The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-11
Debating the mills Bill.


WAsHINeToN, May 10.-The conference re-
port was agreed to on the joint resolution au-
thorizing the President to arrange conference
between the United States aud the republics of
Mexico and Central and South America and
Brazil
Mr.. Ssyres, of Texas. called up q bill making
an appropriation of s450,0o0 to supply de-
fciency in the appropriation for the expenses of
collecting the revenue from the customs for the
fiscal year ending June so, 1888. There il
clause in the bill repeating the permanent ap-
preparations for the collection Of customs. An
amendment was adopted appropriatng So. 500,
600 to supply q deficiency in the appropriation
for the payment Of army and navy pensions to
invalid widows, minor children and dependent
relatives and survivors Of the war Of 1872 An
amendment was adopted providing that the ap-
preparation of $4,000 made by the act of
March 8. 1887, for heating apparatus to be fur
nished before June 80. 1888, to certain public
buildings. shall continue available to enable the
Secretary OF the Treasury to fulfll contracts
entered into prior to June 80, 1888 The bill
was then passed as amended.
The House then went into committee of the
whole-Mr. Springer. Of Illinois, in the chair
on the tariff bill.
bill
Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois, said that il was ad-
mltted that the revenue should be reduced.
Much wellfounded complaint had been made
that the President, by his veto Of the depend
ent pension bill, had prevented the distribution
OF part OF that revenue amongst 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 in.
scribed on the pension roll when he reached the
10 y-fU vi No Vii NJ n
war soldier, whose husband fought to destroy
the Union, got . pension while the widow Of
the Union soldier could only receive it by pro-
ducing the strictest technical proof, after the
her husband. The President piled up the sur
plus In three hundred national banks to the
amount of sec. 600. 900, without interest 1t was
only by the efforts of Messrs. Randall and Morri-
son that he had been forced to apply part of
that surplus to the REDEMPTION OF bonds already
due. Taking up the tariff bill Mr.. Cannon de-
MED that its tariff features would reduce the
revenues cent history showed that
as the duties were lowered the revenues
increased. The bill was subject to criticism for
many sins OF omission and commission. The
freewool clause was oae of the sins of COM
mission. The wool product in the United
States WAS three-fourths OF the amount con-
sumed. We would destroy the great wool in
terests II we placed them IN competition with
the free woods of Australia and South Amer
lea The prices would 60 up. and We would be
at the mercy Of the foreign wool-grower. If as
he beloved, provision placing sugar the
free list would reduce the revenues as far az
was prudent, he would enact such . provision,
with the addition Of the administrative laws.
and stop there. 1t amused him to hear the
soicitude expressed by gentlemen on the other
side for the oppressed farmer, to see them shed
ding crocodile tears oyer the poor farmer, when
they would not know deer from q cow IL they
saw it The gentlemen the other side all
seemed 70 think that labor Was oppressed 10 the
United States. Let them look at the statistics
One million paupers in England and only SO. 900
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
banner bearing the inscription: "S24. 0O0, 900
off internal revenue, Sl7 600. 600 of tobacco and
100000 of special licenses" and under that
write Free sugar and bounty OF two cents
q pound" That was all that was needed to re-
duce the revenues sS6,000.000. He called for
volunteers from the Democratic side. but there
WAS no response.
Dir. Wilkinson, Of Louisiana, said. while tho
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 on
the people
Mr.. Johnston, of Indiana. asked If the gentle
man was willing to put sugar on the free list
Mr.. Wilkinson responded in the negative.
Mr.. Johnston asked il IL would not DO as just
as the proposition to place wool on the free list
MIR. Wilkinson replied that he had not been
heard to advocate free wool. Impartial judges
had pronounced in favor OF the sugar taxes and
against the wool taxes, and these matters he had
been willing TO leave, In great part, to judges
not interested. Continuing. he argued IN favor
OF the sugar tax, which he said was source Of
revenue in time of peace and war. and gave en-
ployment to many persons. California Was al
ready protreipg enough beet scgar to justify the