St. Paul daily globe., 1892-04-05

The announcement that Chairman
Springer would close the tariff discus
sion in favor of his free wool bill Was a
surprise to all who did not understand
The indomitable determination of the
man, and as result the galleries were
well crowded. A little after IL the con-
gressman entered his committee room.
and was received by his colleagues Of
the ways and means committee. By
his side was the devoted wife who was
his constant companion and nurse
through all his severe illness. Shortly
before his appearance in the house some
friend, as
Delicate Compliment
to the Illinois leader, distributed sew
eral score of carnations (the congress
mans favorite) throughout the hall.
Almost instantly carnatiOu was seen
in the buttonhole of nearly every mem
ber on the Democratic side. The desk
of Mr.. Springer. which had been un-
occupied for six weeks, was decorated
with bouquets of carnations, roses and
huge calla lilies, and the surrounding
seats were mostly occupied by Dem
ocratie members of the ways and means
committee. 1t was few minutes after
2o'clock 2 when the house resolved itself
into committee of the whole. and Rep
resentative BIount, of Georgia, was
called TO the chair. There was a slight
pause as the house waited for the orator
of the day, and every eye was turned
towards the entrance at the right OF the
speakers desk.
At the first sight of Mr.. Springer,
who entered the hall resting lightly on
the arm Of Congressman Bryan. his elO-
quent young lieutenant of the ways and
means committee, the house burst into
one great spontaneous roar of applause.
The applause only deepened when
Chairman Blount turned with well
coming smile to the sick man, and as
Congressman Springer mounted the
three steps of the roStrum and grasped
the hand eagerly extended by the chair
man of the committee of the whole, the
ovation reached its climax. 1t is not
often that the business of the house of
representatives is suspended for ten
minutes to do homage or pay respect to
a living statesman, but that was done
today.
Tears of Gratitude.
AS Mr.. Springer took his seat the ap-
planSe began to subside, and then the
members commenced to file up the aisle
TO grasp him by the hand and welcome
gotten for few brief minutes, and. as
congressman Dingley, Burrows, Hop
kins and other vigorous campaigners of
the Republican side crossed over and
were followed by dozens Of their col
leagues, the smile of the Illinois leader
was slightly dmmed by tears of graft
tude as he grasped their extended
hands. During this reception the clerks
stood idle, and the chairman pro tenn
awaited the moment that the GONZALES
cent leader should express desire to
speak.
"Mr. Chairman" said Mr.. Springer,
when order as once more resumed, II
had hoped to be able on this occasion to
make some extended remarks on the
pending bill, but the condition of my
health is such that | am admOnished
that l cannot do so. l have prepared a
brief statement, however, which | will
ask my distinguished friend from Ne
braSka. MIR. Bryan, 10 read for me-"
A burst OF applause followed these
few words, which we're clear and dis
tinct, but not in that strong tone which
eharacteriZes his utteranceS in health.
The eloquent young Nebraskan, sitting
next to the chairman of tile ways and
means committee, then read the follow
ing closing speech of the Illinois tariff
xeformer:
A Mastery Presentme ent.
After touching on the values of wool
at various periods, Mr.. Springer gave
tables TO show that the American wool
growers do not receive any increase
whatever in the price of their wool by
reason of the tariff on foreign wools.
Domestic wool. he said, is confined to a
limited market. Its only purchasers
are American manufacturers, and they
purchase only what they can use to az
vantage. The remainder is left in the
market or in the hands of the producers,
and if there is large yield prices must
be dropped. As the American producer
of wool cannot sell abroad at profit, he
must await the pleasure OF the woolen
manufacturers who are his.sole patrons,
and take such prices as may be fixed in
the home market.
The price Of wool III the United