Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-20
HOW CONGRESS LEAVES III.
HOW CONGRESS LEAVES II.
The Polttical Situation as the Clese Of
the Session.
A REVIEW OF The rRorRAcTEp srrTINe-rHx srRue-
GLE ovER rHR rAkIFF-THE ISSUE CLEARLY DE-
FINED AND PLACED BKFokR the couHTEr-rHE
LONGEST SESSION.

peaceful struggle were present 10 witness us
close. The neld OF operation has been changed
and all the great captains OF the two parties con-
tending for supremacy are engaged 10 the neld
elsewhere After nearly eleven mouths OF hard
nghttng the contest Is sti undecided In Congress,
and they have gone outside the legislative
halls 70 seek arbitration by the people.
The importance OF the session cannot be judged
oy what was actually accomplished In the way OF
legislation. The mere passage or failure TO pass
new tarin is not OF as much consequence. IL is
the question TO which OF two policies shall pre-
vail The work OF the session was the defining OF
the policies OF the two parties, and the clear pre-
sentation OF each for approval or rejection by the
popular voice. The two parties started In with
Que point OF agreement Both asserted that
the revenues OF the Government saould be
reduced Here this agreement ended The
spokesnen OF the republicans declared Tor
protection TO American Industries and favored
such reduction as would not deprive any IN
| affords. The leaders OF the other party declared
for "tarin reform"-for reduction OF duties upon
articles OF every day consumption, so as 20 make
them cheaper, as they argued, without any espe-
clal regard TO protection per sc. Al the opening
! OF this session II was uncertain how far ell her
party would agree 10 the policy or the leaders
This was the nrst test To be made, and the result
In committing each party 10 one policy or the
other was all that was expected 70 be accom-
plished on the outset IL was not thought from
the nrst that any tarIr bill could pass lne House
that would meet with approval by The senate.
DOUBLE CONTEST.
| There was double contest, eacn party with the
| other, and each with all its elementary parts
While majority OF the democratic party believed
In revenue tarin every former effort 10 commit the
whole party 10 that policy had failed, ana 1t was
uncertain almost UP 10 the very DAY OF the vote on
the Mills bill whether they would succeed this time.
The nrst earnest attempt 10 commit the party 10
| that line OF policy Was made when Mr.. Morrlson
| became Chairman VI the ways and means commit
| tee In the Folty-fourth Congress. IL then iaiied
Al the next Congress Mr.. Randall's policy pre-
| During the Forty-seventh the House was under
control OF the republicans anu the revision at that
| time Was by them. When the democrats came
lnUo power at the opening the Forty -eighth Con-
gresS, contest al once accurred within the parry
on this question The Jarin rcformrrs free Trad
ers placed Ar. Carlisle la the chair. Mr. MorTlson,
| as member OF the ways and means commiLIee, re-
newed his effort 70 reverse the tarn, Tut the party
| similar conulllons, prevented a revision oI The
tariff by the Forty Congress-, and the defeat
| ol Mr.. Morrlson tor the next Congress was accom-
piished on that issue.
THE HoUsE BILL
The work upon the bill that passed the House
this session began almost immediately upon the
| close OF last Congress. Months before this Con.
gress convened tue party leaders were In consul
| Jatlon, preparing for the contest that was ex-
pected 10 be desperate and nnal In It's results
| The taIin reIurm leaders were determined 70
commit their party " the policy they advocated
Great pressure Was brought 10 bear on the Presi-
L
| message. Fr,Quent conferences were held and
| statistics were complied, the growth OF tue sur
plus In the Treasury was watched with anxiety.
| and The financial condition Of the country care
| Iully. IL was decided that now the time, II
ever TO accomplish tnis long sought revenue ~
| form
THE OAK VIEW CONFERENCE.
