The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-25
He Has Tried for Twelve Years to Secure What
He Thought Wise Legislation, but Has Been
Baffied by Morrison and Randall.
Movement Looking to the Formation of
Medical and Surgical Congress.
Spanish Authorities Sustain the Refusal of
the Cuban officials to Enforce Treaty OBJ
ligatiOns-0ther Washington News.
HON. ABRAM $. HEWITT.

He Laments His Inability to Induce the
Democrats To Adopt Wise Legislation.
New YORK, Sept. "a In conversation yester-
day with a Tribune reporter, Congressman
Abram S. Hewitt said, in regard to his candidacy
for Representative in the Fiftieth Congress:
IT cannot say, as yet. whether shall pc can
didate or not There may be conditions under
which might accept denomination. / do rot
really see that there is any reason why should
60 back. however. / have been there twelve
years endeavorng to do what believed was for
result of my work, l am forced to admit that
have been failure It really seems that have
no influence whatever"
ITO what do you attribute this result" was
asked lis it due to the ignorance of members as
to the real needs of the country9'
"Oh, WE'LL [ do not like to call it ignorance"
replied Mr.. Hewitt "Of course, there is more
or less ignorance manifested when it comes tG
dealing with the greater questions which pertain
to business and commercial advancement; but,
in my opinion, this condition of things is largely
due to individual jealousy of leaders Each one
appears to be afraid that the other will reap
some personal advantage if certain propositions
are carried forward and hence this clashing of
interests. Now, it Is all wrong to continually
advertise the Democratic party as absolutely in
favor of free trade It is not free-trade party
and in its platform it declares distinctly that it
favors the reduction of taxation. 1t did not pro-
pose TO interfere WIN any business WHICH naQ
been created by protective duties and which
had not yet outgrown their necessity; but there
are many branches of business in which protec-
ton is no longer needed and to which the
imposition of duties upon raw material is
a positive injury I did what l could 70
secure a reformation in this direction, but
finding it to be impossible to secure
action upon any bill which undertook to regulate
duties, 1 finally prepared measure dealing
simply with the administration of the customs
laws. This bill was unanimously approved by
the committee ways and means, but Mr. Nor
rison, the chairman, insisted upon attaching IL
to his bill involving change of duties. and Mr..
Randall did precisely the same thing in his bill.
The result was that it never reached the House,
and never had consideration as a separate meas
ure. I was poweress to secure such action, but
think that the Speaker might, if he had been SO
disposed, have done much to insure action. He
is man of eminent intelligence and judicial
fairness, but he seems averse to taking positive
part in shaping legislation So far as am con.
csrned, had to confess that lacked the in6u-
ence and energy necessary to force action upon
measure which ali parties agreed ought to have
been passed 1t is in consequence OF this failure,
chiefly, that 1 am compelled to recognize the
fact that my day has passed, and that the COM
mercial interests of New York ought to have
representative of more force and greater ability
to achieve results