The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-11
Six Hundred Bills introduced in the
Upper Branch of Congress Yesterday.
Senator PETER on Hand with Several Alliance
Measures-M Mr. Paddock's View of the Pres.
idents Message-Foreign Comment.
sPRINGER'S REWARD.
Will BE Made Chairman of the Ways and
Means Committee for Electing Crisp.

Will BE Made Chairman of the Ways and
Means Committee for Electing Crisp.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10-It may be set
down as certain that Mr. Springer. of Illi-
nois, Will be chairman of the ways and
means committee in the House of Repre-
sentatives. This is not a matter Of specu-
lation, but an absolute certainty. Further
more. the arrangement for this was con-
cluded last Sunday night, before the
speakership battle had reached its culmi-
mating point and when the Springer ranks
were wavering in their allegiance. A gen.
tIeman we'll known to Chicago appreciated
the fact that Crisp was far In the lead
and could not be headed. He saw,
too, that it would be well to
settle the direction of Mr.. Springer's
vote when the inevitable break from
the Springer standard came. Accordingly
q conference was held, in which the course
to be pursued was fully outlined. 1t cannot
be said that deal was made by which
Springer was to turn over his strength in
consideration of certain committee prefer
ences. but it was settled that when it be-
came evident that Mr.. Springer could not
possibly be elected his vote would go to
Crisp. That number of his followers
would also go to Crisp was naturally to be
expected when he led the way. There is
no ambiguity among the friends of Mr..
Crisp as to Mr. Springer's position on the
committee. They know that 1t is already
settled that he is 10 be chairman of the
committee on ways and means, and the an
nCuncement of the fact 10 merely question
of form.
When Mr. Springer was seen by re-
porter to-day ne said his policy with refer
ence to the tariff was to provide for free
wool, free salt, free lumber. free cotton
ties, free coal and free binding-twire.
Continuing, he eald: II do not think We
should attempt general revision OF the
tariff at this time. We should offer the
country relief by passing bills for putting 9
articles named on the free list and sendin 9
them TO the Senate. general tariff bill
cannot be enacted into law and would
keep Congress here until October. l
think there should be appointed q strong
committee on manufactures, with able in
vestigators on it. 1t should consist of
fifteen members-ten Democrats and five
Republicans. This would make five sub
committees of three each. They should
divide the work. one investigating textile
industries. another iron production. an
other glassware and pottery. and so on.
This committee wonls @ sort of adjunct
to the ways and means committee, which
could go on with its work. and then subse-
quently get all the testimony without a
long list of bearings. These subcommit-
tees could go on during the session and also
during the recess Their inquiries should
not be conducted with a spirit of hostility
toward the manufacturers, but with a view
to ascertain the bottom facts and ascer-
tain in each case what, if any. degree of
protection Is needed, as have q suspicion
that frequently it is represented that they
need great deal more protection
than Is really the case. 1t should be
ascertained what is the labor cost on things
produced, the wages paid. whether the
work be steady or not. the profits of actual
capital and not on 'watered' stock. the rel
ative cost of production here and abroad.
whether there are tacit or direct agree
ments to limit production, and much more
information of a practical character. This
information is not now to be had. The
Democratic party could then fight the Nc
Kinley bill ana If we win in the elections
this information would enable us to form q
tariff bill adapted to the cOuntry's needs,
and one that could become a law, and we
will pass it in the Fiftv-third Congress. Ii
we fail IN the elections then the lnfOrma-
tion has been obtained and we can keep on
until the country is educated against the
Mckinley bill"