The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-05-08
WASHINGTON TALK.

| WASHINGTON, Aprll 5U-Iho dp-
proach of the time for congressional
nominations eXcites some gossip here
as to who the candidates are going to
be. Republicans here opposed to Rep
resentative Ochiltree hint at a straight
republican nomination in the Calves
ton district. Mr.. Ochiltree will not
say yes or no as whether he will stand
| for reelection. He is a sly Major
Bagstock. If he is not going to run
this fall, he at least has the credit for
already making his plans to do so.
There is perhaps no Texas district
about which there is so much specula-
ton as the seventh. There seems to
be strong interest growing in favor
of a democrat, and yet no one, so far,
wants to have Col. Finlay come. There
is no enthusiasm for him.
The name more frequently men
tion than any other at this end of the
line is Walter Gresham. The Texas
delegation, with one accord, seem to
take to Gresham, and wish him to be
one of their number, If there is going
to be change in the district. Even
the republican influence is opposed to
Mr.. Ochiltree, and none other than
Nathan Patton would like to see
Gresham represent the seventh.
Gresham has been asked to be can
didate, but so far persistently refuses.
He says his work for the development
of the Santa Fe railroad is not yet
completed, and until then he cannot
turn his mind to politics. He is
thorough business man, and if the
district should send him here, there
are lew persons who believe he
would not satisfy the several com
mercial seaports of the shoestring con-
stituency.
WASHINGTON, May I'm the SEN
ate to-day, the shipping bill was taken
up. Vest made formal offer of his
amendment permitting admission to
American registry of ships bought
abroad, and the admission free of duty
of ship building materials.
Mcpherson offered an amendment
TO it, excluding ships bought abroad
from coastwise trade.
Vest continued his remarks in sup
port of his amendment. What we
need, he said, was an absolute
freedom from all burdens in order to
induce Americans to buy ships upon
any terms. For years we have been
told next year we should see an i'm
provement, and that free ships would
be built in American ship yards,
which the policy heretofore pursued
had not done. For proof of this he
showed that the American ship build
ing was decreasing, and we were
building very few iron ships.
WASHINGTON, d. c., May I'm the
house to-day the consideration Of the
tariff bill was resumed. Miller,
PENN argued in favor of the protec-
tive system.
Cox, On. " briefly replied to some
propositions advanced by Kelley, and
argued in favor of throwing on the
markets of the world American in
dustries, and incidentally put in a
word for free ships and free materials.
He wanted something more cheering
than Kelley's dismal science; some
thing more christian; something more
humane; something not so utterly and
terribly selfish. He believed in COM
merce and progress-not in excessicn,
in stagnation, in starvation. He al
luded to the progress in favor of
tariff reform which was
going on in Massachusetts
and Minnesota and in conclusion ex-
pressed of the county, and denied they
were protected against the labor OF
foreign countries by the present high
tariff. He contended that their con-
dition would be improved by low
tariff, in that by purchasing power
their wages would be largely en-
HANGED. He described the pitiable
condition of the miners of the coal
pits of Pennsylvania, and quoted from
a report of the senate committee on
education and labor, to confirm bis
statement. That report showed that
a protective tariff protected nanufac-
turers only, and left the laborers
to fight and starve; and was
an Indictment which the people
had drawn against protection only
5 63-10O per cent. 1t was the lmpera-
tive duty of this congress to make a
reduction in taxation, A reduction OF
revenue to the extent of at least $780,
100000 was demanded by every con-
sideration of public welfare. 1t was
little less than crime to impose war
taxes in time of peace. The pending
bill did no more than had been recon-
mended by the tariff commission, and
certainly a democratic congress would
not hesitate to enact such measure
as this, and bring some reliet to the
people He expressed his sympathy
with the masses of the workingmen
his surprise that the gentleman from
Illinois Finnerty) should vote against
the free ship amendment to the ship
ping bill, and thus give England and
other foreign countries $14O,OOOOOO in
fares and freightage which should go
to our country.
Springer gave history of the cir
cumstances which surrounded the
creation of the tariff commission, and
quoted from a report of that coRmis-
sion that the best conservative inter
ests of the country demanded reduc-
sion of the tariff duties to the extent
of twenty per cent. In response to
this demand the tariff bill of 1883 had
been passed, but instead of making a
reduction of twenty per cent. the high
est estimate showed the reduction was
made.
The democratic party was going be-
fore the country this fall and work
ipgmen would speak then with no
uncertain voice in condemnation Of
that system.
Miller-"Adopt the platform you
did in 80 and we will beat you 100000
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