Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-05-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our regular eorrespondsnt.l
WAsHTNGroN Nav 2lst 1888

WASHINGTON, May 2lst, 1888.
On Saturday Speaker Carlisle closed the
general debate on the Mills tariff bill with a
ringing speech for revenue reform. Refer
ring TO the opposition of some of the New
England members 10 the measure he said:
''Gentlemen from New England predicted in
1876 that the duties fixed by the law of that
date would ruin their textile industries. In
1857 all of the New England members voted
for a still further reduction of % per cent
from what they had called the ruinously low
tariff of 1876. In the free trade period, as the
Republicans called the decade from 1850 to
1850. the wool manufactured product increas-
ed 46 per cent. and wages 81 per cent. The
increased product in New England was 62 per
cent In hosiery the product increased 42l
per cent. In cotton the product IN New Eng
land increased IL per cent. In boots and
shoes, upon which the duty had been reduced
16 per cent, the increase in New England was
Is per cent; the product in 1860, in New
England was more than the entire product of
the Union in 1850. This is what the Republi-
cans from New England saw under low tariff.
Within eleven years after the passage of this
bill the members from New England will vote
for a still further reduction, or, if they did
not, the people would send somebody here
who would"
And now that the general debate on the
necessity of asking which party has the best
OF the contest thus far. The Democrats have
won an intellectual and political battle, and
the Republicans know it. They hesitate to
accepta challenge to direct vote on the Mills
bill as an expression of Republican opinion,
only because they are utterly unable to
formulate bill of their own upon which to
place their faith in the coming campaign be-
fore the plain people of the country.
oil tha
outlook is very favorable for it just now But
the Democrats who favor that measure have
the satisfaction of knowing that they have
furnished the issue which the Presidential
election will be contested. Mr.. Mills is very
confident that his bill will pass the House, so
confident that he proposed to the Republican
leaders of the House that they should intro
duce the substitute which they propose offer
ing for the bill and take vote on it, and i'm
mediately thereafter on this bill, shutting off
all amendments as well as the debate by sec
tions
For the past four days the Republicans of
the House have been caucusiong and confer
ring, but up to this writing they have agreed
to nothing except to oppose the Mills bill. The
measure will now be laid aside for ten days.
truce of that length having been agreed up
ON by the leaders of both sides, and in the
meantime the House will proceed with other
probable that the consideration of the bill by
sections will begin.
Senator VOORHEES, was given public recep-
tion last Thursday night by the Indianna
Democratic association of this city. The
Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland asso-
Citations and the District of Columbia Demo-
cratic club attended in body. There were
music and fireworks, and nothing lacking in
the way of unanimity of endorsement and
- Ia
speech in which he defended his war record.
He said
II stood by the principles of the Govern
ment. stood for its honor and / stood for
its liberty. l stood for the union of the
States, and l stood likewise for the right to
discuss every measure of administration for
war as we'll for peace. voted for every sup
ply and for every dollar that went to feed
and clothe the soldier in the field. That is
my record. l recall here what the India
ma soldiers will not forget, that when
the money of this government deprecated
until the soldier was not being paid more
than 81 or S8 month although $15 was prom
lsed him, made movement in Congress to
increase his nominal pay so that the actual
value of what he received should be equiva-
lent to what had been promised"
The House Pension Committee has re-
ported in favor of removing the Limitation
from the arrearage of pensions act. 1t Is
estimated that if this bill becomes law it
would require $250,000,0 600.
Indian Commissioner Atkins, who is going
to resign for the purpose of entering to can
vass for the Senate from Tennessee, has been
requested by Secretary Villas to defer his
until after the letting of the Indi-
an contracts. 1t is expected that the con-
tracts will all be awarded by the fifth of June.
The Democratic delegates from this dis
trict to the st. Louis convention favor the
nomination of First Assistant Postmaster
General Stevenson, of Illinois, for Vice Pres
ident.