The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-12

of q reduction of tariff duties should begin
its tariff reduction by q bill TO impose 4
duty on an article OF absolute necessity
now placed by the Republican party on
the free list In an elaborate and CAREFUL
" prepared review Mr.. Harter explained
at great length that this duty - not TO be
paid by the consumer, but by the importer.
.his duty differing presumably. therefore,,
from every other duty that was known TO
the Democratic spell-binders during tho
entire cam the constant refrain Of
these speeches being that the consumer
paid the duty.
A satisfactory feature of the week was
the evident determination 10 provide leg
lslatlon Tor restricting immigration ana
the establishment of a national quarantine:
two .nntters on which the President and
both parties in Congress seemed 10 be
sooroughiy at one accord. MIR. Holman
has apparently resumed those economical
principles which resulted in such disas-
trous failure to cut down the total sum of
the appropriations in the last session. He
has renewed his threat of NJ publIe build
the one noticeable feature has been the re-
markable change of public sentiment on
the subject of the anti-option bill, as indi-
Gated by the many petitions presented by
the Senators against it's passage.
Great as appears to DO the sentiment all
over the country in favor of q restriction.
if not the entire suspension of immigration.
and earnest rs is the purpose of this Con-
gross TO enact some legislation on the sub
iect. numb erless difficulties are already
presenting themselves. 1t has been tho
history of ut least the two past decades
that after every national election. when
the foreign vote for the moment was no
longer q menace. that the leading men OF
both parties have agreed on the necessity for
athorough revision OF our now too-Renero Gus
welcome to ell stranrersL But never has
this purpose gone further than the training
of many bills and the making of voiumin-
Gus reporta. This year Congress had It's
usual quota of immigration bills and of re-
ports OF Investigations, but at the same time
there are the usual jealousies among the
leaders of both parties IN both houses for
the honor of authorship.
There Is tho etrong opposition OF the
steamship companies. who soc IN the
threatened immigration laws the loss OF
many millions of annual revenue. There
is the opposition of large capitalists and
corporations all over the country who see
In continued immigration q constant
source of new workmen to be drawn upon;
and there is the fear. finally. OF the poll
tlcians at the resen iment of the foreigners
already here. whose numbers and whose
wealth and influence seem 60 make them
the ruling power in politics. Againss all
this there Is only the fear of another pos
sible invasion OF the cholera TO hold the
present Congress up TO the Importance of
regarding at least once the public senti-
ment that has been voiced IN the message
of the President and the report of the SEQ
Tetary OF the Treasury. Ont or the aDund-
ance of measures already before the House
and the Senate. it can prove no difficult
task to frame a bill which, whether it eus-
ponds immigration entirely or 50 restricts
1t that this country is no longer the dump
of European refuse. should command the
hearty support of both parties in Congress
and elsewhere.