The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-03-16
A Tariff Discussion.

WAsHINGToH, March 15.-The tariff dis
eussion is beginning to tire the House and
there is a lack of interest in the proceed
ings. However, interest to-day was re-
vived somewhat when Walker, of Masss-
chusetts, took the floor. A number of
Democrats stirred him up with continu-
Gus cross-hre of questions. During his
speech he alluded to the decline in the price
OF watches, taking his own time-piece out
Of his pocket and placing it on the desk
until ready to make point. II was appro-
priated by a fun-loVing member and when
he looked for it. it was suggested that he
(Walker) was fortunate to keep the cnain.
The conference report on the urgency de-
fciency bill was presented and agreed to-
AS passed the bill appropriates S479 GAL
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 MIR. Coombs had finished speaking
Walker, Of Massachusetts, SAID most of the
statements made by the Democratic orators
on the subject OF the protective tariff were
not even technically true. Manufacturers
Of this country have not the slightest in
terest directly IN the tariff; it was not of
the slightest IN ter5st to manufacturers
whether we have free trade or protection.
They were satisfied with one or the other.
If the tariff was not in the interest of
farmers and wage workers then he would
vote to repeal it and adopt free trade.
Dockery, of Missouri, asked whether the
gentleman meant TO say manufacturers
would be as prosperous under free trade as
protection, and Walker replied in the
affirmative.
MIR. Dockery-Then under the theory of
protection, manufacturers merely become
dlsbursing agents?
Watlrpr-Thar ie O T17era
Dockery-That seems to be The logic of
your position.
Walker replied that the manufacturers
Of the country (what was left of them)
would be more prosperous under free trade
than protection, but Congress was not leg
tslating for manufacturers, it was legislat-
Ing for farmers and wage workers 1t WAS
the lowest taxed country on the face of the
earth.
Harter of Ohio, asserted that in Canada
taxation was % per cent. less than in the
United States.
Walker replied that Canada was a couu-
try which had failed to collect its taxes for
Its expenditures and was burdened with
debts. We have collected our taxes and
paid our debts. Walker was proceeding to
cite authorities in support of his position
when Harter advised him to consult
Blaine.
Wslker-You may consult him as much
as you Ike. choose the man / wish TO
consult Laughter. On business cues
tons, l consult business men, not poll
ticians. Walker then entered into a gen
eral defense of the Mckinley law, declar-
ing that in a year foreign trade had in
creased p per cent. on account Of the laws
provisions.
Scott, of Illinois, attacked the law, hold
ing up its injustice and inequalities as
bearing on the consumer, and LAYING
special stress on the unconstitutionality of
the sugar bounty provision.
Chapman, of Michigan, said notwith-
standing the supreme court decision, he
was still Of the opinion the counting of
quorum under the rules of the Fifty first
Congress was unconstitutional. He then
denounced the system of protection as
building up the few at the expense of the
many.
Dockery, of Missouri, said the Mckinley
bill only increased the farmers burdens
and the reprocity scheme would prove fall
lacious. The committee rose, and the
House adjourned.