Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-05-16
TOOK THEIR BREATH AWAY
Butterworth, the Ohio Republican
Surprises the Democrats.
His Sentiments on the Tariff Bill Re
ceive Their Appreciation.
Would Rather Resign Than Change
His Views as Expressed.

WASHINGTON. May 13.-The house
met at 0 clock today and after transac-
tlOn of routine business went iuto COM
mIttee OF the whole on the tariff bill
Mr. MchIillin, of Tennessee moved to
reduce the duty on amonia. He sad he
could see no reason why this article of
necessity to farmers should be so heavily
taxed.
Mr.. Mckinley, in opposition. stated
that since the tariff had encouraged COM
petition In this country. the price OF am
nonia had been reduced from % to ~
cents per pound.
Mr.. Butterworth said that the price of
an article was not reduced on account of
competition alone. 1t was reduced on ac-
count of improvements in the methods of
manufacture. He never doubted that the
protective system was wise and had scat
tered blessings in the land from shore TO
shore. If there was any
Danger to the Protective system
it was in its ocillatisn between the ex-
treme of free trade ON the one hand. and
ON the other the extreme which created
inequalities among Americans themselves.
The country i'll the election of Harrison
and the republican congress had declared
unequlvocally in favor Of sustaining and
uphOlding the protective system. The
conflict n IS had not been between
schedule ratos. but between economic poll
cies. The democratic policy was we'll
known. 1t was that the tariff should be
levied for revenue only. The republican
policy was that the tariff, whether high or
low, should be so adjusted as to establish
and protect American interests. and indus
tries IN competition with the rest of the
world. Did that policy mean to
Remove the Inequalities
which existed between industries on this
side Of the water and industries on the
other, or dId it mean to shut out importa-
tIor? lie insisted that we should not
tective system dealt with conditions
lines except when the presence
of those national boundary lines
indicated the presence Of those con-
ditionS against the influence of which it
was necessary to interpose the barrier of
a protective tariff. If the tariff did not
deal with conditions, then a tariff was
good in the abstract. and if it was. the
fathers of the republic had paid themselves
a poor compliment when they provided
that as between the states there should be
restriction of commerce. Competition
never created a new industry They were
created 10y the work of the brain-bv in
ventors. The committee had tried to do
the best it could i'll framing the bill, but
it was
Not Always Safe
to rely altogether on the testimony of the
bencticiaries under a law. (Applause on
democratic side.) He had indicated his
belief respecting the proper functions of
tariff act and would sooner resign his seat
than depart one hairs breadth from that
belief. OF course he respected the
wisdom of the committee, bu why was
Paul favored and Peter turned down?
Why increase the profits of certain
classes? He could name capitalists
whose profits had exceeded those of all
of the agriculturists in any state
of the union. applause on the demo |
cratic side.) He was not, he said, dis
tnrbed by the applause on the other side. |
He was exceedingly grateful that they |
began to realize IN any sense that our
countrymen deserved protection. If. when |
we had protected equally aud lifted up all |
our industries, and the time should come !
when we could not hold our own, being !
the most intelligent, the freest and ablest !
people on eaTth-then we had better re-
tire from the field. democratic APPLAUSE |
Mr.. ButteTwOrth then proceeded to eX- |
pound his views, touching reciprocity with |
Canada. He said that we were endeavor-
ing to cultivate relations with fifty million |
people to the southwark, and Yet were
afraid of Canada. Abraham Lincoln and
Ulysses Grant were not suspected of
Lack % Patriotism
yet they favored reciprocity. There were
some things in the bill he did not like. He
had known of an industry that had been
able to make S60,0O0,000 dividends on a
capital of 81 ,2500 900.
Protection. Why. the country could in
such cases better afford to keep these men
in the Fifth avenue hotel, pay their board
and expenses, and set them up in the
banking business. He favored proper
projection, but these men held the world
in their grip. When he said that he
Did Not Favor That Kind of Protection
he was told, You are not sound on the
tariff y The time Is come when
some little concern should be shown to
American homes and American fresides.
A great body Of employees in this country
was foreign-in some great factories in
the east they were known on the rosters by
numbers because of unfamiliarity with
their names He did not
believe it was wise or prudent
to make such sweeping reduc-
tion IN sugar to be suppIanted by a bom-
t.. In conclusion he said that the gen.
temen were very much mistaken if they
thought that if the greatest desire of his
heart was not to pass bill in the highest
degree a protective system. What he
wanted TO avoid were such features as he
had pointed out in this bill. there was
such thing as paying too much for
an industry. Such was the case
with tin plate The duty would be a
tax on every farmers patch: on every can
of goods. That tax would amount to $50
900. 900 before the manufacturers of tin
plate could declare a dividend. He was
anxious that his party should not take
false step. He did not expect to partici-
pate in the deliberations Of the house here
after. He was quite as ready to 90 out as
his democratic friends were anxious to
get rid of him when they gerrymandered
him out. He was already out before they
took that action.
Alter further debate. Mr.. McMilIins
amendment was rejected.
Niedringhaus moved to amend By re-
ducing the duty on refined borax from
FIVE to three cents Der pound. O'FerraIl
read list of what he termed excessive
duties, laying stress Oh the duty on ready
made clothing. which he held was in the
interest Of Postmaster General Wana-
maker. You tickle me and | will tickle
you; you legislate in my favor and will
put up campaign funds-that was { he ex-
planation Of many of these high duties
Niedrihghaus' amendment was rejected.
Various other amendments were offered
b ut were rejected; and after considering
Is OF the l56 pages Of the bill the COM
mittee rose and the house adjourned
PETITION FOR RELIEF.
The Farmers Alliance Advocate the Pass