The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-02-06
Springer Will Let Wool Alone and First
Attack the Binding-Twine Duty.
His Plan Not Approved BY Mr.. Fithian, Of Illi-
nois, Who Thinks Agricultural Implements
Should Be Placed on the Free List.
Separate Bill Method of Destroying In
dustries Urged by David A. Wells.
Sir Robert Peels Success with the Tentative
Plan Held Up as an Example for Democrats
An Issue for the Coming Campaign.


DEMOCRATS AND THE TARIFF.
Springer Abandons His Free-wool Bin and
Will Advocate FREQ Binding-Twine.
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5-The organization
of the ways and means committee into sub
committees to-day has some interesting
features. In the first place it was practi-
cally decided at the meeting of the COM
mittee to-day that Chairman Springer's
first specific bill attacking the Mckinley
tariff to be reported to the House will not
be the free-wool bill Instead. free-bind-
ing-twine bill will probably be the first
measure to make its appearance in the
form of q report from the ways and means
committee. Mr.. Springer gives as an ex-
cuse for the postponement Of the free-wool
bill the statement that he is waiting for
the Census Office to furnish certain statis-
tics regarding manufactured woolens This
is only an excuse. The truth is that the
free-wool bill is practically abandoned by
Nr. Springer, who has suddenly reached
the conclusion that bill providing for
free binding-twine will be q better meas
ure upon which to base Democratic stump
speeches In the House.
The sub-committees appointed by Chair
man Springer to-day are also significant
These esub-committees are as follows:
On Customs-Springer, whiting and Burrows.
Internal Revenue-McMillin, shiveiy and No
Kenna.
Reciprocity and Commercial Treaties-Turner,
Cochran and Reed.
.Administration of Revenue Laws-wilson.
Public Debt-Montgomery, Brown and Payne.
Of these sub-committees tho one which
will attract the most comment 10 that upon
reciprocity and commercial treaties, u sub
ject comprised In Section of the McKln-
ley law, which it is understood to be the
intention of some of the leaders of the
Democratic majority in the House to at
tack. The two Democratic members of
this subcommittee are Turner. of Georgia.
and Cochran. of New York: What excites
this subcommittee who will probably
write minority report upon reci-
procity is ex-Speaker Reed. 1t had been
expected that Mr.. Burrows. of Michi-
member of this sub-committee. because
Secretary Blaine deputed Mr. Burrows to
act as his spokesman on behalf of reci-
procity at tho dinner recently given by tho
tanned Q silence of considerable density
is an impression prevaIent among Demo
Gratis that the ex-Speaker IN not wholly In
accord with the policy of the Secretary of
State. However that may be, the selec-
tion of Mr.. Reed is generally accepted as
an effort on the part of Chsirman Springer
to introduce dissension between the two
great Republican leaders from the Pine
tree State. 1t Is not believed that the eff
differences may have been in the past, Mr..
Reed and Secretary Blaine cannot be in.
duced by such palpable stratagem to fall
ont in the face of the American public
upon question which unltes bothdOmes-
tic and foreign policy.
TRYING TO KILL A BIG INDUSTRY.
Mr. Springer will have plenty to do In at
tending to the differences in his own party.
Without consulting the chairman of the
committee on wsys and means, Mr.. Fithl-
an Of Illinois to-day introduced resolu-
ton in the House directing Mr.. Springers
committee to report bill placing all kinds
of agricultural Implements upon the free
list. MIR. Fithisn thinks his proposition
should have the support OF every Demo-
cratic Representative from an agricultural
district, and he has already received as
suranoe Of support from Congressman Wat
son and his colleagues of the Peoples party
in the House. Mr.. Fithians resolution 10
somewhat volumnious. and opens by as
serting that it has been established by sat
lsfactory evidence that manufacturers of
farm implements in the United States are
selling farm implements in foreign coun-
tries and to jobbers for export for less than
the Same implements are sold to the farm
ers of this country. The fact it says has
been conclusively established by the fol-
lowing answer of A. B. Farquhar. on agri-
cultural implement-maker, OF York, Pa, to
the Home Market Club:
We do sell goods cheaper to customers in for
eign countries directly and to jobbers for export
than We do to the domestic trade. This ! could
DS would like to learn earn the process % by Which the
manufacturer can afford to sell the foreign buyer
goods for less than he can the home customer.
prices current on the market on which we sell.
We cannot get more and cannot be expected to
take less.
The resolution concludes:
Whereas, Under this System Of plundering the
farmers OF our country, they are compelled to
pay more for their implements than the same
implements are sold for to the farmers abroad,
whose products are marketed In competition
with the produts of our farms; and
Whereas. The duties upon farm implements
are an unjust discrimination against American
farmers for the benefit OF manufacturers who do
not need it, and is, therefore, legalized robbery;
Therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That the committee on ways and
means be. and are hereby. instructed to report a
bill to this House at an early day, placing all
kinds of agricultural implements on the free list
Chairman Springer. of the, ways and
l means committee, was not prepared to say
that tho committee would receive favor
ably Mr.. Fithian's resolution as an inde-
pendent proposition. "The revision of the
metal and lumber schedule" said he, lis
| involved In dealing with the rates ON farm
implements as iron aud lumber are the ma
terials from which farm implements are
manufactured. If lumber and the raw ma
| terlal from which iron and steel are made
| are put on thefree list, there ought to be q
| large reduction in the duties on farm i'm
plements. 1t would not do, however, to
| put finished products on the free list and
| leave the raw material still SUBJECT to a
| tax. This would simply drive the manu-
| facturers of such products out of the coun-
| try"
Representative Bunting. of New York. to.
| day introduced two tar IF bills. One places
| q duty of i cent pound on tin plate, Oh
| taggers tin, and 1.2 cent pound on terne
| plates. with a oraw ok less per cent. OF
| the duty paid on exported cans, boxes and
| packages made from imported tim plate
| After Oct. /, 1885, the articles named are tc
| be placed on the free list. The second re-
peals after July /. 1898, the duty of cents
| apound on pig-ti
| SPRINGER'S PLAN APPROVED.
| Tho Tentative Policy of AtfacIxiu1 the Tavid