Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-16
An Investigation Into Its
Operations Ordered.
Its Effect on Agriculture First
to Be Tested.
A Lively Debate ON the Proposition
to Authorize the Inquiry.
Speaker Crisp Again Too Ill to Preside
Over the House-senate Pro-
ceedings and Divers Conn
mittee Reports.
a s.ociated Press Dlspatches.

has decreed that the first investigation
into the operations of the Mckinley
law shall be conducted by the commit
tee on agriculture. This arrangement
has the formal sanction of the Demo-
cratic members of the ways and means
committee, as the inquiry of Chairman
Hatch and his committee is to be di-
rected particularly to the effect high
tariff has had upon the agricultural in
terests OF the country. 1t is understood
that later ON the committee on manu-
lectures will be authorized to conduct
an inquiry as to the effect of the tariff
law on manufacturers and skilled wage
workers.
McMillin presided over the house to-
day in the absence of Speaker Crisp,
who was confined to his room by head
ache.
Hatch brought the tariff question to
the front by moving to suspend the
rules and adopt resolution requesting
the CO nmittee on agriculture to report
the effect upon agriculture of the pres
ent tariff law.
Bynum of Indiana demanded second,
and requested of Hatch that the second
be considered ordered. Objected to by
Kilgore OF Texas.
Kilgore and Hatch were appointed
feiiers, and reported vote of 122 to 2.
The Republicans did not vote, but no
one raised the point of no quorum.
Kilgore was then recognized to op-
pose the resolution, but declined to
avail himself of the recognition, stating
that he was not opposed to it, although
he believed it was originally offered as
piece of buncombe.
Funston, OF Kansas, however, opposed
it. If he believed there could be fair
and impartial investigation of the ef-
fects Oh the present tariff law on the ag-
ricultural interests, he would be in
favor of it. 1t could hardly be expected,
however, that an investigation of this
character will be made without being
upon party basis. The fact that the
house went into this investigation was
declaration on the part of the house
that it believed the Mckinley bill was
injuring the farmers of the country.
This was not true. The duties on farm
products had been increased, while
The things farmers had to buy were to-
06y CnChDcI budn OCkOlO bll6 U1CAlu1Cy
bill was passed.
Funston was frequently interrupted by
Livingstone and Watson of Georgia, but
he declined to yield, only remar king
that they had told the farmers the con-
trary, because they would not have
been elected had they told the truth.
He understood that the chairman of the
ways and means committee would re-
port bill to remove the duty on wool,
one of the products of the farm. The only
enemy the farmer had was the Demo-
cratic party. Why did not the committee
report bill to repeal the present tariff
law? because it was afraid of the ques-
ton; because it did not want to touch
the subject until after the next election.
1t contented itself with condemning the
Mckinley bill. Whenever there was
cold blast from the north, whenever
there was a drouth, whenever grass
hoppers destroy the farmers crops, the
Democrats put their hands in their
pockets and said "It is the Mckinley
law"
Dolliver hoped that if an investiga-
tion was ordered, the committee would
send for the present chief magistrate Of
Iowa, who, in bis annual message, said:
stAt no time in the history OF Iowa have
her people been blessed with more pros
perity than they now enjoy"
Livingstone took Issue with Funston
as to the effect of the tariff law upon the
farmer. The gentleman from Kansas,
he said, seemed to be afraid OF justice.
He (Livingstone) supposed that the
committee of agriculture was an honest
body, and the inputation the gentleman
made that it could not be depended
upon to make an honest report, was not
justifiable. The farmers would be heard
on this floor, if not now, in the next
congress, and the gentleman from Kan
sas could take due notice.
Enloe, replying to the remark by
Funston that the Democrats dare not
bring in bill to repeal the Mckinley
law," stated that he had introduced
measure for that purpose.
Simpson of Kansas spoke of the
depression of the farming in
dnstry in his state. Referring to
the burning of corn as fuel,
he said, by the light of that corn fire the
farmers will read the history of the Re-
publican party, and that was the reason
the Alliance carried the state at the last
election.
Hatch made one-minute speech In
Support of the resolution, and bore testi-
mony to the fairness and impartiality of
the committee on agriculture in dealing
with question of this character.
The resolution was then adopted With
out division.
Cultivate of Ohio moved to suspend
the rules and pass bill to establish
Iineal promotion in the army. After
short discussion the motion was agreed
to, and the bill was passed. [The bill
provides that all promotions in the sev-
eral lines of the artillery, cavalry and
infantry, up to colonel, shall be seniority
in the next lower grade, according to
original entry into the regular service as
a commissioned officer.
Mansur moved to suspend the rules
and pass the bill extending the laws Of
Missouri, relative to mines and mining,
over Indian territory. No quorum voIed
and the house adjourned.
IN THE SENATE.
The Importation of Russian Fever Pa
- A. Il T~x