The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-02-14
The Morrison Bill.

WASHINGTON, February 8.-For many
reasons the Morrison tariff bill has been
fully discussed in Washington. 1t was
the first tariff bill presented to this Con.
gress. It came from the chairman of
the ways and means committee. 1t en-
bodies the ideas of the most conspicuous
leader of the large class of Democrats in
Congress who favor immediate tariff
agitation. Mr.. Morrison sets great store
by the bill. He is one Of the hardest
workers in Congress. He has achieved
his high position in politics by dint of
pluck and perseverance. No man moves
about the members more than he. Since
this bill was offered last Monday, his &C.
tivity has been perceptibly increased.
1t is not too much to say that he is en-
gagged in pressing the bill upon the at.
tention of a large number of congress
men, especially upon the members of the
ways and means committee. Congress
man Dibble, of South Carolina, said to
me to-day:
"I have Just read the Morrison bill"
"What do you think of r"
"There are some good things in it, but
it is on a plan I do not like. The idea
of horizontal reduction of the tariff
does not strike me favorably. It is not
in keeping with previous Democratic
policy. Ii We have opposed the present
tariff for one reason more than another
it has been because it is discriminating
tariff. 1t bears with unequal weight
upon our various interests. Now 1 am
opposed and have been all the while op-
posed to any agitation Of the tariff at
this time, but if we 60 in to reform it at
all ne should not begin on this basis. I
am in favor of opening the question on
its merits and not simply scaling off the
surplus of discriminating schedule. If
the question must come up I hope the
ways and means committee will present
to the house fairer and better bill"
Congressman Blount said: "The bill
is merely Mr.. Morrison's OWN conception
of what should be done in tariff reduc-
tion. 1t cannot be taken as expressing
the view of the committee at all, though
some of its members may be willing to
acceptit. Mr.. Morrison has not CONSUL
ted his committee colleagues on the prep
aration of the bill. 1t comes before
them as open to amendments or as free
for rejection entirely as if any other
member of the house had offered it,"
Mr.. Randall declines to express him
self on the bill at present, but it is well
known that its general plan does not
meet his approval.
I am inclined to think that the extreme
tariff reductionists in the committee and
in the House will take up the Morrison
bill as the basis Of their work. Some Of
them even think it is too conservative.
Certainly it is not such a bill as Judge
Reagan or Frank Hurd would propose.
The anticipated difficulty Of passing any
tariff bill has caused those in favor of
agitating the question at this time to con-
suit and agree on cooperation. Mr.
Carlisle has, doubtless, been trying to
temper them. Therefore it is most likely
that the Morrison bill with little change
will be the measure presented by the
committee and discussed iu the house.
No signs of healing in tho division of
democratic sentiment on this question
are apparent now. Whether the discussion
of the bill will widen differences already
existing, or induce mutual concessions
resulting iu party harmony remains to
he aeen