| One OF the most important conferences In the
| history OF the party was held at the President's
country seat some time before the meeting of Con-
gress. The President, his Secretary OF the Treas
ury, Speaker Carlisle, and Mr. Scott, the leader o
| the movement Ia the North, were present THE
STAR at the ume gave The result OF this conference
| u the public. IL was that the PresIuept should
earnestly espouse the cause 50 long adv ocated by
Speaker Carlisle AMI his followers and that nal
| should be the Issue upon wnlcn the party should
| 90 before the people IN the comlns presidential
electloa. From the moment the President reached
this decision The tarln reformers TOOK nearI. II
| remained tor lnem 10 draw the whole party int
| line Win tnis policy IL was diflcult task, and
| at TIE outset ulu hot promise success But ,nt
Presidents message, Ignoring every hing else tC
press this issue 10 lne front had Its effect
Mr. MILLS POSITION.
| Mr.. Mills was not a party 10 the Oak View con
| ference. There was opposition 10 him though II
seemed proper that he should 90 at the head o
| the ways and means committee The opposition
| Was not on nis want or orthodoxy, but upon tht
| fears That he would not De uIploInatlc enough
but meanwhile he Was at worA, maA ins a tnOr.
| oush study oil Tue question, and preparing AunSei
| for any task that mIgAI fall upon aim NneI
Congress met IL Was oii important Inat the organ
1
| Inc app1intmenI ol colnlitIees was The perplex.
Ing question. There was opposition 10 Mr.. Randall
Tor chairman OF the appropriations comm Tee, as
wel As To Mr.. Mills for Tue way aud means Mnal
| TO do with Jhesc opposing leaders Was a serious
question. The Speakers nna decision 10 dIsres ard
| the opposition la botn Cases has proven wise. ar
| Randall did not Use his position 10 defeat The
Iarin Dill and Mr.. Mills has developed into one OF
| the most Cautious and AT tue same Time one OF
the aoeSt ieaaers las party has ever had an the
House. But AL tus puolicty delay cd Ine appoint
menL OF the House committee fIom tue 5In VI
Decemoer wnen Congress convenes, until the 9th
WORKING ON THE TARIFF BILL
| Work upon the tarin bill In comnittee began as
| soon as the committee could be organized The
democratic members-Mills, McMillin, Breckin.
| ridge Ark.), Breckenridge lKy.) Turner, Wilson
(N. YAH Scout, and Bynum-look The matter In
their own hands, completing their bill before CALI
Ing the republican memucrs In 70 consult with.
They had Thousand diIilculles IN Their way that
must be overcome IL a biil was TO be passed OPP
position In their own party con stanIly menaced
Them and compromises had 70 be made on every
hand. They managed with remarkable skill u
placate the factions In their own party, but 4. was
not until the ID OF April that I'LL could be re-
ported
THE DEBATE.
Then q contest began In the House that will be
remembered in history for all time. The ablesr
| men In both parties fought with vehemence not
exhibited before since the old slavery discussions
Men, formerly almost IN obscurity delivered
speeches that at once brought them to the front
L
on both sides On the 18th OF April the DEBATE
began and general debate, when speeches OF an
hours duration were made, continued for twenty
three days ana eight nights. Then followed
% days OF discussion In nve-minute speeches Dur
ing all this time the burden OF attack AMI defense
rested with the members eprepresenttng the two
parties on the ways and means coninittee. The
attack by Mr. Reed and his associates. directed
against the bill, was most powerful abounding In
wit and logic, and terrible In ITS denunciation OF
Their opponents IL was met with q skill that sur
prised every one and II was by tue exercise OF the
best qualities OF leadership on the part OF the dem
ocraLic committee, and extraordinary power In
day OF July by q very slender majority.
EFFECT OF THE PASSAGE or THE Bill.
| The passage OF this bill fixed beyond the power
OF change the policy to be defended by the demo-
Gratis at this election, and separated the party as
widely as possible from the other great party
The passage OF the bill into q law would hardly
nave left the issue as plain, for that would have
required agreement 70 II on the part some at
least OF the senators OF the other party. Its re-
lection by the finance committee and their SUD-
sitution for II Of bill Numerically opposed 10 it
strengthens the issue, nxes the policy OF both
parties tmmovably, and presents TWO issues. OF
which there can be no coniounding the one with
the other
Tue TWO BuLR
The House bill Is IN intent Q tarfn for revenue
measure. That OF the Senate subordiuates every
thing to protection The attitude OF each party Is
defined, and that Is all that could be hoped for at