Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-04-26
THE NATIONS CAPITOL
President CleVeland'S Tariff Mes
sage.
Senator VOORHEES, Undertakes to
Defend il and Also His
Party.
The Republicans Accused Of Causing all
the Troubles that Mark the
Times.
Mills Tariff Bill Discussed by Western
congressman Pro and Con as
Il Affects their
Interests.
The Ways and Means Committee De-
eide to Limit the Tariff Debate,
the Time to be Equally
Divided Between
Both Parties.
Mills Tariff Bill Discussed by Western
Congressman Pro and Con as
WASHINGTON, April 25.
Senate.

Senate.
After the routine business the Senate took
up the motion TO refer the Presidents mes
sage.
Mr., Voorhees, addressed the Senate there
on. He strongly endorsed the Presidents
tariff message and took up the war issues
which played so prominent part in the SEN
ate debates. In the Senate debates he had
defended the Presidents record. He made
reference to pension bills and others, show
ing the Presidents attitude towards the union
soldier. He said that the attempts to place
the democratic party in an attitude of un-
friendliness toward the soldier without JUS
tifcation, must fail, 1t was only surpassed
in mendacity by the attempt TO stigmat re the
entire party as disloyal, and ITS eminent union
generals as allies of the confederacy, In
reply to Mr.. Ingalls, he condemned in most
severe terms his attack on Generals Hancock
and Mcclellan. He then turned to the re-
publican msrule in the south. He replied
to the various charges made by Mr.. Sherman
and argued in favor of the adoption of the
Presidents recommendations and democratic
principles as the means of securing the pros
perity of the north and south alike. He con-
demned in the strongest terms the partisan
device of reopening the war issues and of
reviving old passions for political purposes.
He stgmatized as scavengers and ghouls the
men who attacked the memory of the heroes
of the democratic party, who defended the
Union in the war.
On motion of Mr.. Frye, the conference re-
port on the bill for a conference of Ameri-
can nations in 1889, was non-concurred in
and new conference was ordered.
The animal industry bill came up but was
laid 10, .
grant bill was taken up and discussed but 10
action was taken.
The Senate bill appropriating $50 900 for
a light house, fog signal and day beacon in
the vicinity of Goose Rocks, Fox Island,
was considered but not disposed of.
House.
The House went INTO the committee of the
whole on the tariff bill. MIR. Bynum of In
diana, supported the bill. He declared that
it was no longer possible to put off reduc-
ton of the tariff. He said that the bill did
not meet with his unqualified approval but
he was willing to consider it in the spirit of
concession and compromise and to join in a
construction measure which yielded some
thing to the productions of every locality.
He thought the present law was onerous and
framed in selfishncss. He advocated such a
reduction as would give to the larger mar
kets full protection. He admitted that wages
had increased under the protective tariff, but
denied that this was on account of the tariff,
because the same increase has taken place
in Great Britain under free trade. The conf
try had grown great in spite of protection.
The price of labor was regulated by the law
of supply and demand, and not by the tariff
The great trouble with this country was the
wan. of a market, American labor should
have the chance to compete with foreign Ia
Dor and then il could take care of itself.
Under high protection on wool the price
had steadily fallen. The tariff was an I'LL
portant factor in the decline. The people
consumed six hundred million pounds of
woolens every year More than half had to
be purchased abroad, because the high tariff
has broken down all the wooden industries.
The day had arrived when the glory and tri-
umph of the nation consisted in bearing the
national emblem into the harbors of every
country.
Mr.. Brown of Indiana, replied. He said
that the surplus didn't frghteu him. 1t was
an evidence of national prosperity. 1t had
been gathered into the treasury without any
oppression or complaint. If under the con-
troll of wise craftsmanship it would be ma
tional blessing but as it was safer to reduce
lures He was anxious to reduce it to the |, W
est limit of the national wants The Presi-
dents plan of reduction would entail disas-
ter. The democrats for party reasons, had
provided for reduction of inter-
nal revenue in the face of the
Presidents statement that no fault
could be found with that system. Thereby
/ they hoped to prevent a strike in Virginia
and other democratic states. He would sup
port the internal revenue part of the Mills
bill, on the condition that his constituents ap-
proved of the tax on tobacco and liquors, but
he thought that spirits used in arts and man.
| ufactures should he free. A feeling against
I the internal revenue system was growing
rapidly. especially in the south. He quoted
figures to show that the domestic wool prod
uct had increased enormously under twenty
years of protection. while by the reduction
. of 1888, the industry had been well nigh
ruined. 1t was a little singular that while
wool was put upon the free list, sugar was to
be protected by an annual tax of s45 900 600,
Mr.. Bland of Missouri suggested that all
the duty on sugar was revenue dnty, which
/ went into the treasury.
Mr.. Brown replied that this was true but
that the democratic party hal not attempt, d
to impose duty on tea and coffee, the rev
enue from which would go directly into the
treasury. The trouble was sugar voted the
democratic ticket in Louisiana; tea and cof-
fee didn't daughter He congratulated
the President upon having compelled his par
ty to take issue the tariff question. The
masquerade was over. The question wa
free trade or protection. This bill was the
vanguard of free trade. =
Mr. Dockerey of Missouri,s spoke favorabil
on the bill He said that both parties were
under a solemn pledge to reduce taxation
The question should be approached ina spir
of moderation, prudence and patriotism. Ths
surplus was required in the channels of trade
If not reduced it would be squandered- II
: the republicans could show that the protec
: tive system was beneficial to the working Of
the country. he was willing to waive obje-
ton to it. But they could not Many un
: protected industries paid their employe
/ higher wages than protected establishments
, He had statistics to show the immense bonu
: which the protective tariff put into the pock
! ct Of the manufacturers, but which didn't g
a into the pockets of the workingmen. Tb
protective system had built al
E an aristocracy Of monopoly. The enormou
s aggregation of capital in the hands of fe'
: men gong on for quarter of century h.
assumed such proportions as to occasio
: serious alarm. 1t had been estimated thai j
4 wealth continued to aggregate in the hand
Of few in the next ten years, 80 per cent Q