The Portland daily press., 1888-01-05

III 1t had been the desire 10 reduce taxes
without reducing American production, tns
the Speaker of the House were USED
Of such a bill, and in this the
Speaker had Gt is understood the
dent and the Secretary Of the Treasury: he
(Sherman) had called the attention Oh tne
Senate on the 10th Of July. 1886, to the pre-
else difficulty and danger OF the situation,
and to the readiness Of the majority OF the
Senate to provide for the reduction Of taxes
and the application Of the surplus, and II IL
had not teen for the action Of the President
and his administration Qncluding the Demo-
cratic majority in the House OF Representa-
tives) the taxes would then have been re-
duced without endangering domestic indus
tries. Even without a reduction OF taxation
the surplus revenue might have been applied
for great national objects, but for the vetOes
OF the President for the failure OF the Sec
retary of the Treasury to exercise plain, dis
cretionary powers conferred upon him BY
law, and for the failure Of the Dem )craticc
House to make appropriations for some OF
the highest national objects demanded by
the people. The President had, on what he
(Sherman) regarded as frivolous reason,
refused his signature to the river and har-
Dor bill, which would have appropriated
more than S10,000,000 for necessary pubic
works, and by his veto of the dependent PEN
sion bill he had withheld from the Union
After going into the details OF the whole
question, Mr.. Sherman said he was willing
according to the Republican national plat
form Of 1880 to correct the irregularities OF
the tariff and to reduce the surplus, not by
the vicious and indiscrimiRating process OF
horizontal reduction. but by such methods
as would relieve the taxpayer without injur-
ing the laborer or the great industries of the
country. he was willing (as recommended
by the President) to join in a careful exam
ination Of the details Of the tariff laws, with
view to the reduction Of taxes. He was
willing (as the President enjoined) to take
broad and national contemplation OF the
subject with a practical disregard OF such
local and selfish claims as were unreason-
able and regardless Of the entire country.
But he could not do that, and at the same
time follow the recommendations OF the
President. He could not strike at the in
dustrial interests built up by the tariff laws
lie could not deepen and intensity the
struggle now going on between employers
and employed by inviting increasing com
petition, crippling manufacturers and reduc-
ing wages.
He greatly preferred policy that would
encourage home industry, diversity home
productions, discourage importations, add to
the external and internal commerce, open
new mines, increase raw materials, light
new furnaces establish rolling mills, fac
tories and workshops and develop the won
derful natural resources Of the country. He
preferred that policy which looked to the in
terests of the American people rather than
those OF foreign nations. He preferred the
policy OF reducing prices by home comp eti-
ton rather than by foreign competition, OF
cheapening raw materials by increasing pro-
duction, iby the improvement of rivers and
harbors and by railroad competition. In
other words, he preferred the development,
increase and growth of the productions of
this country, without regard to the policy or
theories or Interests of other nations. What
ever might be said Of other nations, prOtec-
tion to home industries (as embodied in the
tariff laws was the best for this country,
and he, for one, proposed to maintain 1t,
even against the advice of the President.
Mr.. Sherman concluded his speech at 2
o'clock.
Senator Blair asked that the educational
bill be laid aside to allow Senator voorhees,
to reply to Mr.. Sherman, but intimated his
unwillingness to yield further. Senator
Voorhees, took the floor for speech In de-
fence of the Presidents message, and com
mendation of the administration. He de-
nounced the statement of Senators Sherman,
Teller and other Republicans in criticism of
the message, as incincere and misleading,
and asserted by way of preparation for the
coming Presidential election. Republican
legislators and journals were endeayoring
by gross Misrepresentation to put the Presi-
nent and the Democratic party in an attitude
of hostility to American manufactures
Nothing was more unjust and unfair.
Under the leadership of Mr.. Cleveland
the Democratic party demanded such a re-
vision Of the tariff, such a reduction of the
revenue, and such redu ction of the powers
of government as will be most beneficial to
all interests and most fully in harmony with
the general welfare. The Presidents mes
sage would bear the light Of discussion and
analysis. The frosts of November would
blight the Republican Misrepresentation
and rebuke those Republican Senators who
characterized as humbug the fearless souled
and statesmanlike message of the President.
Voorhees, proceeded TO defend in detail the
Presidents theories of tariff revision.
At the close of Voorhees, speech,
Senator Sherman moved the message
be referred to the finance committee. Ac-
tion was withheld to give Senator Teller an
opportunity to make some remarks. Teller
spoke briefly in reply to Voorhees's criticis-
ing his (Teller's) CORNER statement. He de-
MED that the people were suffering under
the burdens of taxation, or crying for relief.
The pendiug resolution, to refer the Presi-
dents message TO the finance committee was
not acted upon. The Chair laid before the
Senate the unfinished business, the education
bill. and the Senate, at O'Clock, went into
secret session.
The nominations Of Interstate Commerce
Commissioners were referred to the new
Interstate commerce committee, and at 1856
the doors opened and the Senate adjourned.