The National tribune., 1888-05-17

On the tariff bill.
BIr. Turner (Ga.) criticised the Republican
side for not having formulated some bill to
/ revise the tariff in the interest of the people
and for having contented itself with an effort
/ to attaiut the Mills bill and 10 attaint those
! who were its reputed authors and an effort to
/ defend the general policy of protection. He
defended the action OF the majority of the Ways
and Means Committee, and became involved in
/ a little controversy with Mr.. Reed, of Maine.
/ Mr.. Cannon (ul.) said that it was admitted
I that the revenue should be reduced. Much
well-foun3ed complaint had been made that
4 the President, by his veto of the Dependent
/ Pension Bill, had prevented the distribution Of
part Of that revenue among the defenders of
/ the Union. This President had, however,
/ signed the Mexican war Pension Bill, and each
OF those soldiers, rich or poor, had his name
inscribed on the pension roll when he reached
/ the age Of % years The widow of Mexican
war soldier whose husband fought to destroy
the Union, got pension. while the widow Of
the Union soldier could only receive it by pro-
ducIug the strIctest technical proof after the
lapse of quarter Of a century of the death Of
her husband. The President piled up the sur
plus il 800 national banks 10 the amount of
S60,000,000 without interest. 1t was only by
the efforts Of MeSsrs Randall and Morrison
that he had been forced TO apply part of that
I surplus 10 the redemption of bonds already
due
The Republican party had been tainted by
the other side with the charge that it had not
submitted a tariff bill, Bat the Democracy
was IN the majority and responsible for legsla-
ton. The minority was powcrIess to legisla-
ton, and II had not even the privilege. under
the rules of having its amendments considered
III COMMITTEES. II the people called the Republi-
can party into power II would revise the tariff
and decrease taxation without reducing wages,
without breaking down an industry. But un-
til II was IN power 1t was not called upon to
legisate.
The gentlemen on the other side all seemed
to think that labor was oppressed in the United
States. Let them look at the Statistics 1000
GOO paupers in England and only $4,000 in the
United States with twice the population. He
never could be accused of aspiring to be
leader, but he was willing TO hang on the walls
the banner bearing the inscription: Twenty
four millions OF internal revenue, seventeen
millions of tobacco. and seven millions off
special licenses" and under that write, free
sugar and a bounty of two cents 4 pound"
That was all that was needed to reduce the
revenues eghty-siX millions He called for
volunteers from the Democratic SIDE but there
was no response.
Mr. Wilkinson la said that extremists
were wrong when they held that there was no
constitutional authority for the imposition of
protective duties. A duty that furnished Teve-
nue. and gave protection when it could, reve-
nue. as the object aud protection as the Incl
dent, had the highest constitutional justifiea-
ton. He could not agree with the speakers
who had held that an industry which required
protection TO bring 1t into existence was not
worthy OF cultivation. While the bill had not
been framed to suit his views or those of his
constituents, he would say to the friends of
honest reduction in taxation that his people
would not shrink from bearing their share in
the reduction Of the taxes now imposed Oh the
people.
Mr. Johnston Ind.) asked if the gentleman
was willing to put sugar on the free list.
Mr.. Wilkinson responded in the negative.
Mr. Johnston asked if it would not be as
just as the proposition to place wool on the free
list.
Mr.. Wilkinson replied that he had not been
heard to advocate free wool.
Mr.. Brumm PA said that Grover Cleve-
land, acting President Of the United States,
had solemnly proclaimed a doctrine which was
the spawn Of the cotton combine, Of the Wall
street sharks and Of the Kentucky whisky
ring
By protection only could fair remunerative
wages be paid for labor. He was therefore for
protection and against class legislation in the
interest Of cotton, whisky, and Great Britain,
The Chairman of the Ways and Means Commit
tee had said, Ia speech intended for home
consumption, that the 10000 600 Of Americans
consumed more products than the 300,000000
Of Europe Give the American manufacturer
and producer this market, let him supply the
home demand, and be would not care for the
foreign market controlled by foreign manipu-
lat0rs. English goods were sold here for less
than the cost Of production. The English
manufacturer was compelled to do this; it was
the junk that must be gotten rid Of. This
country, bouudless in It's demands, was the
dumping ground for the surplus products Of the
s.e9 = zFI-
and Mills-no longer said word in its favor
All Of the fault now laid in the tariff. They
had for5aken their God and were worshipiug
idols.
Mr. Bland interrupted to ask what was the
use of coming silver if it could not be gotten
out fthc Treasury, if it only went to increase
the surplus.
Mr.. Brumm replied that the money might
be gotten out Of the Treasury If Congress would
pass the resolution offered by Mr.. Plumb, Of
Illinois that proposed to investigate the change
Of the law which prevented the Government
from TedecmiHg It's bonds at will. Why was it
that Mr.. BANDS committee, which talked so
much about being silver men, chOked that rcso-
luton? Bring it into the House. and not
dozen Democrats would dare vote against it.
IL was not the fault Of the tariff that caused
distress in the coal and iron regions. 1t was
the dsmnab!e tyranny Of Scott and Cox, and
others ike them, which pitted the men against
each other.
Mr. Bland called attention to the fact that
Engand's imports exceeded her exports.
Dir. Brumm replied that it was apparent.
England has great sources of revenue from
transportation service aud from bonds She
held vast sums Of our railroad bonds in return
for English railroad iron, and was sucking our
blood in interest.
Kesuming, Afr. Brumm denounced the "ga1l"
Of the Southern Democrats who set up a great
regard for labor. That same element had re-
dUced its la5orers TO a more abject slavery than
they ever were before the war. Then they
named them slaves; to-day they added insult
70 injury by calling them free men and disgrace
ing them by placing them side by side with
conyicts and shooting them like dogs if they
dared 10 protest.
FRIDAY, MAY IL.
The Senate was not in session.
10 the House, BIZ. w. L. Scott pa made an
elaborate argument in favor Of the Mills BILL
lie claimed that the present tariff prevented
the United States from struggling for the pos
/ session Of the world markets. He held That
we have no power 10 lay a tax that defeats the
} -r.E IF H. Al