The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-01-10
HE CHANGEDHISl MIND
THE TARIFF SEEMS TO BE "a LOCAL
QUESTION:" AFTER ALL

the Capital
WAsHNeroU. D. C., Jan. -[SpeciaIl-
During the general row that seems Is Be III
progress shout the new tariff bin and other
matters in congress a good joke on Sena-
tor Morgan Of Alabama is being much enc
loved at both ends 81 the capitol A few
years ago. while the Mills tariff bill was
under discussion 1Ir. Morgan made one ST
his greatest speeches Mr.. Morgan is all
ways At his best in matters 81 principle,
where facts and figures de not bother or
make afraid Tn this case lie was liz clover,
for his topic was the tariff for protection as
an ethical question. Few who heard chat
speech win ever forget the dramatic effect
with which Mr.. Morgan turned to the sena-
tors from Pennsy lvania, from West Vir-
ginia and other states which are usually
foremost IN the advocacy of protection and
Kissed cut at them:
what right have you. sirs. to make laws
that take money out OF the pockets of my
constituents and put st into the pockets Of
your constituents Where i'm the constitu-
ton of the United States do you find the
warrant for such proceedings as enable
yOu 10 carry on your nigh handed business
and escape arrest for grand larceny2"
Senator EEorgan's Change oE Heart.
In this strain Mr. Morgan went on as
only Dir. Morgan can 80 on. There is no
other man in the United States senate who
uses the English language with such deadly
effect IS he when lie IS reused The most
bitter phrases. the most eloquent, roll from
his lips like ripe apples from a tree when
the autumn winds blow. III was one OF the
greatest speeches Mr.. Morgan ever deliv-
cred. Thousands upon thousands of copies
OF 1T were distributed throughout the south
and it was everywhere read with great in-
terest- MT. Morgan received hundreds Of
letters Of praise from his constituents for
the scoring which he had given the .'roboer
tariff
That was before AIabama's coal and iron
interests had been developed into ain inn
portant industry. That was before the hills
Of that state had been opened MP by tine
hand Of man and made to yield their riches
That was before thriving cities had been
built up at the mouths Of coal and iron
mines Now AIr. Morgan is ia a different
position Now he is among those Demo-
Gratis Who vail because the new tariff bill
puts coal on the free list and affects the
iron schedule in a way which the producers
Of ore do rot like Now Mr.. Morgan IS
among the Democrats Who talk of boiling
their party biIi and raising no end of trou-
bic unless the schedules are fixed to suit
them and the people Of their states. No
longer does he ask men from protection
states if they have any right TO immunity
from arrest for grand larceny because they
so leglslate as 70 take money from the peck
cts Of consumers and put it into those Of
producers.
"a few days ago, while Senator Morgan
was airing lais views on this subject in the
cloakroorn and showing up in his lurid
way the evils of a too rapid strikingdONu 0f
the protective duties. some one pulled cue
Of his pocket a copy Of the Alabama sena-
tors famous speech and passed 10 over 10
Mr.. Morgan to read The senator glanced
at it and was about to run away when his
tormentor stood in the doorway. laughing
is barring the exit, and proceeded to read
the most significant passages Of that great
address. In few minutes the joke was
all over the senate cham Der. and q mum Der
Of senators looked up the old speech Of
the Alabama statesman and read it, with
smiles and winks-
A Local Question.
This incident serves to show the changes
that are taking place in congress on The
tariff question. Sections of the country
that were for protection years ago are now
for low tariffs, while states that denounced
protection as robbery are now preaching
protection and plenty OF it, AS the fields
of commerce and production shift about.
so does public opinion, and it is noticeable
That with every change Of public opinion
the opinions Of senators and re preventative
ia congress change also. al great deal of
the trouble which the Democrats are now
in over their new tariff measure comes from
men representing such states as Alabama
which, until recently. were never knOwu t0
object to any reduction of the tariff rates.
"a dozen times a day one may hear Demo-
branch, declare that the Wilson bill shall
never pass unless it is radically amended
In every such case some special interest of
their constituents is threat ned with lUss.
a dozen times a day one may hear the ez-
preston about the corridors ol the capilOl-
ttNF ell. General HaucCck was right. after
ALL when he said the tariff was local
question This session of congress is prov
Ing chat he WAS right no5wit hstanding the
ridicuIe that was heaped upon him.
rT.as srsrF rfr1 rob
Der thut in this column most people Is tie
country saw the frs1 statement TO the eli
feet That tie Democrats IF the ways and
means committee were about TO report ana
income feature To their new tariff bill. This
prediction was made in these dispatches
several months ago and has been fulfilled
to the letter Whether or not the income
feature VIII remain IN the bin mo one can
say. Tt has met with such fierce opposi-
ton that s. is feared by those friendly TO st
that it VIII have 70 60 BY she board or suf-
fer SO much amendment a. 70 defeat the
object in view. N here thecomnil1ee made
its mistake, in the opinion of most people.
was in applying the income tax to such
small incomes as $1,000 This cuts too low
to sllr most men, who think that # thHIr
income does not exceed 500 week il
should 90 untouched Of the taxgatherer-
Tho Income Tax.
Tt IS q bit Of inside gossip that the COM
mittee was induced to apply the tax at such
low limits because of the fear chat # it were
placed hi gher people would says wv ell,
congress is willing enough to tax the other
fellow income, but we notice 1T was care
ful not TO apply She ? per cent TO its own
salaries BY putting the minimum tax
able income down to -. OC0 congress escapes
this criticism. but ineurs the enmiry Of
host Of men who arc able 10 make 5000 or
5000 a year. and ~ no live in dread Of hay-
in- to pay over = small SUM in the way of
a direct tax or escaping It by indulgence jn
some artful misrepresentation when the
1a-xeatheEer comes round.