The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-12
THE SENATE.

Senator Morril Points Out Evils That Will
Follow Adoption OF the Presidents Policy.
WASHINGTON, April 1L-Among the bills re-
ported from committees and placed the cal
endar was one to equalize the grades of officers
of the marine corps.
Mr. Sherman, from the committee on foreign
relations, reported back Mr.. Riddlebergers reso-
luton. offered some days since amended so as
to request the President if not incompatible
with the public interests. to furnish any in
formation in his possession relative to dispute
understood to exist between the government OF
Venezuela and the government of Great Britain
concerning the boundaries between British
Guinea and Venezuela. Adopted.
The Senate then-on motion of Mr.. Frye-at
$780, proceeded to consideration of executive
business. Within five minutes the doors were
opened The Senate then took up the motion to
refer the Presidents annual message and was
addressed by Mr.. Morrill,. In tie face of the
doctrines promulgated in the message of the
President, what encouragement for the future,
he asked had the farmers guilty of having made
investments in the sheep husbandrv, and of
having labored for years to acquire the knowl-
edge and skill of good Shepherds in the manage
ment of their fiocks2 What encouragement did
the message offer to any new, even old enter
prses2 Was there any growing city town.
any nook or corner In the couutry, which could
have any hope of advancing prosperity upon
the radical changes in the tariff as urged by
the message of the PRESIDENT What new fields
of labor would be opened, or what old ones show
increased actvity2 Rather which among
them all would not be slaughtered with their
cupati0ns gomez Where were the many thou
sands of discharged laborers to GOT The Pres-
dent appeared to deprecate the discussion of
protection and free trade. and with wonderful
simplicity forthwith proposed to recommend ab-
soute free trade in wool. He would. by his
measure, cut the jugular of every sheep in tho
country and proceed to argue with the owners
hat hnxr OnId ho hok off tfanrff
that they lost more than they gained by protec-
ton. Deducting the protective duty imposed
for the benefit of American wool of ten cents
per pound. the value of Texas wool in the New
York and Boston markets would suddenly drop
to four six cents per pound. Neither Texas
any other State would continue to raise
wool at that price, and wool growing, even in
the Lone Star State, with greater than
than of Germany, France Spain or Italy, would
only be known of the lost arts. The
prodigious loss to landed estates from an aban-
donment of sheep husbandry was a problem of
difficult solution. The Democratic party, out of
power. solidly proclaimed its policy, but having
thereby got into power il prevaricated and nm
blushingly and practically reversed its platform
from end to end. 1t would now perpetuate war
taxes and make custom house revenues insult
ficient. Had not Virginia, North Carolina,
Georgia. Tennessee, as well as New York, New
Jersey. Connecticut, and many other States a
valid cause of complaint against the Democratic
party for false pretensesl The day star of hope
appeared to have been rising in the South,
lighting all her borders with flaming furnaces
and decorating her waste places with manufact-
uring towns and cities, but these bright evil
dences of better days, il the anti-tariff raid
should be successful. would Immediately sink
out Of sight and the fondest hopes of the new
South would disappear forever. He declared
himself in favor OK any reasonable reduction of
the public revenues, and deprecated the at
tempt TO excite panic in financial affairs be-
cause of an expected annual surplus of $55.000.-
600.
There was, he said, another interest liable to
be be affected, OF vital Importance to the coun-
try IS great commercial naticp, and that
the maintenance of the bi-metallic system OF
coinage and the preservation of curren-
cy of both gold and s1lvers Were the
rates OF duties TO be placed by any mistake
merely trife in favor of foreign importRtions,
an excess of imports over exports would soon
appear and turn the balance Of trade against
this country. This could not continue long be-
fore gold would command premium and find
its best market as commodity to be shipped
abroad. The standard dollar, then unsupported
by gold would be practically based silver
alone and represent only the commercial value
of the metal Obviously the derangement of
business transaetons would be serious. The
customs revenues would all be received IN silver
silver certificates, and practical reduction OF
tariff duties and of the wages Of laboring men
wo uis4 instantly follow, to tho extent of the diff
ference between nominal and the intrinsic value
of silver coinage. Anything aending, therefore,
in any way TO depreciate the value of silver, or
the medium received for tariff duties, or Tor
wages should be earnestly avoided.
Mr.. Morrill, spoke at great length. He pre-
dicted that should the Mills bill become 8 law
American industries would be crippled and the
farmers would have to make many sacrifices
the altar of free-trade.
The Senate bill to authorize the Tennessee
Midland Railroad Company TO construct .
bridge across the Tennessee river was passed
The Senate resumed consideration of the bill
to provide for the admission Of the State of
Dakota, and was addressed by Mr.. Davis. He
said that the Senator from South Carolina Mr..
Butlerl was of opinion that thu admission of
State was purely witain the discretion of Con-
eresa lie Dir DAvlsj denied that proposition.
He denied il from the light Of law and had de-
MED il in ali its length and breadth from tbs
light of history.
Dir. Vest inquired whether 1fr. Davis's propo-
gition was that Congress WAS excluded from dis