Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-02-16
HON. WM. L. WILSON INTERVIEWED
IN REG1RD TO THE TARIFF.
He Won,t Betrau Conadence.

WASHINGTON, February l0.-A reporter
Of the Register visited Congressman Wilson
at his room this evening, and found him
Just preparing to go to the work of his COM
mittee He, however, submitted few ques-
tons, and I herewith give his answers:
"The Register would like to know what
progress the Committee on Ways and Means
is making with its Tariff BILL"
81 should be glad to give the Register
anything that properly could disclose,
but you will understand that cannot make
public the action or the probable action Of
our committee may, however, say that
the full Committee of Ways and Means has
not yet taken up the tariff question, and no
public hearings have been had before it,
/ but the eight Democratic members have
been constantly at work for more than a
month, gathering material from every source
and working tentatively on the schedules.
"This work has been severe and exhaust
ing, and has, as a rule, extended each day
from ten in the morning to midnight. In
the forenoon and while Congress is in ses.
sion, we are generally in committee rooms.
sometimes all, sometimes in subcommittee,
hearing all parties, employers who wish to
submit information, argument or advice as
TO the details of the tariff.
'In this way, by personal and familiar
interviews, we extract more information and
greatly more reliable than could be gotten
from formal hearings before the full com
mittee. We have not only encouraged and
welcomed such persons, but we have sought
trustworthy information by extensive cor
respondence over the whole country. At
night we meet for conference and work"
Can you tell me what progress You have
made with the bill?"
"Only ina general way. OF course we
have gone over the schedules as 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 well consid
cred bill should be expected"
"And now can you give any information
as to what the nature of the bill will be?"
absolutely none as yet, without a betray-
al of confidence. This much YOU may tell
your readers. That a careful study of the
tariff iustfes all that We have ever charged
as to its injustice and inequalities. 1t has
truly crushed many industries while seek
ing to foster others Its protection is as a
rule inverted, being higher on the raw ma
teral or partly manufactured product than
on the finished one, and it is full Of jobs
where strong individual, corporation or ia
vored locality, has secretly obtained a lodg-
ment to crush out rivals or prey on other
Industries.
"These wrongs we shall try to correct and
give life to some pursuits in our country
that to-day are crippled and dying. But
we recognize fully the fact that We deal with
an existing and somewhat inveterate sys-
tenn to which the business Of the country
has adopted itself, and that we must aim to
reform aud improve the system as we fad
it rather than to build anew on different
and better foundations
"What can l say for the farmers is your
proposed action as to wool?'
"Only this at present. That if wool is
put on the free list, it will be because we
shall have satisfied ourselves that it is to
their interests as farmers and as wool grow
ers that it should be. There are two great
classes in this country whose interests have
been entirely forgotten in the tariff we have
had since lS64-the farmer and the labor
ING man. We shall honestly try to consult
and advance the interests Of both in one sys-
tenn of taxation But now must 60"
Il viii see you later"