Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-23
NIX. BLAINE AND THE TARIFF
What He Said Before the Senate Ap-
preparations Committee.

There appears to be no disposition in any
quarter to discredt the general statements
that have been made concerning Mr.. Blaine's
criticism before the Senate appropriations
committee Of certain features OF the Mckinley
bill. Mr.. Blaine's position on this question has
been well known. He believes in the great
good that is to come to this country through
the development Of the South and
Central American trade, and has fire.
quently given expression to his ideas
on the subject. When the tariff bill was
under consideration by the House ways and
means committee he tried to induce the repub-
llcan members to introduce reciprocal features
into the measures. He advocated the general
policy Of reciprocity. He opposed the uncon-
ditional increase of duties where such increases
might lnJure our trade prospects with the ma
tons to the south and opposed the placing of
sugar on the free list without securing any
benefit in return. He was willing that sugar
should be admitted free, provided the
nations benefited by the repeal of
the duty would in turn admit
some of our farm products free into their
ports. He advocated the admission of certain
products of South and Central America and
Mexico into this country free OF duty, by proc
lamation OF the President, whenever those
countries should admit certain of our products
to their ports free of duty.
He took this position before the House COM
mittee, and what he said before the committee
on appropriations of the Senate was in the
same line.
ONE WHO HEARD THE DISCUSSION.
MIR. W. L. Curtis, who was present during
the latter discussion says in the Chicago Ne,rs:
happened to be a witness and the circum-
stances were these: Mr.. Blaine was explaining
to the subcommittee the necessity of making
appropriations to carry Into effect the recon-
mendations of the international conference
MIR. Hale, think it was, inquired what results
were to be expected, whereupon Mr.. Blaine, in
the impetuous manner that is characteristic of
him. declared that if sugar was placed upon
the free list the greatest results sought for and
expected from the international conference
would be sacrificed. He declared that it would
be the most inexcusable piece OF folly the re-
publican party was ever guilty of and that the
leaders in Congress would realize it before
many months, and that if he was in the SEN
ate he would fight it to the best of his ability
he spoke with the Creates earnestness, and
said he would give two years of his life for two
hours on the floor OF the Senate when the sugar
schedule was under consideration. Forty mil
lions of people, he said, had expressed their
Willingness to admit our food products free if
We would take the duty off their sugar, and in
the face OF that proposition our Congress pro-
posed to put sugar on the free list without
asking any concession IN return. Neither Mr.
Allison nor Mr.. Hale dissented, but both ad-
mitted the business of his criticism Mr.
Blackburn, who was the only democrat present
INDUCED in little chatting in II jocular way.
and then the committee resumed the consider
alton OF the appropriation bill. There was no
i'll feeling shown, but, on the contrary all the
gentlemen present agreed that Mr. Blaine was
right.
IT MEETS WITH FAVOR.
1t is likely that Mr.. Blaine's proposition will
meet with much favor in the Senate. The gen.
eral comment upon 1t by those who have not
personal reasons for wanting to think other
wise Is that the policy he advocates is wise
and shows broad statesmanship on his part He
would secure reciprocity of trade between the
nations OF this hemisphere and SO extend and
develop our trade, increasing the prosperity of
the whole continent