The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-07-25
cnAmMAN WILSON'S SPEECH.
The House 10 Stnnd Up for Genuine
Tariff Reform.


Immediately after the adoption Of the
rule the speaker recognized Chairman
Wilson. Rising IN his place on the right
Of the chair, his bandaged head making
him look like a worn and battle-scarred
veteran, the appearance of the chairman
of the ways and means committee was
greeted with the most unbounded enthu-
siasm on the democratic side, enthusi-
asm in which the crowded galleries
joined. The bandage extended down
over Mr.. Wilson's eyes, completely
binding him, but with stOical fortitude.
in clear. ringing tones, he delivered his
speech in support Of the position taken
by the house confereeS against the sem
ate amendments.
After formally announcing and reading
the report announcing disagreement
Mr.. Wilson said:
II move that the house further insist
upon its disagreement TO the senate
amendments and ask for a further con-
ference from them, and upon that mo-
tion L shall submit a few explanatory
remarks TO the house.
1T is true as the gentleman from Maine
OIr. Reed has just said, that there have
been but two meetings Of the fun con-
ference on the part OF the senate and
house. A tariff bill, Of recent years at
least, and perhaps almost always in the
history OF AtllS country mas DEeu n
political measure measure proposed by
one party and resisted by the other. 1t
was fully recognized and cordially eN-
pressed by the republican conferees of
the senate that II was the duty Of the
dominant party in the two houses,
through their own special cOnferees, first
10 try If they could reconcile their own
differences before they brought to the at
tention of the full conference committee
their proposed action. While, therefore,
there have been but these two meetings
of the full conference committee, daily
protracted, earnest and laborious con-
sultatiOns on the part Of the house con-
| ferees representing the majority party in
this house, and the senate conferess,
representing the majority party in that
house, as 10 the GA amendments, in the
hope that we might reach some agree
ment that could be reported to the full
| conference committee when it should be
called together. 1t is because no such
| agreement has been attained, it is be-
cause no such agreement seems at pres
ent in sight, that we have felt it was our
duty to bring the whole matter back to
| the house and receive its instruction.
II desire to be perfectly frank and as
complete as possible in any statement L
may make to the house today, and yet
recognize that there are some limfta tfons
to completeness of statement which prob
| ably ii would be best for me to observe
at this stage in the controversy between
| the two houses. But L think L may say
| with truth and frankness and courtesy
| that if the cOnferees of the senate on
| the part of the majority party had been
as free and as untrammeled we our
| selves were, with nothing to control our
| action but our sense Of duty TO the peo-
| pie and to our party and to the house, a
| tariff bill would have been agreed upon
| In one days session that would have been
| satisfactory to the democratic party and
! that would have given hope and courage
and enthusiasm to tohe American people.
| applause on the democratic side).
But, sir, we were not long in finding
| out, greatly to our disappointment, that
whatever might be the personal opinions,
I the personal judgment, the strong, per-
sonal wish of the democratic cOnferees
Of the senate, they came to US somewhat
| fettered and somewhat limited as to any
/ action that they might agree to upon this
| bill either by the supposed moral obliga-
| tions of party caucus or the apprehension
! that there were forces in the senate,
| however small yet powerful enough TO
| resist successfully the passage of any
! bill which did not make concessions 10
J great corporations and trust interests.
! that We representing the house, did not
| feel free on our part to agree to. Gap
| plause on the democratic side).
Senate's Position UntenabIe.
'I do not believe, Mr.. Speaker, that
there would be any great difficulty in
] coming to a compromise or an agreement
upon the vast majority of the 634 amend
ments proposed to this bill by the SEN
ate; but there are important amendments
proposed by the senate which give to this
! BILL in the main, a different character
/ from what Ii had when 1t vert from the
! house. on which amendments, we seem,