New-York tribune., 1891-12-17

THE QUESTION OF MORE AGITA7IOM
Whether Mr. Mills shall be invited to the
| Craftsmanship of the Ways and Means Committee
has been elevated by his overzeaous friends into
a species of National issue. If not, they say,
| he will be insulted, and the great National issue
which he represents-which some people appear
to think he carries about in his pocket-will be
shamefully burked. THE TRIBUNE took the
liberty of telling its Democratic friends that Mr..
Mills was not the only man living who could
serve them well as Speaker, and it ventures now
to submit that the man who made fearful botch
of ID once before when he was chairman OF the
Committee on Ways and Means is not the only
man on earth who can do good service in that
position.
Mr.. Mills did indeed succeed in producing,
with the aid of others several of whom were
more able than himself, that marvel Of absurd
ities the Dark Lantern Tariff A more incon-
sistent, illogical and blundering measure has
rarely been seen, but at the time ii was the only
thing the Democrats could show in the way Of
constructive craftsmanship, and his political
friends felt called upon TO fall down and worship
the Mills BILL Doubtless that botch cost the
Democratic party many thousand votes in the
following election, but Mr.. Clevelands tariff
message was also quite enough to account for
heavy losses. Between the two the party was
sufficiently handicapped. In partisan aspect
Republicans would not be at all distressed to
have Mr. Mills charged with the labor and re-
sponsibility of producing another Tariff bill. 1t
would probably be better measure than his
first, and really could not well be much worse
But if the country is TO have months more OF
cr 4ba ayf linton ~
and summer, what is to become Of business?
II the Democratic party meant anything IN
dismissing Mr.. Mills to the rear and electing
Mr. Crisp Speaker, it must be presumed to have
meant that it did not intend to revive tariff aglta
ton as it's principle issue in the next campaign
No doubt it is true that Mr. Crisp solemny as
sured some questoners that his election as Speak
er would not hinder tariff REFORM and he might
have given the assurance with the utmost good
faith, since what he and Mr.. Mills call tariff
reform will neither be hindered nor hastened by
any action of the Ways and Means Committee
of this House. For this House will have to deal
with Republican Senate and Republican
President and it is not to be expected that either
will consent to measures which look toward
weakening or breaking down of the Protective
system. But the spirit OF the campaign for Mr.
Crisp was essentially this, that tariff agitation
could do no good and might as well be deferred
until there was a chance to accomplish some
thing. Now, if the House is to be organized in
that spirit and on that theory, Mr.. Mills is par
ticulary not the man to be charged with the
abols of the Committee of Ways and Means
Mr.. Springer of Illinois, is mentioned as
Northern member who would fill the position
acceptably in many respects But Mr.. Springer
has his little crotchet also. He believes in re-
form by pecemeal. 1t does not seem TO him
worth while to Try to frame great Tariff bill,
but he would fire eff DOT of little reform bills,
each one designed to poke hole in the tariff,
and weaken the defences of some branch OF
American industry, and break up the Conference
of its defenders This plan of Mr.. Springer is
one which would involve as much and perhaps
even more expenditure Of time in the House
during the session, because Oh each OF his bills
members would want to make their general tariff
speeches. and then on each bill the Senate would
proceed to attach amendments if it saw tit to
consider the measure at all, and 50 the bill would
have to be overhaued again in the House. Strict
ly interpreted, Mr. Springer means continued
agitation without logic and Mr.. Mills continued
agitation without hope. The choice between the
two is not very great as respects the tariff, but
Mr.. Springer is probably better qualified as
paramentarian to lead on the floor, and he is
supposed to have better command of his temper.
But the question is mainly one for Democrats to
settle If in electing Mr.. Crisp they decided that
they wanted to do nothing eiaborately, any chair
man of the committee can easily be tied hand
and foot with list of members so balanced that
he will be poweress to vex the country with
tariff agitation.