Evening journal., 1894-08-29

"uelmlng majority OF the House OF Rep
resentatives; 1t was not known nor expect
ed that the Democrats wouli have even
nominal control of the Senate until with
IN month OF Mr.. Cleveland's inaugura-
tion. Without such control all tariff
legislation was impossible With q bare
majority Of the Senate, such tariff leeis
lation as might commend itself to 43
Democratic Senators was the utmost
that could be hoped for. The country
knew in March, 1898, as we'll as 1t now
knows, that Democrats differ widely as
to the measure of tariff reform the
conditions of the country would safely
admit. No one had the right to assume
or did assume that these differences did
not exist with Democratic Senators. As
the strength OF the chain Is equal to the
strength OF its weakest link. so the
extent of the tariff reform to be reason.
ably expected from the Senate, W as the
extent to which the most conservative Of
the indispensable forty three Democratic
Senators could be induced to go All
this was understood and appreciated by
the President.
Not the Peoples Mandate.
"It was conceded that the bill reported
mandate Of the people It was not purged
OF protection, but made provision for the
continuance upon diminishing scale, IL
Is true) OF the most Objectionable and
undemocratic features of the Mckinley
law-the bounty to the producers Of
ADerican sugar, with one-fourth of q
cent pound 10 the sugar reiaers, who
were also to be the beneficiaries Of free
raw sugsr. l do not allude to these
things In a spirit of criticism. | dissent
from the conclusion that we ought not to
return at once to just and equal taxation
because Of hardships that may follow to
those who have been enjoying the bene-
hts OF legalized inequality. but l recog-
n'zs the force and prevalence Of the con
trary feeling and do not complain that II
had its effect with the Ways and Means
Committee Of the House Of Representa-.
tives, as it had its effect with Democratic
members of the Senate. recApltulate
these facts to show that there was no
attempt made in the House having the
sole power to originate bills for raising
revenue, to follow to its ultimate con-
cluslons the declaration Of the Chicago
platform as to the constitutional power
of taxation, and no attempt to frame a
tariff bill that would impose tariff taxa
ton with an eye single to the purpose OF
raising the necessary revenues for the
government
Beautiful Upon the Mountain Tops.
while the House struck from the bill
reported by the Ways and Means Com
mittee the proposed bounty to the sugar
growers. and the one-quarter of cent q
pound on refined sugar, and modified and
changed many Of its details, the bill as
sent over 10 the Senate was no more 4
complete response to the mandate Of the
people, and no more purged OF all protec
lion, than was the bill the COMMITTEES re
ported to the House. The bill, as the Sepat,
received IL, was furthermore handicapped
by the general belief that It would moi
raise the revenues necessary to meet this
public expenditures.
when the Senate took up this bill fol
| consideration the same obstacles to
strictly Democratic tariff law were founC
to exist there that existed with tn,
House. lt WIS found In the Senate, as
distinguished gentleman whose name Il
inseperably connected with the Hous,
bill found In the progress of his work
| that, Reform is beautiful upon tn,
mountain tops or in the clouds, but very
unwelcome as it approaches our owl
threshold
THE Democratic members Of the Sen.
ate Finance Committee met every diff
Guilty encountered by the House commit
| tee, increased and intensified by the fac
that there was at best but bare maiorit,
Of Democrats in the Senate, instead o
nearly two-thirds of that body.
Even balance In the Senate.
with nearly 100 majority in tn
House it made small difference that
few should fall away, or that some VIII
marched bravely in the parade should b
missing when the battle commenced
But not so In the Senate, where we hav
but a votes out of So, counting all VIII
were elected az Democrats, and only 4s
bare majority of ole, after the senio
Senator from New York (Mr. Hill CAV
1t to be understood he would vote for n
bill that provided for the taxation 0
incomes.
Might Have Demanded Obedience.
If the bill sent over by the House hal
professed to carry out the Democrat
doctrine of tariff for revenue only, W
might have demanded obedience on th
part Of every Democratic Senator to th
behests of his party, but it being con
ceded on all sides that the House bill wa
not responsive to the commands of th
people. and not free from Republica
protection, each Democratic Senator fel
at liberty to consider the fact, This
great interests exist, whose existenc
and prosperity it is no part Of our reforl
either to imperil OF curtail, and to dc
termine for himself how far we migE
safely reduse tariff taxation withou
imperilling or curtailing these great il
terests
I'm my opinion 1t was a mistake |
begin the reform Of the tariff on an
such theory, but the mistake was n,
superinduced by the Democrats Of I'll
Senate, nor was 1t one they. with the
narrow majority, could correct. Con
sidering all the circumstances, It is
matter of astonishment that any Tari
Reform bill could be passed through ii
Senate as a Democratic measure It wi
pioht nothing 20 compare at length u
bill as it came to the Senate with Il
bill as it was returned to the House.
IF the Senate bill gives greater pr
lection In some directions, the increal
is comparatively unimportant, and it
admitted that under its provisions Il
revenues necessary for the governmel
will be raised and all necessity for Il
further sale Of interest bearing bone