Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1888-02-21
Hon. w. L. Wilson Interviewed
in Regard TO the Tariff.
He Won't Betray Confidence

Especial Telegram to the Wheeling Register.l
WAsH1NGroS, February 10.-A re-
porter of the Register visited Con-
gresham Wilson at his room this
evening, and found him just prepar-
ing to go to the work of his commit
tee. He, however, submitted to a
few questions, and I herewith give
his answerss
1.-THE Register would like to know
what progress the Committee on
Ways and Means is making with its
Tariff hili."
II should be glad to give the Reg
lister anything that L properly could
disclose, hut you will understand
that I cannot make public the action
or the probable action of our COM
mitteo. 1 may, however, say the
full Committee of Ways and Means
has not vet taken up the tariff ques-
ton, and no public hearings have
been had before it, but the eight
Democratic member have been on
stantly at work for more than q
month. gathering material from every
source and working tentatively on
the schedules.
This committee has been severe
and exhausting. and has as a rule ex-
tended each day from ten in the
morning to midnight. In the fore
noon and while Congress is in ses-
sion, we are generally in committee
room, sometimes all, sometimes in
subcommittee, hearing all parties,
employers who wish to submit infor-
nation, argument or advice as to the
tariff.
In this way, by personal and IA
miliar interviews, we extract more
information and greatly more relia-
BILE than could be gotten from formal
hearings before the full committee.
We have not only encouraged and
welcomed such persons. but we have
sought trustworthy information by
extensive correspondence over the
whole country. AT night we meet
for conference and work."
"Can you tell me what progress
You have made On the bill?'
"Only in n general way. OF
course we have gone yer the sched-
ules as a whole, and some Of them in
their details"
"When do you expect to report
the bill?"
"That I cannot forecast. Say
about March l., which surely is as
early as a well considered bill should
be expected"
"And now a you give any in
formation as to what the nature OF
the bill will be?"
Absolutely none as yet, without
betrayal of confidence. This you
may tell your readers. That q
careful study of the tariff justifies all
that we have ever charged as to its
injustice and inequalities. 1t has
truly crushed many industries while
seeking to foster others. Its protec-
.tion is as a rule inverted, being
higher on the raw material or partly
manufactured product than on the
finished one, and it is full of jobs
where strong individual, corporation
or favored locality, has secretlX OBJ
tanned aiodgment to crushPout rivals,
or prey on other industries.
"These wrongs we shall try to
correct and give life to some pur-
suits in our country that to-day are
crippled and dying. But we recog-
nize fully the fact that we deal with
an existing and somewhat inveterate
| system to which the business of the
country has adopted itself, and that
we must aim to reform and improve
the system as we find it, rather than
to build anew on different and bet
ter foundation"
What ear I say for the farmers
is your proposed action as to wool?''
"Only this, at present: That ii
wool is put on the free list, it will be
because we shall have satisfied our
selves that it is to their interests as
farmers and as wool growers that it
should be. There are two great
classes in this country whose inter
ests have heen entirely forgotten in
the tariff we had since 1864-the
farmer and the Iaboring man. We
shall honestly try to consult and adj
vance the interests both in one sys-
tenn of taxation. But now 1 must CO."
81 will see you later"