San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-05-23
GORMAN TALKS
On the Tariff and Tariff Reform

On the Tariff and Tariff Reform.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May %
Senate Special THE announce
ment that Senator German would
speak today upon tariff, had the
effect OF bringing out larger at
tendance than usual. Senator
Kyle introduced a resolution de-
claiming for non-intervention in
Hawaiian affairs, which went over
until tomorrow, after which Sena-
tor German, pale from his recent
illness, took the floor. He spoke
slowly, and in a low tone voice.
He rehearsed difficulties that had
confronted the Democratic party,
in dealing with the question of
tariff reform, and claimed that
the action of the present Congress
has not been unusually delayed
The Mckinley act was one Of the.
last acts of the session signed by
President Harrison. The Wilson
bill, he said, had been reported to
| the House before its effect upon
the industries could be properly
studied, an imperfect me asure.
that has not only failed
to meet the treasury de-
mands, but increased the deficit
created by the Republican prohibit
| tive duties. There was no expect
alton that it would become a law
unchanged. The Senate had al
ways perfected such bills. German
said the unreasoning and petulant
cry for action, had seriously i'm
paired the efficiency of the Finan-
ces Committees work, and revi-
vision was hastily COM
| pleted. The old adage "Greater
haste less speed" was never better
exemplified than now. / do not
propose to discuss the merits or de-
merits Of either the original Will
son bill or the measure first re-
ported by the finance committee.
1t is sufficient to say there has
never been a movement when
either could command a ma
iority Of the votes in this cham
Der. We might deplore such
conditions, and others might and
did rail against those in measure
responsible for it. But the fact re-
manned, we could not pass the bill.
Such was the situation The Demo-
craic senators had to meet, and
they had met it by the introduce
ton of a Democratic measure OF
reform, which merits, and be-
lieve will receive every Demo-
cratic vote in this body, signature
Democratic President, and ap-
prevail of the Democratic party.
In answer to the charges, by Re-
publicans, German asserted the
bill had been constructed on DEM
ocratic theory of tariff for revenue,
with such incidental protection as
could be given consistently to the
industries OF the country. This
was not a free trade measure, but
it was a longer step for free trade
than either the Mills bill, or the
tariff act of 1888. Senator German
denied that any trust had dictated
any part Of any schedule Of this
bill. Justice to Louisiana had re-
quired the retention of the sugar
bounty. The sugar trust had
thrived under Republican
tariff; whether 1t would pros
per under the new tariff
bill remains to be seen.
Upon the subject, income tax, Sem
ator German said: ~ am in full
accord with the sentiments so ably
and so eloquently expressed by the
senators from New York and New
Jersey, but 1 cannot forget the fact
that majority Of my col
leagues honestly differ fIom my
self in this matter, and are
so confident of the soundness Of
their position they are willing to
subject it to test of few years thus
enabling people to see its actual
workings and to pass upon it d.
rpctlV