Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-08
TARIFF REFORM PLANS.
MIR. MOULTON LOOKS FOR I'M
MEDIATE LEGISLATION.

An Expectancy that the Hewitt Bill
With Slight Notifications, will be
Passed at this SessiOn-Senator Lamar
Thinks that Gov. Cleveland will Keep
His Own Counsel
WASHINGTON, Dec. There is a
growing sentiment among the members
of the House that there ought to be some
tariff legislation this winter. Judge
Moulton, of Illinois, says that all the
Democratic members of the Ways and
Means Committee favor the passage of
some bill that will at least enlarge the
free list very materially. and that
the Hewitt bill, with some notifications,
will certainly be passed. 1t may be stated
in this connection that Mr.. Hewitt's
propositions were embraced in House bill
No. 6970, introduced on May y. In that
bill he put drugs in a crude state, soap.
stocks, salt, coal, coke, timber, sawed
lumber, hubs, slaves, pickets, laths,
shingles, pine and spruce, clapboards.
manufactured wood, iron ore, copper,
lead ore and dross, nickel ore. chrOmate
OF IRON, hay, chIccOry root and many other
articles on the free list. Woods of the
third class were included, but Mr.. Hewitt
says that he now faVOrs putting woods of
all kinds en- the free list. Other articles
proposed to be put on the free list were
rags, books in foreign languages and pro-
tesslonal books, and paintings and
stationery.
HOW THE FEELING is WORKING UP.
Judge MOulton said at the
beginning of the session that
there was an evident disinclinatiOn to
touch the subject, but the more the matter
is agitated the more the members are be-
ginning to realize that something must be
done. He says that there will be a con-
ference some day this week to formulate
some plan of action. Asked if the con-
ference would be followed by a caucus,
he replied that it would not. ga caucus,''
said he, ''wOuld only result in bringing
together all the diverse and conflicting
interests in the party. Instead of reach
ing some satisfactory conclusion we
should be more distracted than ever. No:
the conference, which will consist of
probably two dozen of the more prOm-
nent tariff reform Democrats, will
decide what measure ought to be
reported, and even if every Democrat
VINO opposed the Morrison bill votes
against us, enough Republicans will
help us out to get it through. If it fails
in the Senate, the responsibility must
rest with them. We, at least, shall have
done our Duty Judge MOultOn thinks
that such a bill as he suggests will be re-
ported to the House before the holiday
adjournment.
SENATOR LANIAR'S SENSIBLE VIEW.
Senator Lamar arrived in this city YES
terday, having been detained at his home
by sickness. A representative of the AS
sOciated Press called on him today with
a view to obtaining an expression of his
views concerning the policy of the incOm-
ing administration. In reply the Senator
said in substance;
/ think it due to the President-elect that
the Democratic party and the country should
await with patience and confidence the ap-
pearance of his inaugural address and first
message. for in those alone | think will be
found foreshadOWed the policy of his admin
istratiOn. Any expression of opinion. in the
meantime, can Ouly be of the most general
character. based upon the well known tradi-
uOns of Democratic government and upon
Gov. CleVeland's official course hitherto.
which, after wide publicity and discussion
has been approved by the people So far as l
NAV personally venture to express an Opin-
ION. should say that Mr.. Cleveland as Pres-
dent viii undoubtedly favor scrupulOus, but
nOt, | think. paTsimOnIOus economy in the
conduct of the government. and will insist
upon most rigid honesty and accountability
on the part of public officials.
HIS IDEAS ON TARIFF REFORM.
In reply to a question as to the probable
action of Congress with regard to the
tariff, Senator Lamar SAID that it was
highly improbable that any action would
be taken on the tariff at this session. At
the next session, however, there would be
proposed by the Democrats such scheme
of reduction as need cause no uneasiness
whatever in the business community. He
believed that it would be wise for the man
ufacturers of the country to compromise
with the tariff refOrmerS, and the
tariff refOrmers with the manufactur-
ers, upon a reduction of duties to
the revenue standard, with such
determinations in the arrangement of
the details within that limit as to afford
ample protection to American industries.
Revenue reform and manufacturing pros
perity ought not to be antagOnistIc forces.
eve are nOw." said the Senator, ''the
| foremost manufacturing nation in the
world. Our industrial system is so vast
and so intimately blended with our whole
social structure that the representatives
Of the people may surely be trusted to see
that no industry shall suffer a shock by
reason of legislation"
DIXIE AND THE ELECTION.
The Senator was asked GLOW is the
election of Cleveland regarded in the
South. with relation to its probable effects
on that sectiOnW
Il cannot" said he, ''make a better
| answer TO that question than to refer you
to Gen. GOrdOn's letter, recently pub
I llEneUs II speaks Illt sGuliAuGub VI llG
whole Southern people, especially in its
| disclaimer of any purpose of sectional
| ACKNOWLEDGMENT. In my opinion the cleo
| tiOn will have a most decisive effect in
| bringing the South into hearty and cor
dial relations with the North. The South
/ ern people do not regard the cleo
| ton as triumph Of their
! section or of any section. They simply
regard it as indicating a triumph in the
nation of the principles of good govern
ment. Out of nearly 100000 votes cast
| for Mr.. Cleveland more than 100000
| were cast by the people Of the North.
Under his administration, therefore, the
| prepOnderanCe of political forces will con-
/ tinue to be Northern.
| A FRIENDLY ADMINISTRATION
''The South simply recognizes in the re-
suit of the election the placing in power
| flr the first time since the war of an ad-
| ministratiOn not hOstile-0ne under which
her people can heartily support and COOP
crate with the national government, thus
| bringing her highest interests into more
| complete identification with those of the
nation, and the feelings Of her people into
! intenser sympathy with those of their
| Northern brethren. To make that admin
! istratiOn one of which the whole Ameri-
can people may be proud, the people of
| the South will contribute every energy of
| head and heart.7 The Senator declined
| absolutely to be interrOgated on the sub
| iect of Mr., Cleveland's Cabinet.