Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1890-09-28
152 TO 81.
The Tariff Bill Nearing En-
actment.
The House Adopts the Confer
ence Report.
Only Few Hours Allowed for Final
Discussion.
Mckinley Monopolizes the Time for, and
Flower and McMillin in Oppo-
Sition.
Associated Press Dispatches. |

WASHINGTON, Sept. 81. - The house
committee on accounts today began an
investigation into the charges preferred
against Postmaster Wheat, of the house.
Wheat was called. and admitted that ne
let contract to Culbertson for carrying
the mails of the house to the postoffice,
at $1,000 per year, beginning December
last. Culbertson was to give him
(Wheat) $3.50 per month out OF it, and
told of it, and it got into
the newspapers, then he concluded that
the contract was violation of the law :,
and wanted to give the money
back to Culbertson, but was told it be-
loDged to the government, so he depos-
tied it at the treasury and stopped TAX
ing money from Culbertson. He had
consulted Clerk of the House of Repre-
sentatives Caswell and Speaker Reed
about the matter. The contract was
afterward taken from Culbertson and
relet at 1000.
Contractor Culbertson swore he car
ried the mails for Dalton, the former
postmaster, for six years prior to De-
cember last He received as compensa-
ton $4,000 year, and had not made
similar previous payments of $3.50 a
month to the postmaster. He said
Wheat asked him at first for 5000 per
month. Witness made counter propo-
sition to give him $3.50, and this,
he said, would require him to do
the work at starvation prices. Witness
said one day when it was apparent that
an investigation was probable,
Wheat's son came to him and sought to
have the $3.50 turned over temporarily
to third person, but this was notdone.
Wheat in his testimony had declared
that he knew of no such conversation.
In reply to member of the committee,
Culbertson said he was the father-in-
law OF Dalton, the former postmaster.
Mckinley explained the provisions OF
the conference report. In regard to
binding Irvine he expressed the opinion
that the duty was too low, but INDUCED
the hope that some future congress
would apply a remedy. Commenting
upon the reciprocity provision, he said:
1--WE consented to the reciprocity provi-
sion put into the bill by the senate-a
proviso perfectly well understood by
both. The house accepted the
amendment known as the Aldrich
amendment, and INDUCED the hope that,
in accordance with the expectation and
belief OF SO many distinguished men all
over the country, this will enable us to
open up great fields for the products OF
our farms. We accepted this amend
ment in the hope that such result will
be fully realized"
Flower, of New York, characterized
the measure as a,cyclone bill. A portion
of the bill was to so arrange it that
there could be no trade between the
United States and foreign countries.
1t would enable the manufacturers to
combine and fleece the people, while the
farmers would fail to find relief.
Referring to the subject of binding
Irvine, Flower said while the gentlemen
would expatiate in the west upon the
provisions as being in favor of the far
mers OF the west, it would ruin 5000
working men in New York and New
England.
McMillin, of Tennessee, said the bill
as agreed to increased by one dollar the
tax paid by every caucasian, negro, man.
woman and child in the land. The re-
ciprocity provision was a cowardly sur
render of the highest prerogative of the
house. The bill gave the president
power not exercised by the car of Rus
STA.
Mckinley then made the closing
speech in advocacy of the bill. He
said the committee had so dis
eliminated in the adjustment of
the tariff as to give protection
to our people, defense to our industries,
and compensation to make up the dii-
ference between the prices paid for la
Dor in Europe and in the
United States, for it was the
pride OF this country that it paid
more and better wages to its workmen
than were paid anywhere else on the
face of the earth, and it was enabled to
do it because of the Republican party,
and the old Wing party before it.
The house had given its promise that
it would impose tariff on the products
that come into competition with our
own labor, our own soil or our crops.
The future alone would vindicate or con-
denim this bill. The words of the gem
tleman from Tennessee, or other gentle
men, were only the words of the press of
England or the press of other countries
on this question. In opposition to this
bill, Great Britain and the Democratic
party were in unholy alliance. [Ap-
plause on the Republican side.l Gentle
men on the other side had said the bill
would not increase the demand for sim
gle grain of wheat, bushel of corn or a
pound of meat. They forgot that when
the bill became law and new indus
tries and manufactures are established,
employment will be furnished to large
number of men, which will mean the
support of $4,000 people, and these 50,-
900 people will be new consumers and
thereby create a demand for the pro-
ducts of the farmers of the west.
Already they have begun making tin
plate in st. Louis in anticipation of the
bill, in the belief that it was to pass.
Men were ready to invest money in this
enterprise and instead of paying $15,-
100000 or $40, 100000 to the other side
for our tin, we propose to make it at
home. This bill, if it became law
would put upon the free list half of all
the products which the United States
imported, the like of which was never
known in any tariff bill passed by the
congress of the United States. The gen
tlemen on the other side would tax the
people of this country to make an in
come for the government. The Repub-
lican party would tax the product OF
other people seeking markets in the
United States.
The previous question was ordered,
and resulted: yeas, ISL; nays, 70.
The conference report was then agreed
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