National Republican., 1888-05-04
TIE HOUSE.

Mr.. Belmont, of New York, presented,
and the House adopted, the conference re-
port on the joint resolution accepting on be-
half of the United States the invitation OF
the French republic to take part in the in
temational exhibition to be held in Paris In
1850. 1.-THE committee representing the
United States will receive a salary of
S10,OC0.1
The House then went into committee of
the whole Mr.. Springer, of Illinois, in the
chair) on the tariff bill.
Mr. Wilson, of West Virginia Ga member
of the ways and means committee), said that
the opponents Of the bill represented the
issue to be between free trade and protcc-
tion. 1t was rather an effort Of the people TO
recover the right to tax themselves.
lie claimed that protection had built up
privileged class, which now resented any
interference in their affairs. lie argued at
length against the claim that a tariff made
or maintained wages. lie contended that
with the substitution of machinery for
human labor and the perfection of our rail-
road system, the home market idea was
mere myth, and that the competition which
was promised as the condition of temporary
protection from foreign interference was now
largely neutralized by trusts. lie discussed
trusts In their bearing on the consumer, on
the laborer, and on the people in general.
In discussing the question of rates OF
wages, Mr.. Wilson referred to the remarks
of Mr. Allen, Of Massachusetts,, as to the
prosperity Of the wage earners OF Lowell.
He wanted TO compare, he said, the condi-
tion of the Lowell operatives under the
Walker tariff and their condition under the
present tariff. To show their condition un-
der the revenue tariff he quoted from Dick
ens's "American Notes. an extract highly
complimentary of the prosperity and in
telligence Of the workingmen and women Of
Lowell; and to show the reverse of the
picture he quoted an extract from Pigeons
''Old World Questions and New World
Answers" in which the condition of Lowell
operatives is drawn In dark colors.
Mr. Allen, Of Massachusetts, said he
would like q few moments to give the gen
tleman some information in regard to the
city where he had spent his whole life, In
order to refute the statements of an English
free trader.
Mr. Lodge, of Massachusetts. Did l un
derstand the gentleman to say that the pass
age he quoted from Dickenss "American
Notes" referred to Lowell under the Walker
TARIFF
Mr. Wilson. About that time.
Mr. Lodge. The "Notes' We're published
In 1S42-four years before the Walker tariff
came into existence. Applause and laugh
ter.
Mr.. Wilson. have not the exact date of
publication; but the tariff in 1912 was not
one half the rates Of tariff in 1888. [Ap-
| plause.
Mr.. Wilson, continuing, said that the gem
| tleman from Massachusetts, Mr. Lodge had
| written the life of Alexander Hamilton, and
| he wanted to bring the gentleman's recOl-
| lection to the following extract, written be-
| fore politics had taken possession OF him /;
SIN the year 1901 Hamilton was n protec-
| zionist; Mt the present day he would proba-
| bly, be foremost In urging a revision Of the
tariff Applause and laughtcr.l
Mr., Lodge was glad that the gentleman
had read the passage, for he had not changed
| his views.
Mr.. Wilson (reading). 'Ile ClIamilton)
would now be a moderate protectionist but
| not one of those who support heavy duty In
order to furnish to industries already firmly
established a protection which accrued
solely to the benefit Of the manufacturer
"That,n commented Mr.. Wilson, twas
written since lsi2n Laughter,
Mr.. Lodge, What is the date Of that
boOk2
Mr. Wilson. 1888,
Mr. Lodge, The copyright date
Mr. Wilson, 1852.
| Mr. Lodge. That was before the revision
Of 1893. [RenGwed laughter
Mr. Wilson. When that was written the
average tariff In this country was i265 per
cent, and now II is AL per cent, ZAP
plause.l In arguing that the tariff did not
regulate the price of labor, lie contrasted
the prices paid In the same line of employ
ment, and stated that as result of that con
trast man in Maine was only worth two
thirds of man in Connecticut.
Mr. BOutelle, of Maine, inquired how high
the wages of farm laborers were in West
Virginia.
Mr.. Wilson. They are not as high as they
would be II we had the protection of. Zap
plapse.
Mr.. Boutele. want a candid reply, or
/, want 10 have the gentleman retreat ignqnlin-
ioualy from the question.
! Mr.. Wilson, cannot yield for q speech,
but accept the gentleman as q full expla