The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-05-07
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE.

~
ing hour dispensed with the House
| went into committee of the whole,
| Cox IN. " in the chair, on the tariff
bill.
Brown PA spoke In support OF
the protective system of taxation.
Townshend quoted from various
| platforms of Democratic national
| conventions to show that party had
| always been in favor of tariff reform
| and had always declared for revenue
tariff. Some gentleman repudiated
| tho term ''protection' and took ref
| uge behind it. Discrimination is
| discrimination. Were it bound
down it would be found to be the
| qulntessence of protection, and it was
proper time to begin the work of tariff
reduction when the Presidential elec-
| ton was coming on and the people
could record their votes.
Randall then took the floor in OPP
| position to the bill. He opened by
showing the extreme Qulckness with
| which capital invested in large in
! dustrial establishments took alarm,
| while in common with all other in
terests it was liable to be called on for
taxation to aid support the govern
ment. Congress owed it to itself that
| nothing like a vindictive policy
| should he adopted. With a nice adj
| iustment of business affairs there was
| nothing more conducive to success
! than stability. If there was stabil-
| ity it was a sure foundation of con-
| fidence and as a natural result CAPT
tai and labor moved forward
in their respective spheres. 10 judge
| from the Incorporate language and
! exaggerated rhetoric which had so
freouently marked the debate it
would seem as if those
engaged in industrial pursuits
were robbers and outia WIS.
| AS a matter of fact they were nothing
| of the sort. They were a part and no
mean part of the business of the
| country and had been organized un-
! der law to engage in those employ
! ments, and therefore, if for no other
reason they were entitled to the pro-
| lection of the law. They We're a part
of our resources as a nation and to
| de velop these resources was a test OF
| true craftsmanship. He lejoiced in
the growth and prosperity OF every
! se ,tion of the country. If the de-
n%unciations of advocates Of the bill
| were believed the men who had built
| up our manufactures had committed
an objectionable sin. They could
see reason why England should think
| so, but not why such should he the
| feeling of any citizen of the United
States. Great Britain had never
| ceased to deplore the loss OF
her American colonies. She
had struck as she thought
a deadly blow in 1912, and during
| our late ci Ill war she had done her
| best to sunder the sections. Since
| that time she had changed her poll
| CIV and instead of force reserted to
| giving advice. She eked out the
lions skin with that of the fox. The
| United States should remember the
warning to fear Greeks even bring
ing gifts. He then went on to argue
against the policy of unsettling bust
ness interests by constant tinkerlng
| with the tariff. should no law last
longer than the meeting of the next
Congress? Should the meeting of
Congress cause fear and its adjourn
ment cause enjoyment: Should
nothing be settled tor a time at least,
but should doubt and mlstrust
always destroy the working and
sleeping hours of the people?
For one he Was emrhatically
opposed to such suicidal policy. 1t
would he madness for any party to
pursue. It was submitted TO every
members Judgment to apply a ne
roic remedy to this bill or let it
lipger out its sickly existence. Bear
ing in its wake business confusion
and general bankruptcy, it was not
based on any sound principle. There
had been apologies for it but no de-
tense. 1t was guessed it might re-
| duce the surplus revenue, but nobody
pretended to speak with certainty
There was no attempt for an ad-
iustment of the tariff. It sliced,
reckless of the injury 1t might dc
certain interests and industries as
we'll as to revenues. It was like the
famous bed of the old rODber. II a
man was too small he was stretched
out to it memorable length; if toe
long he was cut down te
fit. It was q thing OF measurement,
not a wise scheme. 1treduced q hor-
izontal reduction and offered no rem
edy. On the contrary it made worst
what was bad before. It was a pal
pable confession of inability to han
die an intricate problem at issue OF
else rash eager ness to do what was Al
once uncalled for, unwise and unfor-
tunate. 1t appeared to be agitation
only for the sake of agitation al
ways a mistake. 1t was clearly the
dictates of common sense to have
waited until the effect Of the last
tariff btllcould have been learned and
thus have saved from all passion and
turbulence the Presidential election
...a. an nhioh tho nlhll<