bricks reoapitulated.
WAS stricken out, added the reporter who
would rather be right than be President.
well, well, " said Mr.. Hendricks, who would
possibly rather be President; lit is very uneX-
pected. l regarded the decision of Congress to
consider the bill as an assurance that it would be
passed, and | am very much surprised-very
much surprised"
How do you regard the defeat of the bill
What do you think the effect will be politicallyP
inquired the reporter.
Mr.. Hendricks locked his hands behind his
head and became thoughtful. He closed his
eyes and opened them again without saying any
thing. The silence became painful, and the re-
porter was about to make an apology for the
question, when Mr.. Hendricks spoke.
81 don't believe he said, that l can speak
intelligently upon the matter now"
As the reporter arose to leave Mr.. Hendricks
added: 1.-The defeat of the measure is very UNI
expected to me, and, not having been in CORE
spondence with any one at Washing
ton interested in the bill, and hav-
ing no knowledge of how it is
regarded, / do not feel prepared to express an
e~nacting clause, however, is "a very positive &C
ton. and is d doubtless the end of the bill. l do
not believe that the vote will be reconsidered, "
DO you think that the matter will be brought
up again in this Congress"
Efforts will probably be made to bring it up,
but nothing will be accomplished. There should
be a tariff reform, the leading view of which
should be to reduce the revenue to the real
wants of the public service. 1t is now millions
in excess of the demands, and there should be a
material reductions; but after so decided a
defeat of this measure / will not
expect it during this session. The differ
ences will now go before the people
and will be followed, as I think. by careful leg
~islation after the presidential election. The two
parties in Congress are in no condition to take
up the question now, at a time when they are
about to enter upon a presidential campaign. l
believe that the Democratic party will succeed,
and, whether the Senate and House are then
harmonious or not, something will be done. No
attempt should be made to accomplish a r material
reform just before entering upon a presidential
campaign. The question should be allowed to
go before the people. 1 think that the best
thing Congress can now do is to adjourn and 60
before the people to fight out the question"
SENATOR HARRIsoN's VIEWS.
Senator Harrison was Intercepted by a Jour
nal representative, and in answer to reportorial
inquiries said, substantially:
II think the defeat of the Morrison bill will
end the agitation of the question of tariff reduc-
ton by the present Congress, and that the friends
of Randall and the opponents of the bill will
now push the appropriation bills and urge an
early adjournment. In my opinion, the
defeat Of the measure will serve to
intensity the quarrels already existing be
tween Randall and Morrison and their
respective friends. The bill was a meaningless
affair in the first place, and not a creditable pro-
duction. A horizontal reduction can scarcely be
considered a statesmanlike method of dealing
with a measure OF 80 great Importance. The
failure or refusal of the party to take up the
tariff and consider the articles included in it
seriatim and on their merits was a virtual con
fession that they had neither time, capacity nor
unity of purpose sufficient to cope with the sub
iect. / think that one result of the vote of
to-day will be that the opposing factions will
carry the matter into their national convention,
where the free-trade advocates will demand a
radical plank and the protection wing oppose it.
Judging by the relative strength OF the factions
in Congress, l believe hat the free-traders will
carry their point, and thus bring the campaign
issues exactly where the Republicans want them.
Another thing, l believe that the failure of the
Democrats to agree upon any measure looking
to reforming the revenue system will demon
strate to the people that they must look to the
Republican party for whatever may be desired
on that point, as the only party having the cour-
age of its convictions and sufficient ability to
deal with a question of so great moment.
x-sEcRETARY THOMPSON.
Hon. r. ". Thompson was at the Denison
House, and when asked his opinion of the action
on the Morrison bill, said, decidedly, that he be-
lieved it would result in the disruption of the
Democratic party. Particularly in the South,
there were many Democrats who had adhered
to the party faith from a sentiment, but since
the change in labor conditions there, and the
building Of industrial enterprises all over that
section, those men had come to be imbued with
practical ideas, rather than sentiment, and this
tendency would be increased and developed by
this very pronounced division in the party in
Congress. In reply to the question, Colonel
Thompson said emphatically that the action of
Of the tariff out Of politics, but would make it
more definite and decisive, giving the Repub-
l;can Marty the benefit of having been not OnlY