Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-03-17

The Tariff Battle.
The annual battle over the tariff be-
gan In the House of Representatives
with the speeches Of Representatives
McMillin and Dingley for and against
the free-wool bill. No session Of Con-
gress is complete without its tariff
struggle, but the struggle which began
the other day was regarded as of unus-
ual Importance, coming as 1t does on the
eve Of Presidential election In which
it will be the main issue.
The opening speeches, according to a
Washington dispatch, were in no sense
dramatic. Mr.. McMillin made his speech
from notes but often laid them aside to
parry the questions which were fired at
him from every quarter. He had bowl
of bouillon before him Of which he fire.
quently partook to strengthen his voice.
Mr.. Burrows eat in his seat Immediately
in front, nervously tearing paper to bits
and thereby irritating Mr.. McMillin.
The galleries were we'll crowded long
before the hour OF the opening and the
public interest manifested in the debate
was greater than on any previous day Of
the session.
To Representative Blount of Georgia,
a clear-headed parliamentarian of twen-
ty years congressional experience, was
awarded the honor by the Speaker and
the Committee on Ways and Means Of
presiding over the committee of the
whole, aud when he wearied now and
then of his arduous labors Representa-
tive Kilgore, the giant statesman of
Texas, was called on to assume the
gavel. In the days Of long political
wrangling that are TO follow in the
committee of the whole Speaker Crisp
will find the respite that he has so much
desired. At the opening of the
debate he occupied seat in the
galleries and was as interested an
auditor as any OF the other 1900 visitors
who bent eagerly forward to catch every
word of the partisan oratiOns of the day.
The well-crowded newspaper galleries
attested the public interest that is being
felt in the discussion of the issues now
before the House, and the little group
that gathered in the diplomatic gallery
showed that this interest in the revenue
question and the attempted mod II eat.on
of existing tariff laws is share d by some
of the nations across the waters. But
the browning indication of the import
ance of the discussion was in the deep
attention which the members themselves
gave to the two speakers who repre-
sented the two great parties on the ques-
tion for solution.
Mr.. McMillin devoted his attention to
review of the Mckinley law and its
effect upon commerce., the industries and
the wage-workers of the country, and
Mr.. NDingley sought to defend and JUS
tify that law, and insisted that the high
est commercial wisdom justified its per-
petuity.
Senator Carlisle, under whose leader
ship as Speaker of past Democratic
houses the tariff debate in this latter
half of the century was revived, found
the occasion one of such charm that he
left that seat in the upper body to which
he has been called by the Blue Grass
State and was an attentive listener to
the eloquent arguments of Representa-
tive McMillin.
No less vigilant was the attention
with which ex-Speaker Reed noted every
argument, not only OF his friend but of
his political opponent as well, and now
and then there was a twinkle in his eye
as he doubtless meditated or and stored
away in his memory O response to be
made to the democratic arguments when
his day should come. Both the speakers
were frequently applauded by their
party COliSdBucS, anu do tuCI man re-
sumed his scat he was the recipient of
warm congratulations and bouquet Of
mammoth proportions.
The tariff battle will probably be kept
up for the remainder OF the session with
interruption from time TO time for other
business. As is known, the illness of
Mr.. Springer prevented his opening the
debate. Mr.. Mills was absent on ac-
count OF sickness. Mr.. Springer was
very anxious to speak on the free-wool
bill, and ever since his severe illness
has expressed the hope that his re-
covery would be speedy enough to
admit of his closing the debate.
This, it is evident, will be i'm
possible, for IL he RECEIVERS, as
the physicians are now quite hope
full he may, he will have to leave
for health resort as soon as he is able
to stand journey. 1t is expected that
a vote will be taken on the wool bill
soon. After that all the time not abso-
lutely necessary for other matters will
be devoted to the consideration of other
tariff bills. A very large number Of
members have already asked for time
for speeches on the subject.