Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-16
THR MEINLEY BILL and
lis Evil Effects On Agriculture to be
Investigated by
THE AGRICULTURAL COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Hatch. Chairman Of the Committee, Thinks the
Investigation VIII Show the Bill Up in a Bad
Lisht-The Republicans, Fearful Of the
Result Oppose the Investigation.

WAsHrNGroN, February 15.-The
House OF Representatives Of the Fifty
second Congress has directed that the
first investigation into the operations OF
the Mckinley law shall be- conducted
by the Committee on Agriculture. This
arrangement has the informal sanction
of the Democrats of the Ways aud
Means Committee, as the inquiry of
Chairman Hatch aud his committee is
to be directed particularly TO the effect
that the high tariff has had upon the
agricultural interests OF the country.
Ii is understood that later on the COM
mittee OF manufacturers will BE author
lied 20 conduct an inquiry as to the ef-
feet OF the same law on the mauuiact-
urerS and skilled wage workers; and
thus in the end reports will be made on
the various phases Of the new law by as
many different committees.
Representative McMillin, Of TenneS-
see, presided over the House to-day in
the absence Of Speaker Crisp, who was
confined 70 his rooms By headache.
After some routine business Mr..
Hatch, of Missouri, brought the tariff
question to the front by moving to suS-
pend the rules and adopt resolution
requesting the Committee on Agricul-
ture TO report the effect upon agricul-
ture Of the present tariff law.
Mr.. Bynum, of Indiana, demanded a
second, and the request Of Mr.. Hatch
was objected to by Mr.. kilgore, Of
Texas.
Mr.. Kilgre and Mr.. batch were ap-
pointed tellers and reported the vote as
l22 to .. The Republicans did not vote,
but no one raised the point OF mo
Quorum" and Mr.. kilgore was recOg-
nized to oppose the resolution but de-
clined 10 avail himself of the recogni-
tion, stating that he was not opposed TO
, IL, although he believed that 1t was
originally offered as a piece OF 0un-
cOmbe.
Mr.. Funston, of Kansas, however,
raised his voice In opposition. II ne
believed that there could be fair and
impartial investigation Of the effects OF
the present tariff law on the agricul-
tural interests he would DO in favor OF
il. IL could hardly be expected, how
ever, that an investigation Of this char
ter could be made without being made
upon party basis.
The fact that the House went into
this investigation was declaration OF
the part of the House that IL believed
that the Mckinley bill was iniuring the
farmers Of the country. This was not
true. The duties on the farmers pro-
duets had been increased, while the
things the farmers had 10 buy were to-
day cheaper than before the Mckinley
bill was passed.
MIR. Funston, while commenting upon
the prosperity Of the farmers, was ire
ouently interrupted by Mr.. Livingstone
and Mr.. Watson, OF Georgia, but he de-
clined TO yield, only remarking that
they had told the farmers the contrary,
because they would not have been
elected had they told the truth. He
had no objection 10 an investigation II
Il were a fair one. The Republicans
courted an investigation. The Repub-
llcan party had no fear of its record. II
had no apologies 10 make; but why this
investigations? Why did not the Demo
Gratis bring in bill to repeal the Nc
Kinley act? They dared not do it.
No such bill would come from the
Committee on WAYS and, Means. He
understood that the chairman OF that
committee would report a bill TO re-
move the duty on wool, one Of the pro-
ducts OF the farm. The only enemy
the farmer had was the Democratic
party. Why did not the committe re-
port a bill repeating the present tarih
law? Because it was afraid OF the
question; because it did not wish TO
touch the subject until after the next
election. IL cOntented itself with con-
demning the Mckinley bill. whenever
there was a cold blast from the north,
whenever there was a drought, when-
ever the grasshopperS destroyed the
farmers crops, the Democrats put Their
hands in their pockets, and said; 1T Is
the Mckinley BILL The Investigation
could do no good, as the committee had
no power 10 summon witnesses or 10
send for persons and papers.
The resolution was then adopted
without division.
Mr.. Hatch, vino has been pressing
this resolution, says he regarded It's
adoption as the frs: shot fired against
the Mckinley bill, and believes that 1t
will have it's effect He thinks that an
investigation will show that that law
hss been detrimental to- agricultural IN
torests. and that the Committee on Ag-
ricplture will find no difficulty In OBJ
tanning, voluntarily, witnesses to testify
10 the existing facts.