Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-12
A Reminder of the Scenes in the
Fifty-First Congress.
Several Lively Passages at Arms Be-
tween Members.
The Largest Woolen Manufacturer in the
United States Argues in Favor of
Free WoO1-Washington
Notes.
Awocisted Press Dispatches.

Il
scenes of the past congress when this
all-absorbing issue was at the front.
The speeches of today on both sides
were we'll fortified and listened to with
q great deal of attention by the MEM
bers. The somewhat unique spectacle
of the largest individual woolen manu-
facturer in the United States, arguing
in favor OF the free wool bill, was pre-
sented when Stevens of Massachusetts,
took the floor in support OF the Springer
bill. The Democrats paid close atten-
tion to his remarks, greeting mis- argu-
ments with applause. No less flattering
was the attention paid Montgomery OF
Z Kentucky, and the colloquies in which
he became engaged during the day.
showed him to be 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 deluslon ana
snare.
Ray of New York, the chief Repub-
lican orator of the day, succeeded in pro-
yoking more than the usual partisan
his alterations with Representative
Meredith of Virginia might surpass par
liamentary bounds.
Among the petitions presented in the
house today were memorials urging con-
gress to pass law to prevent the land
ing of criminals and pauper immigrants;
to revise the naturalization laws, and to
submit constitutional amendment
providing that no state shall grant the
right of suffrage to any person not q cit
izen of the United States.
The house went into committee OF the
whole On the free wool bill, and was
addressed by Stevens of Massachusetts.
He believed the pending bill would
benefit alike the manufacturers OF
woolen goods and the great mass OF the
American people who consumed them.
The abolition of the duty on wool did
not mean necessarily a smaller demand
or lower prices for American wool. 1t
meant that both American wool and
foreign could be used to the best possi
BILE advantage for the purposes
to which each was best adapted,
and that they could be mixed in
proper proportions in all sorts OF
fabrics. 1t meant that more wool would
be used than was used today, because
foreign wool, with less duty on it,
would take the place of shoddy and
other limitations, and more genuine
woolen goods would be sold to the
American buyers, and it might mean in
the future perhaps, also. the opening OF
q new market for American manufac-
turers. Reduced taxes and lower prices
always meant increased consumption.
Montgomery of Kentucky then took
of ho
He make strong argument, largely
made up of statistical analysis, and
devoted his attention chiefly to the
contention that it deprived labor of
protection. By statistics, he went on to
show that the bill gave more protection
than the entire labor cost OF producing
the goods in the United States.
Montgomery having concluded his
speech, hs was followed by Brookshire
of Indiana.
Ray OF New York said the Democratic
party on the tariff question was the
great American political and hypocrit-
ical crab with ten legs reaching in all
directions. Laughter. 1t was 80 weak
in the Joints that it had not q single pair
of legs on which it could stand alone.
If anything was wanting to show that
the Democratic party, as party, was
for free trade, the favorable report on
this bill had supplied the 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 unmanageable body
ever assembled in the capitol of any ma
tion since the days of the French revolu-
tion. Political death stared more than
half the Democratic members in the
face. The political kindergarten from
Massachusetts promises sound finances
and an honest dollar; the sockless states
man from Kansas promises carloads OF |
cheap money to every constituent, free |
of cost.
In the course of his speech, while he
was citing figures regarding the price
of wool under the policy OF protection
and of low tariff, Ray was frequently
interrupted with questions by Pendle-
ton of West Virginia, Simpson and
Others. Finally Ray stated that he was
not teacher in the Democratic kinder
terrupted by tie gentlemen, who could
find all the information they wanted in
the proper books. He further intimated
that his questioners were sadly in need
of information.
Meredith OF Virginia replied that al
though they might need information
the tariff, they did know the
courtesy that ought to obtain between
gentlemen. lSensation.
Ray thought he could show as much
courtesy to members as the gentleman
from Virginia showed him in making
remark Of that kind, when he (Ray)
had said nothing to the gentleman.
''The gentleman desires you to under
stand that he stands by his remarks here
or elsewhere" replied Meredith.
81 am perfectly willing he should stand
by his remarks" said Ray. 81 am will
ing he should inquire for information
but when he asks me arithmetical ques-
lions which he can find written in the
pages of this book exhibiting treas
1ry statement), know it is not done by
aim or any other gentleman in good
aith.''
"If the gentleman states that I ask
questions not in good faith, the gentle
nan states what is not true" said Mere
iith.
ssThe gentleman will not make me