Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-13
Will a General Bill or Special
Measure be Proper?
MILLS AND SPRINGER DIFFER.
The Illinois Statesman Wants to Put Off a Gen.
eral Bill Until After Election.
Mills Favors the Framing of an All
Around Reduction Billie Would La
bel 1t Democratic and Stand
or Fall on that Issue.
VIII Figure in the speakership Contest.

VIII Figure In the Speakership Contest.
Special to the Gazette.
WAsHINGToN, Nov 12-There is Il radi-
cal difference of opinion between two of the
prominent candidates for speaker as to the
tariff question during the coming session,
and this difference of opinion may
become an issue in the speakership
campaign. Springer of Illinois thinks
the party would be unwise in attempting to
frame general tariff bill, and favors the
passing of special measures putting wool,
cotton ties, dye Stuffs and other articles on
the free list. Mills on the other hand wants
complete tariff bill prepared as soon as
possible.
at is the duty of the Democratic party"
said Mills to-day, Ito go before the people
in the next presidential election with Il
tariff bill which shall present the Demo-
cratic principle of tariff for revenue. We
have convinced the country that the McKin-
ley act is wrong in principle and wrong in
doctrine, and we cannot sit down and con-
tent ourselves with mere disapproval and
offer nothing in its place. There is
nothing like treating the people with
perfect frankness and honesty We can't
fool the people. If We are TO win their
confidence we must show our hands. We
must show that the Democratic party is
not afraid to prepare a tariff bill. The
present tariff is an abomination, and
we must do our own best to re-
wise it. Without delay the ways
and means committee of the next house
should, in my opinion, prepare a measure
Oh which we can &C before the country and
say: This is the Democratic doctrine, this
is the 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 En-
gland free raw materials, take off all
the wool duties, leave sugar free and
knock out the bounty and practice what we
preach all along the line. The only great
issue in this country is the tariff issue, and
we should be eager TO meet it frankly and
honestly. Some say that there is
no use in preparing general
tariff bill because the Republican senate
and Republican president viii not permit it
to be 4 law. have noticed in this world
that the man who does not fail to do right
because some one else threatens to do
wrong IS the man who lasts the longest and
does the most good If the Republicans
want to take the responsibility of defeating
our bill and thus join issues let them do it.
Then we shall be ready to appeal to the
people"
Springer's belief is that the preparation
of general tariff bill would be bad policy,
because it could not result in legislation and
because it would expose the party to attacks
on numerous details which would neutraIze
the advantage gained on the strong point.
He believes free wool, the repeal of COM
pensative duties on wooden goods. free cot
ton ties, free binding ties, free binding
Irvine, free dye stuffs and free lumber are
the triumphs in the hands of the Demo-
cratic party which it should play as quickly
and advantageOuSly as possible, holding the
more doubtful cards until after the presden-
tial election. He points out the impossibilities
OF preparing satisfactory general revision
of the tariff in the first session without sit
lot h. hon, 10
presidential and congressional elections are
on. and suggests that while the New Eng
land Republican members whose constIt-
uents favor free raw mate
rials and the Western Republicans
whose constituents want free binding
twiue, cheaper clothing, cheaper lumber
and lower duties on other necessities and
staples, could find excuses to vote against a
general bill because of the multiplicity of
interests involved, they could find no eX-
cuse to vote against those reforms pre-
scented singly in special measures.