New-York tribune., 1886-03-12
"pEE0RMn IN TROUBLE.


Reform of the tariff ." is one of the objects
for which the Democratic party is supposed
to evisf Mr.. Carlisle was elected Speaker, Mr..
Morrison was placed at the head OF the Com
mittee on Ways and Means, for the purpose oi
insuring this great "retOrm to which III sue
cesslve National Conventions the party had
pledged itself Mr.. Randall, whose opposition
had thwarted previous efforts, 8 fell into llne'
and declared that the tariff must be reformed {;
the party has solcmnly pledged itself to per-
form that duty. Yet Mr.. Morrison is said to
be the maddest man IN Washington.
His old trouble appears again. All the DEM
ocratic members are ready enthusiastically to
support that part of his bill which does not
tourh the interests of their constituents.
Louisiana members think his bill a good one,
except as to sugar. Kentucky men consider 1t
an admirable bill, except as to hemp. Michigan
members wonder how the man can have been
SO insane as to propose removal Of duties on
lumber-with a State election coming. too.
New jersey Democrats find no fault with the
sugar, the hemp and the lumber features, but
want to know whether the man was crazy when
he proposed to cut down duties OH pottery and
glassware and to make iron ore free. Does he
not know that New-Jersey Democrats have TO
elect Governor this year in order to keep
control of tie State patronage Pennsylvania
thinks it an excellent bill, except that man
must be an idiot to cut down duties on steel
rails, and to open the custom houses to free
iron ore. Ohio is convinced that Mir. Morrison,
though he may be great statesman about
other things, is perfectly destitute of sense
about wool.
Mr.. Morrison has q large fund Of patience,
but needs even more. He tells these objecting
members that they are false to their prln-
ciples and will ruin the Democratic party If
they 90 on this way. They ought TO know that
the whole country is clamOrOus for general
reduction of tariff duties, and it is not possible
to make general reduction without making
some particular reductions. ThereupOn the
members reply in chorus that they also are
clamorous for a reduction of duties, but he
must not reduce the duties On"-there the
chorus ceases. Every member has part of the
bill on his mind ana wants that part cut ont.
If he lis tens to them, the only part left will be
the words "Be it enacted" Argument has
no more effect on them than pellets from pea
shooter on the sides of an irOnclad. One thing
the members from every State absolutely
know; "lt you tOucn Wdt industry, must
vote against you; it would beat me at home to
have that duty reduced" Mr. Morrison has not
vet found duty which nobody wants to retain,
and if he wants to advertise for genuine and
honest Free Trader, Who can get elected from
q district in which there is no industry, what
wOnderR
But now new trouble appears. Demo-
cratic member of prominence" who has been
talking with Southern Democrats, is surprised
to learn that there has been a decided change
in the sentiments of Southern Representatives ="
ON the tariff. This hurts. The average South
ern member, not having any constituents to
fear except the political ring by which votes
are counted, has been the FreeTrader's main
stay. But even managers of political rings get
demoraized when shares III mining and manu-
featuring companies get into their pockets, or
their land rises in value because a great
amount of capital has come in to develop new
industries. The ring manager does not need to
argue. He simply tells his member that this
bill will hurt our industries at home" The
member sees a great light, and Mr.. Morrison
gets still more angry.
Meanwhile the rubbish-heap of political odds
and ends called the Democratic party is
searching for policy.