The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-03-16
THE TARIFF DEBATE.

Members Growing Tired OF tho FREQ Wool
Talk-AIr. Walker stirs Them Up.
WASHINGTON, d. O., March l5.-The
tariff discussion is beginning to tire tho
house, and there was lack of interest
in the proceedings to-day until Mr..
Walker, Of Massachusetts, who has. a
very strong personality and expresses
his views in a radical fashion took the
floor. A number OF Democrats stirred
him up with q continuous cross fire of
questions. During his speech he allud-
ed to the decline in tho price OF watches
and drew out his own time piece for tho
purpose OF making au illustration and
laid it on his desk until the time should
arrive for to make his point, but some
fun loving member appropriated it, and
when Mr.. Walker desired to refer to it
it was missing, and he was greeted with
the suggestion that he was fortunate
enough to retain his chain.
TIE DEBATE.
Mr.. Coombs concluded his speech in
favor OF the free wool bill. In response
to questions put by Mr.. Dingloy. Mr..
Coombs said that the cotton manufac-
turer OF this country had SO much to do
to meet our ever-increasing trade that
they had not paid proper attention to
the foreign demand.
Mr.. Blaine, while a member OF Presi-
dent Garfield's cabinet, said that tho
cost OF labor in cotton goods was as
cheap in the United States as in Eng
land. The reason why We did not ex-
port moro prints was because VIC could
not supply them to the consumers when
they wanted them. 3a. u
Mr.. Walker, OF Massachusetts, said
that the grea. body OF statements made
by Democratic orators on the subject Of
a protective tariff was not even tcchni-
cally true. Tho manufacturers OF this
country had not the slightest interest
directly in 4 tariff. 1t was not Of the
slightest interest to tho manufacturers
whether we had free trade or protec-
ton. They were satisfied with ono or
theothcr. Ii fthe tariff was not in tho
interest OF farlnersI and wago-workers,
then hewould vote to repeal it and
adopt free trade.
FOR TIE wAGE-woRKERs.
Mr.. Dockcry, OF Missouri, asked
whether the gentleman meant to say
that manufactures would be as pros
porous under FREQ trade rs under pro-
lection, Mr.. Walker replied in the
affirmative. s.i
Mr.. Dockery-Then under theory OF
protection the manufacturers merely
become distributing agents. ,,5
Mr.. Walker-Thatis Nero fiction. Il.
Mr.. Dockcry-It seems to be the logic
Of your position. RI;
Mr.. Walker replied that the manu-.
facturers OF the country (what was left
OF them) would bo more prosperous un-
der, FREQ trade than under protection.
But Congress was not legislating for the
manufacturers 1t was lesislating ior
the farmers and the wage workers. The
United States was the lowest taxed
country on the face ofthe earth.
Mr.. Harter, OF Ohio, asserted that in
Canada the taxation was 25 per cent
less than it was in the United States.
Mr. Walker replied that Canada was
a country which had failed to collect its
taxes for its expenditures and was bur-
dened with debts. We had collected
our. taxes anu paid our debts. i5Sf- 5S
Mr.. Walker was proceeding to cite
authorities iu support OF his position,
when hcwas advised by Mr.. Harter to
consult Mr.. Blaine.
Mr.. Wallier--You may consult Mr.