Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-07-25
Sneeeh of Hon. W. L. Wilson.

On last Thursday, Hon. VIM. L. Will
son, Chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee of the House of Represent
atives, made an able speech on the dis
agreement of the two Houses on the
tariff bill. He was suffering with
neuralgia, and was otherwise sick.
There was u burst of hearty applause
from the Democratic side as he arose
with the Tariff bill and the disagree
ing report in his hand. His head was
bound with II silk handkerchief, which
completely enveloped his face, cover
ing his eyes and falling to his mouth.
He stood in the aisle with a hand on
the desk at either side. He sent the
report of disagreement to the Speakers
desk and it was read, briefly stating
| the disagreement in toto.
Mr. Wilson said that he desired to
be complete in his statement, yet he
, recognized that there were limitations
necessary, but he could say within
bounds of courtesy and propriety that
if the Senate conferrees had met the
IL.
good for the whole people an agree
nient could have been reached in one
day. Bnt the Senate conferrees came
fettered with certain obligations to
their colleagues in the Senate. With
out stating the nature or strength of
these obligations it sufficed to say that
they were against the principles of the
House and in line with the demands of
the great corporate interests.
Mr.. Wilson said this developed ire
concilable differences. He said it in
sadness that there appeared to be no
reconciliation of the two positions.
The House bill has been framed with
view to redeeming the pledges of the
Democratic party. 1t recognized the
people rather than private corporate
interest; but the bill. as it came from
the Senate, did not recognize the great
principles of the party.
Mr.. Wilson next addressed himself to
the details of the disagreement. He
said the main difference had been up
on the sugar. iron ore, coal, silver, lead
ore, some features of the wooden sched-
ule, some of the iron and steel SEIZED
ules, and particularly steel rails and
structural iron. But" said he, 1.-The
great difference has been on sugar"
He took up the sugar schedule in de-
tail, explaining the difference between
the Senate and the House. The Sen
ate, he said, had adopted a sugar
schedule which, whether true or not,
had been construed by the public and
press of the country as a concession to
the sugar trust ''If it be true" said
he, that the sugar trust has grown so
strong that it can say no tariff bill can
pass until its interests are protected,
then hope this House will never ad-
journ-"
Mr.. Wilson was cut short by a burst
of applause which lasted half minute.
The members threw documents in the
air and the gallery joined in the dem
onstration. ''If this be true, /" he con
tinued, II hope this House will never
adjourn until refined sugar is placed
on the free list" He then passed to
an eloquent appeal for tie House bill.
At 1:40 O'Clock the motion by Mr..
Wilson to insist upon its disagreement
to the Senate amendments and ask a
further conference, was agreed to, and
Speaker Crisp reappointed the former
conferrees: Wilson, Mcmillan, Turner
and Montgomery, Democrats, and
Reed, Burrows and Payne, Republi-
cans.