Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-10-19
SENATOR MORRILL, ON THE TARIFF,
The Difference Between the Senate and
the Mllla mn ExnInInnd-


The Difference Between the Senate and
the Mills Bill Explained
tMontpeier d patch to the Boston Journal
The presence of Senator Justin S. Nor
rill at the capital recalls the fact that it
was just "a years ago that the Legislature
OF Vermont in joint assembly declared the
official vote of his election as represen-
tative from this State to the saith Con
gress. senator Morrill, left Washington
in August at the urgent request of his
physician, his health beinl much i'm
paired 10y his close attention to public
business in the Senate. He has been
greatly benefited by the rest obtained at
his home in Stratford and any one hear
ing his address or seeing him as he as
cended the State House steps would not
| suppose that the distinguished senator
was in his roth year. Before Senator Nor
rill departed for home he gave his views
on the tariff issue, as presented by the
| Mills bill and the Senate measure Re
garding the Mills bill, he said This
| bill is still the bone of contention in
the presidential contest and the issue be-
tween tree trade and protection has been
50 sharply defined by the passage of this
measure by the democratic House rs to
preclude diversion of this issue in the
canvass now drawing to close. 1t seems
to be foreRone conclusion that if Grover
| Cleveland Is reelected and q democratic
| House and Senate are chosen the Mills
| bill will become a law"
Senator Morrill,, in speaking of the claim
made ny the supporters of the Mills bill that
! it contemplated reduction of but seven
per cent in the tariff, said the assertion
was not founded on fact, as the proposed
| reduction was very severe and was much
more than had been claimed. He said the
! democrats in their calculation failed to
| take into consideration the articles placed
on the free list, which was a very material
! omission. Senator Morrill, further stated
! that the Interpretation of the existing
tariff laws by the democratic admnistra-
ton had worked to the detriment OF many
| protected industries and made serious
! leaks in the revenue OF the government.
When asked for his views on the Senate
| tariff measure, the eminent chairman of
the Finance Committee of the Senate
said Il have always contended that it
was wise for the Senate to formulate
! bill. The republican members of the
| Finance Committee were united in favor
of revision of the tariff and reduction of
the surplus, and they were also united in
! the view that the tariff ought to be re-
vised on protective basis, and not on
| line of free trade, rs proposed by Presi-
| dent Cleveland. The Senate bill Is the
result Of many weeks of careful consdera-
ton on the part of the sub-Fnance Com
| mittee, Proper protection is continued to
| al branches of American industries. and
the measure is much more favorable to the
agricultural interests of the country than
the Mills bill. The passage of the Senate
measure will save the farmers on our
northern frontier from Canadian competi-
ton, which is threatened in the Mills bill.
| consider the administrative features of
the Senate tariff measure as of paramount
Importance, and the bill has been prepared
to remedy the defects of existing laws,
which, as interpreted, allow fraud and
differentiation of imports"
Senator Morrill, expresses confidence in
the election of Harrison and Morton, but
said the democrats were determined 10
| buy the election, il possible.