The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-07
NOT At ALL UNANIMOUS.
Republicans in the House Widely
Divided Over the Mckinley
Tariff Bill.
The Ol : ongressman Trifles
Will . Bay State Mem
be :: corning Hides.
Z
Boutelle So a. passagc OF the Measure
Means Initiation OF the g.
%. massachusetts,.
'assage of the Measure
Initiation of the G..
massachusetts,.

The McKin 80. 20 make more million
aires and more pRupers is still the chief
topic of discussion al the capital. The dem
ocrats are united in opposition to 1t, aud
from present appearances il will be almost
impossible TO get the republicans
10 support il solidly. The dem
ocrats have not yet decided whnt they will
do. There is strong sentiment in favor
Of Offering n substitute in the form of the
old Mills bill, with the free list enlarged
and duties generally decreased, says the
Washington correspondent of the st. Loais
Republic. There is some opposition TO this
however. Those who are opposing IL hold
that it would be futile and would direct at
tack from the Mckinley bill. OF
course with the president republican
and the senate republican II
would be impossible, even If the
house should adopt the substitute proposed
by the democrats, that IL would ever become
a law. For this reason great many demo-
Gratis believe that the best policy for the
party would be to make rafting attack ON
The Mckinley bill for the relief of the tariff
barons. expose the fallacies, and by way OF
profiered amendments make their position
known to the country. The democrats will
certainly be unit in opposition 10 the Me-
Kinley bill, but IL is not certain that there
would not be few backsliders if a substi-
tute were offered by the minority of the
ways and means committee.
The chief kicking among the republicans
comes from the Massachusetts, men and
New England generally. The sop thrown
out to the farmers in the way OF increase III
duties on corn, wheat, rye, cheese, butter
and other farm products is considered by
western men as huge joke; but the New
York members who represent districts bor-
dering ON Canada think that they can
work that scheme TO some purpose. IL
seems that the Canadian farmers have been
sending their butter, cheese. bacon and
ham and truck Of that kind TO Buffalo and
other cities to be sold, and that the American
farmers along the Niagara river have been
protesting in consequence. This Is the
secret of the increase on farm products, but
the western farmer who raises considerable
more than be can dispose OF in the local
market, and who has 10 seek Canada for a
market, will perhaps not be so pleased II
the Canadian parliament should see
Uncle Sam and 60 him few cents pound
better on farm products.
Mckinley has been telling the Massachu-
setts republicans that the hide duty was a
mere bluff, and that il will be thrown out in
the house. This is the understanding now.
II Mckinley gives way TO the Massachusetts,
men, he will have more vigorous and en-
phatic set OF kickers among the members
from Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Da-
kotas. As matter of fact, the chief bene-
ficiaries of the tax on hides would be the
big four Of Chicago. The Iowa. Kansas and
Wto,fpatn nm hauauar hat
been trying TO convince their people for
some time back that tax on hides would
restore prosperity 10 the country and
eventually wipe off farm mortgages. IL is
a battle between the east and west.
Eastern men, especially those from Massa-
chusetts, are loudly claiming that New
England has been sacrificed in the interest
of the west owing TO the tax on hides; and
the western men ut the same time loudly
declare that if the west is sacrificed for the
benefit Of New England there will
be trouble in the camp. This
is the first time that the republican
brethren found any difficulty in divid-
ing up the plunder of protection. Hereto-
fore they all stood together and the higher
the duty all round the better they were
pleased. Things, however, have changed,
and protection for the eastern men no
longer benefits western men and vice versa
Mr.. Henry Cabot Lodge has formally in
formed Speaker Reed that the position of
the Mckinley bill with the tax on hides
would mean the annihilation of the repub-
lican party in Massachusetts,. Mr.. Bouielle
SAYS that he cannot carry his district if he
votes for the tax on hides. What Mr.. Reed
thinks about il nobody seems 10 know, but
as he has taken on presidential ambition
lately, it is safe TO say that he will be
pleased with any scheme that would sue
cessfully kill of Mckinley ms presidential
candidate. Here il where Mckinley's
trouble comes in. He and Reed are rivals
and Reed would like TO see him break his
political neck on the tariff or any other
question; but as the tarlh is the only ques-
ton in which Mckinley is interested. it
furnishes the only opportunity on which he
could break his neck.
Mckinley has heretofore been playing in
TO the hands of New England and the cast;
but now he discovers that the interest OF
the west and the east are no longer identl-
cal, and that IN dealing out the loot OF pro
lection he will have to choose sides. lie
will make "A serious effort TO carry water on
both shoulders as usual, and perhaps may
succeed. There is reason TO believe. how
ever. that Reed himself * not altogether
pleased with the Mckinley bill. and hence
The man who looks like Napoleon may have
a knife plunged in his back while the enemy
is facing him III front with clubs.
The sugar tax - making n good deal OF
trouble. The Iowa and Illinois republicans
are making a demand for free sugar. The
Californians and the solitary republican
from Louisiana declare that they will not
vote for the bill with It's present sugar
schedule. Coleman. of Louisiana, is one of
the maddest men IN town.
II was elected snid Mr.. Coleman to-day,
"as protectionlst. | represent that elc-
rnent in Louisiana. ! said | would 20 into
the republican caucus If the republicans
would leave our sugar interests alone. |
told this 10 the president and he assured me
we would be protected. Mr. kowell. of llli-
nois came to Louisiana IN the last cam
paien and made number Of speeches. lie
talked protection TO American industries,
but find that the entire delegation now
favor the cut ia sugar. Mr. Burrows, OF
Michigan, is another gentleman who spoke
among us. Like Mr. kowcll he talked pro-
lection. yet he comes here. is made mem
Der of the ways and means committee and
uses his influence IN support Of free sugar,
What am going 10 do about ity ! am GO
ing 10 fight the bill-not the sugar clause
alone, mind you. but the whole
bill. To me it looks like sectional
legislation. II will hurt the repub-
lican party all through the south. Alabama
has vast iron and coal interests, and ought
in time to become protective republican
state. The treatment the Louisiana repuh-
licans have received will alarm the Ala
bamians. They do not know but their
turn will come. tell you, sir, that once
YOU begin thing Of this sort you can't tell
where its going to stop. Its like Gre
vase"
General Vandeyer, Of California, who
represents the southern district of that
state. said TO your correspondent this even
ing;
81 shall without doubtoppose the bill II su-
gar is not restored either to its present rate