The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-19
BOT4 WOULD Be SPEAKER
Wherein Messrs. Mills and Springer
Differ on the Subject or
tho Tariff.
The Former Would Prepare q Cen
oral Tariff Bill as Soon az
Possible.
Springer Thinks Special Hills Applying
to Special Articles Arc Needed
Effect ON Their Canvass.

Springer Thinks Special Bilis Applyint
to Special Articles Arc Needed
Effect ON Their Canvass.
WASHINGTON, Nov. IS.-There 10 a radica
difference of opinion between two OF tn
prominent candidates for speaker as to ii,
policy of the majority on the tariff questio,
during the coming session, and this differ
ence of opinion may become an issue in thu
speakership campaign. MIR. Springer. o
Illinois. thinks the party would be unwis'
in attempting to frame a general tariff bill
and favors the passing of special measures
putting wool, cotton ties, dyestuffs, anC
other articles on the free list. Mr.. Mills
on the other hand, wants a complete, tariff
bill prepared as soon ~ possible.
''It is the duty of the democratic party
said Mr.. Mills, ''to 40 before the people in
the next presidential election with = tariff
bill which shall present the democratic prin-
ciple of a tariff for revenue. We have con-
vinced the country that the Mckinley act
is wrong in principle and wrong in de-
tails, and We cannot sit down, content
ourselves with q mere disapproval, and offer
nothing in its place. There il nothing like
treating the people with perfect frankness
and honesty. If we are to win their con-
idence we must show our hands. We must
show that the democratic party is not afraid
to prepare q tariff bill. The present tariff
is an abomination and We mus: do our best
to revise it. Without delay the ways and
means committee of the next house should,
in my opinion, prepare a measure on which
we can 90 before the country and say:
This il democratic doctrine This is a
democratic tariff bill. Compare it with the
Mckinley or republican bill, and see which
is best for the people, We must enlarge
the free list, giving New England free
raw materials, take off all the wool duties.
leave sugar free and knock out the bounty,
and practise what we preach all along tie
line. The only great issue in this country
the tariff issue, and we should be eager
to meet it frankly and honestly. Some say
there is nc use preparing a general tariff
bill, because the republican senate and q
republican president will not permit it to
become a law. I have noticed in this world
that the man who does not fail to do right
because some one else threatens to do
wrong ia the man who lasts the longest and
does the most good. II the republicans
want to take the responsibility Of defeat
ing our bill and thus join the issue, let
them do it. Then we shall be ready to ap-
peal to the people,"
Mr.. Springer's belief is that the prepara-
tion of a general tariff bill would be bad
party policy, because it could not result in
legislation, n because it would expose
the party to attacks on numerous details
which would nsutralize NIL the advantage
gained on the strong points. He believes
that free wool, repeal of the compensatory
duties on wooden goods, free cotton ties,
free binding twine, free dyestuffs, and free
lumber are trumps in the hands of the DEM
cratic party, which it should play as quickly
and advantageously as possible, holding the
moro doubtful cards until after the presi-
Dental election. He points ont the impos-
sibility of preparing q satisfactory general
revision of the tariff in the first session
without sitting until late in the summer.
when the presidential and congressional
elections are on, and suggests that while the
Nsw England republican members, whose
constituents favor raw materials, mud the
western republicans, whose constituents
want free binding twine, cheaper clothing,
cheaper lumber and lower duties on other
to vote against a general bill because of the
multiplicity of interests involved they
could find no excuse to vote against those
reforms presented sinRly in special meas
ures. Mr.. Springer expressed his views as
follows:
VoAlA0 DPCah " II O0uoCIAUlC
majority in the house. but l have q we'll de-
fined opinion Of my own IN the subject.
In the first place, l am in favor of obtain
ing the information necessary to u thorough
revision of the tariff. This can be done
through the committee on manufactures |
which should be increased to fifteen men,
bers. and divided into five subcommittee.
Each Of these should take a particular
branch OF industry and inquire into all its
conditions and wants. The committee on
ways and means should be appointed early,
and at once begin such general investiga-
tions as would be necessary to a revision OF
the tariff. In the meantime some separate
bills, each embracing one subject only,
should be reported to the house at the very
earliest day practicable. If some of them
could be reported before the holidays it
would be advisable to do 30. These separate
bills should in the aggregate embrace a
variety of subjects and be selected with a
view to the possibility of their passing the
senate and receiving executive favor.
For instance, binding Irvine should
cotton ties. Wool should also be plaoad on
the free list. and the compensatory duty on
wooden goods should be repealed. A meas
ure of this kind would receive great atten-
ton throughout the country, and great
pressure would be brought upon republican
II this could be secured / think it doubtful
whether any president would take the re
sponsibility of ~interposing his veto. I
would also suggest the passage of bills !
placing lumber and salt upon the free list,
and several other articles of prime neces-
sity to the people, the benefits of protec-
tlon on which are confined to 4 very few
PERSONS. The tariff upon some articles is
10 high as to be prohibitory. In such cases
articles so burdened should be relieved Of
at least 4 portion of this prohibitory tax,
and especially where the production of the
article ia controlled by a trust or combine.
The particular measure to be brought for
ward in this way should in every case be
selected by the committee on ways and
means, and this committee should there
fore be organized with great care. The CON
alteration of these bills and the necessary
appropriation bills will occupy the time of
the house from the beginning of the session
to ths day of adjournment, which, it il
hoped, would be at as early a day as posi-
Bile, no later than the middle of June. liz
the meantime all the facts necessary for u
thorough revision of the tariff could be COL
lected, and the work 30 far advanced that n
comprehensive measure could be reported
at the beginning of tho next session. II. at
the presidential election of '92. the demo-
cratic party should succeed in ~electing a
president and both branches of congress-,
the general tariff bill thus prepared could
be pressed for consideration during the
short session "a far az possible. l would
also suggest. in the event of dem ocratic
success in the presidential and congressional
llactinru thu in, p3aIiat Ia Nalliyr ~ ,,,ro