The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-16
WASHINGTON AND THE TARIFF.
Southerners Made the Wilson Biil-Am-
munffion for senator squire.

SouthernePs Made the Wilson Biil-Am-
munffion for Senator squire.
WASHINGTON CRY, Dec. l5-(speciall-
Senator Squire is in receipt of letters from
the secretaries of the Chambers of Com
tariff question. promising him statistics
regarding the amount Of capital invested
in the various industries Of the Puget
sound basin at which blows are aimed by
the Democratic tariff bill just introduced
in the house: also statistics of the annual
production in each industry, the number
of men employed, the amount of wages
paid, the exports and the home consump-
ton. All these will constitute most ac-
ceptable weapons TO the senator in the
sharp contest against the bill which will
surely follow when the bill reaches the
senate. Mr.. William II. Whittlesey.
secretary of the Seattle Chamber. writes
that be has already sent out letters in
various directions calling for the desired
information, which will be forwarded to
Washington just as soon as it is obtained.
Mr.. Samuel Collyer. secretary of the Ia
coma Chamber, writes: Naturally our
people are much interested in the ques-
ton, as it 10 proposed to put nearly all We
produce on the free list, and you will no
doubt hear from them in q short time"
Whatever 10 to be done in the way of
collecting statistics in order to enable
Washington's representatives, to make .
strong plea in behalf of their state against
q Democratic measure that will reduce the
people Of the Pacific Northwest almost to
condition Of slavery, il not starvation,
by bringing them into competition with
the Chinese cheap labor with which Brit
ish Columbia 10 now flooded, must be done
quickly. Every miner, every logger, every
millman, every fisherman, every hop
grower. is directly interested in these pro-
posed tariff changes, and prompt ex-
preston of opinion Is above all things
desired. 1t is well understood here,
although the Western press affects to be-
lieve that such thing will be impossible,
that it is a part of the Democratic pro-
gramme TO force the tariff bill through
both houses as party measure and prae-
tieaily unchanged from the shape in
which IL came from the hands of the COM
mittee. IL is an administration measure
and the president has been cognizant of
every step that has been taken by the
ways and means committee, of every
article on which the duty has been reduced
and of every article that has been placed
upon the free list. Ii will be known as
the Wilson tariff bill, but ii is really the
Cleveland tariff bill. for Mr.. Wilson
IS nothing more than q trusted con-
hdant of the president. To be sure,
some other members of the committee
have had something to say in the framing
of the measure. but any one of them will
tell you that the sine qua NON OF the White
House has In no case been overrused.
Representative Bryan, of Nebraska, who
did the best he could for the beet sugar
factories of his state when he secured a
bounty reduction extending over eight
years, openly declares that this is no time
for & consideration OF local interests. The
svowea policy of the party, IL is confidently
declared by the stronges. partisans in both
bodies. must lie maintained.
This means that the Democrats are
pledged 10 the new tariff, and all the
power Of the administration will he
ielde8 To keep them in the ranks. The
party has ninety majority in the house
and no amount Of lccal disaffection is
deemed TO be sufficient to overcome this.
Tae most s1nguine Of The Republican
leaders do not expect il and the Demo
Gratis openly boast that the bill has been
too carefully prepared TO need amend
ment. The bill will be rushed through.
There is little douoi of that. 1t would not
he surpr sing IL il occupies less time IN the
house than dld the silver bill during the
extra session. The real fight will come in
the senate, where the Democratic majority
Is net so proportionally great and where
there may be a shadow of hoperhat sufsi-
cient Democratic votes may oppose il to
prevent its passage.
The necessity for haste in the collection
OF statistics and the preparation of arrtI-
msnts Ia behalf Of the state of Washing.
ton will therefore readily be seen
There Is one point In this tariff matter
Which does not seem 10 have been noticed
by the Western press, especially hv the
papers OF the Pacific coast. There Is but
one dls.inetivelv Western man uron the
house committee on ways and means.
which Is supposed to have the framing Of
this measure. This is Bryan, OF Ne
bEaska. and he IS an administration mar.
heart and soul. Of course, the SIX Repuh-
iean members have had no voice. save in
the minority report. OF the Democratic
majority the East is represented BY
kourSe Cochran. OF New York. and Moses
]. Stevens, Of Massachusetts. Rynar. of
Indiana, joins with Bryan in REPRESENTING
what the folks in this country cali ths
West. And now comes the South. VIII
son. OF West Virginia; MeMillin. of Ten.
nessee; Turner, of Georgia. Montgomery.
OF kentucky; Rreckinridge. of Arkansas.
and Iarsnsy. Of Missouri With a prss.-
aeai Nho has never been farther IVES.
than Chicago and strong force of South
sFn Democrats. hungry foE Federal patron.
age, the people Of the Pacific coast mar
expecs just about - much consideration