Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-16
The Tariff Debate Growing
MOnOtOnOus.
Interest Temporarily Revived
in the Subject.
walker of Massachusetts, Takes a
Novel View of Protection.
A Vote on the Springer Wool Bill Will
Not Be Taken Before the Bland
Silver Bill is Disposed of.
Washington Notes.
Associated Press Dispatches.

WASHINGTON, Marcn I0.-lne tarlu
discussion is beginning to tire the
house, and there is an evident lack of
interest in the proceedings. However,
interest today revived somewhat when
Walker of Massachusetts took the floor.
A number of Democrats stirred him up
with a continuous fire of questions.
During his speech he alluded to the de-
cline in the price of watches. Taking
his own out of his pocket and placing it
on his desk until he was ready to make
his point, it was appropriated by some
fun-loving member, and when he looked
for it it was suggested that he (Walker)
was fortunate to keep the chain.
When the house met this morning
the conference report on the urgency
deficiency bill was presented and agreed
to. AS passed, the bill appropriates
S479,641.
The house then went into committee
of the whole on the free wool bill.
Coombs of New York concluded his
speech in favor of the bill.
After Coombs had finished speaking,
Walker of Massachusetts said most of
LAC StatcmculS Luduc Uy tilo
orators on the subject of the protective
tariff were not even technically true.
The manufacturers had not the slightest
interest, directly, in the tariff. 1t was
not of the slightest interest to the man
utacturers whether we have free trade
or protection. They were satisfied with
one or the other. Ii the tari IF was not
in the interest of the farmers and wage
workers. then he would vote to repeal
it, and adopt free trade.
Dockery of Maine asked whether the
gentleman meant to say that the manu-
facturers would be as prosperous under
free trade as protection, and Walker re-
piled in the affirmative.
Dockery-Then, under the theory of
protection, the manufacturers merely
become disbursing agents.
Walker-That is mere fiction.
Dockery-That seems to be the logic
OF your proposition.
Walker replied that the manufactur-
ers of the country (what was left of
them) would be more prosperous under
Tree trade than protection. But con-
gress was not legislating for the manu-
facturers, it was legislating for the
farmers and wage workers. This was
the lowest taxed country on the face of
the earth.
Harter, of Ohio. asserted that in Can
ada taxation was 25 per cent less than
in the United States.
Walker replied that Canada was a
country which had failed to collect its
taxes for it's expenditures, and was bur-
dened with debts. "We have collected
our taxes and paid our debts.'
Walker was proceeding to cite author
tiles in support of his position. when
Hnrter advised him to consult Blaine.
Walker-You may consult him as
much as you like. l choose the man
wish to consult. Laughter. On busi-
ness questions consult business men,
not politicians.
Walker then entered into a general
defense of the Mckinley law, declaring
that in one year our foreign trade had
increased 81 per cent On account of the
laws provisions.
Scott of Illinois attacked the law,
holding up its injustice and inequalities
as bearing on the consumer, and laying
special stress on the unconsttu tionality
of the sugar bounty provisions.
Chapman OF Michigan said that not
withstanding the supreme courts de-
cision, he was still of the opinion that
the counting of a quorum under the
rules OF the hfty-hrst congress was
unconstitutional. He then denounced
the system of protection as building up a
few at the expense of many.
Dockery of Missouri said the McKin-
ley bill only increased the farmers
burdens, and the reciprocity scheme
wonld prove fallacious.
The committee rose and the house
adjourned.
At conference of the Democratic
members of the ways and means COM
mittee it was decided not to press a vote
ON the wool bill in advance OF taking up
the silver special order, but to resume
consideration of the bill after the
special order relative to the Bland bill
WAS disposed of.