Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-31
TARIFFDAYANDNIGHT
Democrats in the House Hustling to
Get Ready to Vote on
THE SPRINGER FREE WOOL BILL.
Talk Now on Tap From Noon Until Mid
night or Thereabouts.
AN OHIO MAN IN THE DEFENSE OF WOOL

between the cotton raisers of the South and
the wool manufacturers of the North to en-
rich themselves at the expense of the pros.
perity of the nation. This charge was
made by Representative j. d. Taylor, OF
Ohio. and will doubtless be the subject of
some vigorous retorts from Democratic
members later in the debate. Beyond this
utterance, which attracted general atteI,.
tion, the tariff discussion to-day was with
out any unusual incidents
Representative Butler, of Iowa, made his
maiden speech on the tariff, and although
he was sharply questioned by Mr. Ray and
other Republican members he maintained
himself with credit and usually found a
ready response to the unexpected queries.
1t is settled now that this week will close
the general discussion on the free wool bill
AT a conference of the Democratic members
of the Ways and Means Committee to-day it
was formally decided that general debate on
the Springer wool bill should close this
week.
Night Sessions for Tariff Debate.
In order to give as MANY members as
possible opportunity to discuss the tariff, it
was resolved that night sessions should be
held for the remainder of the week, and that
d
close the general debate. Under this pro-
gramme it is contemplated that the wool
bill shall be taken up and passed on Mon
DAY, few hours probably being previously
allowed for debate under the fve-minute
rule.
Chairman Springer will himself appear
in the House on Monday, and probably
make the motion to suspend the rules for
the passage of the BILL In accordance with
this programme, Mr.. McMillin, Immediately
after the meeting of the House, announced
the desire of the Committee to close general
debate on Saturday, and moved that a night
session be held this evening for the discus
sion of the wool bill This motion was
promptly agreed to, and there appears
general disposition on the part of the Demo-
cratic members of the House to concur in
the programme of the Democratic majority
of the Ways and Means Committee and
send the free wool bill to the Senate with
the least possible delay.
Mills Farewell i'm the House.
On the floor of the House this morning.
before the hour of noon, there were but few
members, but these few congregated be-
hind the screens on the Democratic side,
and rendered an informal reception to Mr..
Mills, of Texas, who to-day severed his long
association with the lower branch of Con-
gress in order TO assume the toga of a
Senate. While he was congratulated on
every hand upon his promotion, the con-
gratulatons were blended with earnest re-
grets that the House had lost one of its
prominent leaders, and the individual men,
bers pleasant and able colleague.
Mr.. McAIillin, of Tennessee stated that
it was the desire of the Committee on Ways
and Means to close the discussion on the
wool bill on Saturday, and asked that an
evening session be held tonight or.general
debate. There was no objection, and the
House then went into committee of the
whole Mr.. Blount, OF Georgia, in the chair,
on the free wool bill.
The first speaker of the day was Repre-
sentative Butler, of Iowa, who advocated
the passage of the free wool bill The aim
and purpose of the political action of every
man on the floor, he said, was to secure the
general welfare of the country, without de-
priving the idividual of his right of life,
property and pursuit of happiness. Speak
ing in regard to the intelligence of the
American workingman, Mr.. Butler was in
terrupted by Mr.. Ray, of New York, with
the query as to what had made the Ameri-
can people intelligent.
Intelligence and Protective Tari1.
"Why," replied Mr.. Butler, "of course
God Almighty gave us intelligence"
Laughter.
"And protective tariff" was the addi-
tion suggested by Mr. Ray, amid applause
from the Republicans and derisive laughter
from the Democrats.
"Well," replied Mr. Butler, ''if that
proposition is true-if a protective tariff
gives us intelligence-let us put on thous-
and per cent tariff, and we will ali be Solo
mons" [Laughter.l
Mr. Ray suggested that in those countries
where there was impoverished labor there
were no public schools The laboring man
had to take their little children out of the
cradle and put them into the workshop,
Mr. Butler-And all of those countries
except one are protective tariff countries.
Laughter
Mr. Butler, continuing, contended that
the price of no article of consumption had
ever been decreased / cent bv protective
tariff, and that protection had not resulted |
in the increase of the wages of the working |
men. He had been accused of being tree |
trader. He was one of those Democrats who |
was not afraid to say that commercial |
freedom was the best thing that any country |
could demand The only way for nation |
to become the center of wealth was to be- |
come the center of the worlds trade There |
should be no tax on trade except what was |
necessary to meet the necessities of the Gov |
eminent economically administered.
AWord for Ohio Wool Growers.
J. D. TAYLOR, of Ohio speaking for the |
wool growers of Ohio, strenuously opposed |
the measure. He regretted to be compelled |
to call in question the integrity of the re-
port made by the ma jority of the Committee |
on Ways and Means. But the figures in |
regard to wool and wooden industries were |
entirely inaccurate and absolutely untrust- |
worthy. He argued that this country could |
produce all the wool that was needed. If |
in every Southern State the dogs could be |
killed and sheep be substituted in their |
stead, the southern section would be |
more prosperous The South needed |
protection. Inside of ten years the South |
would be demanding protection for its cot
ton, as to-day the people of Ohio were ask
ing protection for their wool He predicted /
that free wool would be followed bv free |
woolens in this country as in England, and |
that the people would resent this conspiracy |
between the cotton raisers of the South and |
the wool manufacturers of the North TO en- |
rich themselves at the expense of our pros
perity in time of peace and our independ- |
ence in time of war.
He exhibited a pamphlet published by |
the Ohio Democratic Committee in 1855, |
which claimed that the reduction of the |
tariff on wool or cents a pound had re- |
duced the value of the sheep, the value of |
the wool, and the value of land in Ohio |
&C, 600, 900 in single year. He closed with |
an eloquent defense of the Mckinley act.
Mr.. LAYTON, of Ohio, favored the bill, as |
did also Mr.. Crosby, of Massachusetts,, who |
congratulated the country that under tariff |
reform a Republican majority of 60, 900 in |
Massachusetts had been SO reduced that |