, 1892-03-12
QUARRELED AL DAY
Opposing congressman Engage
in Some Squally Tits.
One Side Dragged the Other
Over the Goals.
For a Time it Looked Like a
Mexican War,
But Some Clever Repartee Re
stored Good Humor.
House.

WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE tariff
discussion in the house today vas more
than usually interesting and there were
several lively passages which torcibly re-
minded one of the fierce. political scenes
of the last congress when this all absorb
ing issue was at the front. The speeches
of the day on both sides were well forti-
fed and we're listened to with a great deal
of attention by the members. A some
what unique spectacle of the largest in
dividual wooden manufacturer in the
United States arguing In favor OF the
free wool bill was presented when Stew
.ens of Massachusetts took the floor in
support OF the Springer bill. The demo-
Gratis paid close attention to his remarks,
greeting his arguments with applause.
No less fattering was the attention paid
Montgomry of Kentucky and the colloquies
in which he became engaged during the dav
showed him an able defender OF the work
of the committee.
Brookshire of Indiana took occasion in
the course of his speech, to denounce
the so-called reciprocity scheme of the
republican party as a delusion and
a snare.
Ray of New York. the chief republican
orator OF the day, succeeded IN provoking
more than the usual partisan strife, and
it looked for a time as though his alter
cation with Representative Meredith of
Virginia might surpass parliamentary
bounds.
Ray said the democratic party, on the
tariff question, was the great American
political and hypocritical crab with ten
legs. reaching in all directions. Laugh
ter. 1t was 30 weak in the joints it had
not a single pair on which it could stand
alone. If anything was wanted to show
that the democratic party. as a party, was
for free trade the favorable report on this
bill had supplied that proof. The party
cry was that it wanted free raw materials,
and they classed wool as a raw material.
They absolutely ignored the fact that
eight tenths of the value of a pound of
wool represented human labor and skill.
The democratic party in. the house did
not know what to do with its immense
majority, secured BY false pretenses and
stupendous lying. 1t was the most un-
manageable mob ever assembled in the
capitol of any nation since the days of the
French revolution. Political death stared
more than half the democratic members
III tbO IA politlCdl luu lkd
from Massachusetts promised a sound
finance and an honest dollar. a sockless
statesman from Kansas promised car
loads of cheap money to every constituent
free OF cost.
In the course of Rays speech, while he
was citing figures regarding the price of
wool under the policy of protection and
of low tariff. he was frequently inter
rupted with the questions by Pendleton
of West Virginia, Simpson and others.
Finally Raw stated he was not a teacher
in democratic kindergarten and would not
be further interrupted by gentlemen who
could find all the information they wanted
In the proper books; further he intimated
the questioners were sadly in need of in
formation. Meredith of Verginia re-
piled that although they might need in
formation regarding the tariff, they did
know the courtesy that ought to exist be-
tween gentlemen. [Sensation
Raw thought he could show as much
| courtesy to members as the gentleman
| from West Virginia showed him in max
ing a remark OF that kind when he (Ray)
had said nothing to that gentleman. '
The gentleman desires YOU to under
stand that he stands by his remrrks here
or elsewhere" replied Meredith.
all pcAicCtly Wiiluk uo ouOuiu
stand by his remarks" said Ray. II am
willing he should inquire for information;
but when he asks me arithmetical ques-
tons which he can find written in the
pages of this book exhibiting a treasury
statement) l know it Is not done by HIM
or any other gentleman in good faith"
IF the gentleman states [ ask ques-
tons not in good faith, the gentleman
states what is not true" said Meredith.
THE gentleman will not make me
angry by intlmating that | lle." said Ray
laughinRly. II have held too many COM
bats with the democratic party and indi-
vidual members thereof to be easily
frightened. | was not brought up in the
woods to be scared by an owl" [Great
laughter.
That's an old chestnut" was Mere
dith's only response.
Coombs of New York followed for free
wool. The committee rose and the house
took a recess.