St. Paul daily globe., 1892-03-12
The Largest Manufacturer Of
Woolens Ably Argues for
Free Wool.
Infinite Possibilities in the
Springer Bill for Good to
the People.
A Somewhat Personal Alter
cation Happily Ended in
Spicy Talk.
Senator Stewart on PreSi-
Dental TermS--VeSt'S
Postoffice Bill.


discussion in the house today was more
than usually interesting, and there
we're several lively passages which
forcibly reminded one of the fierce po-
litical scenes of past congresses when
this all-absorblng issue was to the front.
The some what unique spectacle of the
largest individual woolen manufacturer
i'll the United States arguing in favor of
the free wool bill was presented when
Mr. Stevens, of Massachusetts. a mem
Der of the ways and means committee.
took the floor in support of the Springer
bill; and the Democrats paid close at
tention to his remarks and greeted his
arguments with applause.
No less fiottering was the attention
paid by all the members of the house 10
Representative Montgomery, of Ken
lucky. Representative Ray, of New
York. the chief Republican orator of
the day, succeeded III provoking more
than usual partisan strife, and it looked
for time as though his alteration
with Representative Meredith, of Viz
ginia, might surpass parliamentary
bounds.
UnansVerable Arguments.
On the suggestion of Mr.. McMillin,
two hours tomorrow were set apart for
the consideration of private bills; and
the house went into committee of the
whole (Mr. Blount, of Georgia. in the
chain on the free wool bill, aed was ad-
dressed by Mr.. Stevens, of MasSachu-
sets. He said he believed that the
pending bill would benefit alike the
manufacturers of WOODEN goods and
the great mass of the American
people who consumed them. AS man-
ufacturer he was not afraid to seek the
relief of the people by reduced duties
on his product, and he believed that the
majority of American WOODEN manu-
facturers who had carefully studied this
question were rapidly coming over to
his opinion.
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 ad-
vantage for the purposes to which each
was best adapted, and that they could
be mixed in proper proportions III all
sorts of fabrics. 1t meant that more
wool would be used than was used to-
day, because foreign wool, less the duty,
would take the place of shoddy and
other limitations, and more genuine
woolen goods would be sold to American
buyers, and it might mean in the future.
perhaps, alSOs the opening of new mar
ketS TO American manufactures. Re
duced taxes and lower prices always
meant increased consumption. The bill
as it stood represented Infinite
Possibilities of Good
to all the American people. Mr.. Mont
gomery, of Kentucky, then took the
floor and made strong argument,
largely made up of statistical analyses,
In this speech Mr.. Montgomery devoted
his chief attention to the contention
that it deprived labor of protection, and
by statistics went on to show that the
bill gave more protection than the en-
tire labor cost of producing goods in the
United States, '
Mr.. Brookshire said that Mr.. Blaine's
so-called reciprocity scheme and the tax
upon raw woods were the two most emf
nent fallacies by which the protective
system was sought to be maintained. 1t
was not the agricultural products that
the people of South America wanted.
In the main they wanted manufactured
goods. Reciprocity, he said, was
snare and delusion and fell
short Of developing necessary
markets for the surplus of agriculture.
1t was but an artful contrivance for the
perpetuation of the most selfish, op
nressive and unjust system OF taxation
ever fastened upon free, loyal and
self-reSpecting people.
Mr.. Ray, of New York, SAID that If
anything were wanting to show that the
Democratic party as party was for
free trade, the favorable report of this
bill had supplied the proof. The Demo
cratic party in this house did not know
what to do with its immense majority.
1t was the most
Unmanageablc Mob
ever assembled in the capitol Of any ma
ton since the days of the French revo-
luton. The political kindergarten from
Massachusetts promised sound finances
and an honest dollar; the sockless
statesman from Kansas promised car
loads of cheap money to every 2Onstitu-
ent free of cost.
In the course of Mr.. Rays speech he
was frequently interrupted with ques
tions. Finally Mr.. Ray stated that be
was not a teacher in Democratic
kindergarten and would not be further
interrupted by gentlemen, who could
the proper books. TO this Mr.. Mere
dlth. of Virginia, replied that, although
they might need information in regard
to the tariff, they did know the courtesy
that ought to obtain between gentle
men. TSensation. Mr.. Ray thought
that he could show as much courtesy to
members of the house as the gentleman
from West Virginia showed to him when
he made remark of that kind when he
(Mr. Ray) had said nothing to the gen
tleman.
Becoming Personal.
"The gentleman desires you to under
stand that he stands by his remarks
here or elsewhere" was Mr.. Meredlth's
reply. Il am perfectly willing that he
should stand by his remarks" said Mr..
Ray, with dignity; "but when he asks
me arithmetical questions l know that
it is not done by the gentleman or any
other gentleman in good faith"
''If the gentleman states that 1 ask