The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-16
nv THE HOUSE.

cent. in the Mills bill.
IN THE HOUSE.
rhe E6ect Of the Tariff on Farmers &c
Re Investigated.
w.spr.aTos CRY, Feb. 1.-THE House
has deoraed that the first investigation
into the operations of the Mckinley law
shall no conducted by the committee on
apr;cnlture. This arrangement has the
informal sanction of the Democratic mem
beers of the ways and means committee
Chairman Hatch and-his committee are to
be directed to particularly inquire into the
effect the high tariff has had upon the
agricultural interests Of the country. IL
Is understood that later on the committee
on n,anufactures will be authorized to con-
duct an inquiry as to the effect OF the
tar;E I.v on manufactures and skilled
wage ~orkers, and thus in the end reports
will he made on the various phases OF the
new law by az many different committees.
McMillin presided over the House today
in the sbsence of Speaker Crisp, who was
confined 10 his room by headache.
Hath brought the tariff question to the
front hv moving to suspend the rules and
adopt resolution requesting the commit
tee on agriculture to report the effect upon
agriculture of the present tariff law. XII
gore was recognized to oppose the resoiu-
tion Int declinedto avail himself of the
recognition, stating that he was not OPP
nosed TO IT. although he believed 1t was
originally offered IS . piece OF buncombe.
Fuo..on OF kansas opposed it. If he be-
loved there could be fair and impartial
Investigation of the effects OF the present
tariff law ON the agricultural interests. he
would he in favor of it. 1t could hardly
no erpected. however, that an investiga-
tion of this character could 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
IL is believed that the Mckinley law has
injured the farmers of the country. This
is not true. The duties on farmers pro-
ducts have been increased. while the
thing. the farmers had to buy were today
cheaper than before the Mckinley bill was
pas.ed. Funston was frequently inter-
rupted by Livingston and Watson of
Georgia. but declined to yield, only re-
marking that they had told the farmers the
contrary because they would not have been
elected had they told the truth. He I'M
derstood the chairman of the ways and
means committee would report bill 10 re-
move the duty on wool, one of the products
of the farm. The only enemy the farmer
had was the Democratic party. Why did
not the committee report bill repeating
the present tariff law? Because it was
afraid Of the question, because it did not
want to touch the subject until after the
next election. II contented itself with
condemning the Mckinley bill. When
ever there was cold blast from the north =
whenever there was drouth; whenever
grasshoppers destroyed the farmers crops,
the Democrats put their hands in their
pockets and said: at is the Mckinley
law
Dolliver hoped If the investigation was
ordered the committee would send for the
present chief magistrate of Iowa, who, in
his annual message, said: "At no time in
the history of Iowa have her people been
blessed with more prosperity than they
now enjoy"
Livingston took Issue with Funston as
TO the effect the tariff law had upon the
farmer. The gentleman from Kansas
seemed to be afraid of justice. He Civ
ingston) supposed the committee on agri-
culture was an honest body, and the inn
pntation the gentleman had made. that it
could not be depended upon to make an
honest report, was not justifiable. The
farmers eould be heard on this floor, if not
now, In the next congress, and the. gentle
man from Kansas could take due notice.
Enloe, replying TO a 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 de-
preston oil the farming industry in his
state, referring to the burning of corn as
iuel. lie said that by the light of a corn
ire the farmers read the history of the Re
publican party, and that was the reason
the Alliance carried the state at the last
eiecuon. Hatch made n one-minute
speech IN support of the resolution, and
bore testimony to the fairness and i'm
psr'iaiity OF the committee on agriculture
N dealing with questions of this eharae-,
yer. The resolution was then adopted
without division.
ouihwaite Of Ohio moved to- suspend the
rules and pass the bill to establish lineai
pfoinouoh In the army. After short dis
.uss'oh 'he motion was agreed To and the
piu passed. The bill provides that all
promotion IN the several lines of artillery,
saVsiry and infantry up to colonel shall
~ oy seniority in the next lower grade,
secoIlihg 10 original entry into the regu-
1ar service as a commissioned officer.
Nahsar moved TO suspend the rules and
pSss me nlll extending the laws of Mis-
,ou,i re'aiNe to mines and mining over
,h ui, s'. territory No quorum voted, and