The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-06-07
Plain Talk From Mr.. Fitch.

Plain Talk From Mr.. Fitch.
Mr.. Fitch, Republican Congressman
from New York City spoke on the 10th
instant on the Mills tarin bill.
After commenting upon how every
member had argued for his own District
and how every member seemed 10 rep
resent, especially either the farmer or
the manufacturer. Mr.. Fitch told aeout
the varied constituency he represented.
He represe nted. he said, district In the
upper part Of New York City. which
was mainly a residence district. The
people there were not protected. Ihe
farmer had eloquent advocates trained
in county aud Safe fair. The work
men in the factories had special advo-
Gates, who lay awake all night to study
their interests. Almost every class had
its advocates here except the million
air s, whom nobody would own to rep
resent, and who hao no friends In the
HOUSE. Laughter. Among the
people he represented were policemen
and iremen and reporters and printers
and paper carriers and locomotive epgi-
peers on the Elevated Railroad. This
class OF workmen had no direct protect
ion. They were not oveIpa:d. The
money which they received at the end
of each week was not more than was re-
ouired for their necessities, and at the
same time they were compelled to buy
the taxed doll to till the taxed Christ
mas stocking or the taxed medicine for
the invalid member Of the family.
Their wishes might be az important to
the Republican party as those OF the
farmers ana manufacturers. III the
Republican party were to get votes
from New York City they must get
them from those people. They had
elected him, Republican, to Congress
mainly because the Democratic candi-
date refused 10 support any measure OF
tariff reform and had voted against con-
slderation of the Morrison bill. Ap-
plause OIL Democratic side.
The day had come, he SAID. when the
present duties yielded so large q revenue
that a further accumulation OF the rev.
enue was actually dangerous. Was it
strange that at this time readjust-
ment was asked. and WAS 1t unreason.
able to ask that the tariff which put
jewelry az 25 per cent. and oil cloth 1t
40 per cent. which brought In silver
plate ut 25 per cent. and childrens' cot
ton stockings at 40 per cent. should be
moo ifedr On the theory OF blessing
the manufacturers the masses OF the
people OF New York had paid for many
years more for their meals, their clothes
and medicines than those things ought
to have cosl.
The gentleman from Pennsylvania
(Mr. O'Neill) had said that New York
WAS in q large measure foreign city.
1t Was true, of course, that New York
had many foreign born ciIIZens, and
among them y large number who bore
the name OF the gentleDan from Penn
svlvSnIs. Lnught-rl He had little
regard for the man who contrasted his
own patriotism with that OF his grand
father, to the disadvantage OF TIE latter.
When gentlemen asking for q fulfill
ment or Republican promises to RENE
dy the admitted irregularity of the
tariff the answer of the manufacturers
was thai il an article on the dutiable
list WAS touched the whole protection
scheme was in danger. The high pro-
tective manufacturers bad endless OBJ
iections. They had monopoly of oh
jsctlops. II cheap vegetables were
asked for, the farmer objected. II
cheaper clothing was asked for the WOOL
grower objected. II cheaper carpets
were asked FOR, the manufacturer OBJ
iected. II cheaper coal was asked for
lUc ODJcCiNO. II CLcdPci llCC duu
sugar we're asked, the planter objected.
He, for his district OF consumers, OBJ
j-cIed TO this chorus ot objections.
I Laughter. IL every interest in this
country which was protected was to cry
out at any proposed reduction of the
tariff in the enteres, OF the great prin-
cIple OF protection. the people OF his dis
IrIct might ask that their monthly
wages AID the limited incomes on
which they live should have the protec-
tion promised by both political parties,
and that not bye and bye. bu. in the
FIftieih Congress. Applause. He
desired TO consider the question at the
present Congress. Whether the Fifty
first, Fifty second or FifIy-third Con-
gress was TO be Republican or Demo
cratic was something that concerned
him at present very little. He proposed
TO do what ne could towards fulfilling
the promises of his party Cd this sub
ject now when be had an opportunity.
His second objection TO the answer was
that ii made the success OF the Republi-
can party a condition precedent TO the
revision. II the revision was right aud
in the interest OF the development o.
the country, he for one was willing to
make it, whether there was political
capital IN il or not.
II the gentleman who denounced the
authors OF the Democratic bill would
prepare a better bill he would certainly
be glad TO give his support to that
measure in preference to any other; but
IL he were asked TO oppose the bill-not
so much on account of its contents as
on account OF its authorship AID histo-
ry-he must decline to do so, even If he
stood alone on his side of the House
Applause or the Democratic side.
He had not declined the suffrages of his
people on account OF their political an
tecedents, and IL 6,400 people forgot
their Democracy to give the district to
a Republican. be, in his turn, would
forget the origin of the bill In cohsid-
ering the eQuestioE whether IL we're in tie
interest OF his constituents. There was
something better than Republicsnism
or Democracy, and that was common
honesty.