Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-31
DUTY TO THE TARIFF.
Representative McMillin Thinks Congress
Should Continue
Tariff the Campaign Issue and should
Not Now He Made Sub
ordinate.

A Star reporter asked Representative Nc
Millin Of Tennessee this afternoon: What
is likely to be done by the House after the
silver bill Is disposed of. and what do you
think ought to be done?'
Il think the House Ia likely to adjourn
until the regular session, but am also well
satisfied in my mind that this is not best
either for the country or the democratic
party"
What do you think would be the best
course?''
Il think the best course in every sense
is to prepare the tariff as quickly as can
be judiciously done, bring it before the
House and to go at once to it's considera-
ton and get it to the Senate before the
Christmas holidays. The democratic party
has been clamoring for tariff reform for
quarter Of a century; has time after time
carried the country on this proposition.
Prior to It's success it took defeat on the
proposition. 1t was the main issue in the
last campaign, and never should have been
nor should it now make a subordinate
issue.
THE silver bill leaves our party divided
and distracted. / think we ought to go at
once to those questions upon which there
is no division and upon which we see eye
to eye and speak the same things There
is no need for letting the excessive rates Of
tariff taxes. against which the people have
rebelled, be imposed on them longer. The
true policy Is to work now and thereby
hasten tariff reform and shorten the long
session of Congress. If we dilly-dally with
the tariff question through next spring.
through dog days and into the fall before
we get 1t on the statute books and 90 to
the country before the people have time to
understand its provisions, We may have
cause to regret 1t later on.
In every sense. l think work now Is
proper. as I said before. both from party
and from a patriotic standpoint. do not
think from a party standpoint that 1t Is
wise to postpone tarin action and disperse
with our divisions exposed and no united
action drawing US or the people together
again. By this action we ought to be able
to get fairly under way in the consideration
Of the tariff bill in the House during this
extra session. Having done 30 much; We
may make our Christmas holiday a little
longer If the business Of members requires
IT.
Other Bills to BE Considered.
Mr.. Bland said to q Star reporter that
he did not know what might be done after
the silver question was disposed Of by Con-
gress. but that 1t was his opinion that there
should be no adjournment and that the
work of legislation should be proceeded
with. He said that there was great deal
of work to be done and in his judgment
the best policy, and that which would meet
with the approval Of the people. would be
for Congress to dispose Of the work which
is now demanding attention.
In the House he said, the bankruptcy bill.
immigration questions, repeal OF the state
bank tax and several other things which
could occupy our attention from now until
the time of the regular meeting Of Con-
gress The Senate has the federal elections
bill and the Chinese bill, which would give
them enough to occupy them until other
al nr
sent over from the House.
Judge Savers. chairman OF the committee
on appropriations, said he hardly knew
what would be the best policy. but that he
was inclined to think that II Congress could
take twenty-day recess 1t would be about
the best thing to do after the voorhees, bill
was disposed of.
was a great deal Of work which the people
expected this Congress to do. and much Of
1t could be done now as well as at any time
either adjourn or take recess. The work
was here to be done and they might as
we'll stay and do 1t. There were plenty Of
things. he said: ready to occupy the House
until the tariff was brought in and both
houses could find enough to do to warrant
their remaining in session.
Favorx Adjournment.
Representative Catchings said: Il favor
adjournment under existing circumstances
as no tariff bill appears to be forthcoming
at an early date. think there Is a pretty
general disposition in favor of adjournment
till the regular session."
Representative Heard said: II can vote
for adjournment, as 1 have been informed
by the chairman Of the ways and means
committee that a tariff bill will not be
ready before December 1. If we adjourn
now we can go home and settle up our bus
mess and come back ready for a good long
stay at the regular session."
Representative kilgore said: II think 1t
would be better to go along with the ses-
sion, but IL that Is not acceptable 1 would
favor a recess until November the 18th. 1
think we should put in work at this end
of the session and shorten the next ses-
sion just as much"
Representative Dockery said IT am in
favor of adjournment unless the committee
on ways and means is ready to report a
tariff bill at an early date, and 1 under
stand that they are not ready"