Huntsville gazette., 1888-01-07
THE BATTLE OVER TARIFF
Mr.. SHERMAN ASSAULTS THE PRESI-
DENTS MESSAGE.

Senator Voorhees, Makes Vigorous Reply,
Denouncing the Statements of Senator
Sherman and Other Republicans as In
sincere and Misleading.
| WASHINGTON JAN 5.-In the senate at
1245 yesterday Mr.. Sherman took the floor
to discuss the presidents message. He crit
icised the message for its failure of all refer
ence to foreign relations, and to the interest
ing question on National affairs and for post
poning all things, celestial or terrestrial,
until the surplus revenue be disposed of. 1t
was an extraordinary" message. There
was nothing new or strange about treasury
surplus President jefferson and President
Jackson had met it in their day, and Repub-
lican administrations had, on many occa-
sions, since the war grappled with it, either
by payment of the public debt or by a reduc-
tion of taxes. The Democratic party had
had control of the house of representatives
for many years and had not originated or
proposed reduction of taxes The only Re
publican congress in ten years had by the act
of March, 1883, largely reduced both internal
taxes and customs
Why had not the president followed the
example Of his predecessors by using the
powers conferred on the secretary of the
treasury, and applying the surplus to the re-
duction of the public debt. If the president
had regarded the surplus as danger, why
did he not bring his influence to bear upon
| congress to provide for a reduction of taxa
tion, and why had not congress applied the
1 Jxrl han n,,lvy .yuaS hat
trolling majority of the Democratic party
would not allow a bill to be reported, unless
it contained provisions which would greatly
Injure or destroy domestic protection. If it
had been the desire to reduce taxes without
reducing American production, the task was
easy; but the speaker of the house had used
his enormous powers, with the hearty
support of the.president, to prevent even the
reporting of such a bill. Even without
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 secretary of the treas
ury to exercise plain discretionary powers
conferred upon him by law, and for the fail
| ure of the Democratic house of representa-
tives to make appropriation for some of the
highest National objects.
Among these, Mr. SherD III mentioned the
Blair educational bill, the dependent pension
bill, the river and harbor appropriation bill,
and other Legislative projects. Ii appropri-
ations had been made for these purposes, and
for coast defenses at the present condition
the treasury, which now so alarmed the
president, would not have existed. He also
| asked why the president had not convened
congress in special session last summer, in
stead of now endeavoring to drive congress
pell nell, by an outcry to reverse the policy
Of the country for thirty years. When the
president and secretary of the treasury tried
10 alarm the country so as to induce congress
10 break down great industrial interests, he
pointed them to the neglect OF their public
duties
At 2 O'Clock Senator Sherman concluded
his speech. He had been listened to with
marked attention, and was congratulated by
his Republican associates Mr.. Blair asked
that the educational bill be laid aside to allow
Mr. VOORHEES, to reply to Mr.. Sherman,
but intinated his unwillingness to yield fur
cher
Mr. voorhees, took the floor for a speech in
defense OF the presidents message, and COM
nendation of the administration
Mr.. Voorhees, denounced the statements Of
Messrs Sherman, Teller and other Republi-
As incincere and misleading and asserted that
by way of preparation for the coming presi-
1ential message, Republican legislators and
journals We're endeavoring by gross misrep-
-esentation to put the president and the Dem
ocratic party In an attitude Of hostility to
American manufacturing interest. Nothing
could be more unjust or unfair. Under the
leadership Of Grover Cleveland the Dem
ocratic party demanded such revision
If the tariff such reduction of revenue and
surplus. and such administration of the
powers of government, as was most bene-
cal to all interests, and most fully in har-
mony with the general welfare. The presi-
| dents message would bear the light of dis
clisson, analysis and debate. The frosts of
next November would blight Republican
Misrepresentation and rebuke the Repub-
lican senator's who characterized hum
bug" the fearless, sound and statesmanlike
message of the President. Mr. Voorhees, pro-
ceeded to defend in detail the presidents
theories of tariff revision.
| Coming down TO the practical question of
taxation, Mr.. voorhees, said he was aware
that there were many objections to internal
! taxes but on grounds far different from
| desire to perpetuate enormous and MUST
tariff taxes on the necessaries Of life He APP
preciated the fact Tor many years and espe-
cially in several states, the whole system had
been used as a powerful instrument of parti-
san political welfare and had been rendered
odious to every FREQ minded citizen
/ He was also often reminded that it was
war tax, and that it should pass away in
time of peace. All these opinions had their
weight with him But while heavy taxes,
which had been laid by war tariff on every
article entering into the wants and necessi-
ties of the people We're not reduced at all, he
submitted that the work of reform and re-
ductions should be pursued in that field, and
the internal revenue system left to stand yet
while subject to certain notifications
As to tobacco, he suggested that the tax on
cigars and snuff, producing S12,5O0, 900,
might he retained, and the rest of the tax,
producing 5l7 ,0000 0G0, abolished But this,
however, was a feature of detail and perhaps
feature of compromise. The great bulk of
abatement in the present total unnecessary
taxation of the people would have to take
place i'll careful and prudent revision of the
| tariff. and we would have to leave to the
I