Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-07-12
THE TARIFF REFORM O. BILL.

After four months of time consumed
and after something like 500 amend
ments, the sO-called Wilson tariff bill
has finally got through the senate.
Based on the national democratic plat
form, which denOunceS protection as
fraud and robbery, the bill is protect
i've in almost every schedule. It's
average protection to- protected in
dustrieS is greater than that of the
Morrill, war tariff of 1861, or than
the republican tariff of 1883, and on
sugar and a score of other articles is
more protective than the Mckinley act,
which the democratic party calls the
''culminating arocity." The bill, with
out the large aud unWarranted boun-
ties to the sugar and whisky trusts,
might tittingly be called a slightly
amended cdIGOn of the Mckinley tar
iff act But the sugar and whisky pro-
visions are such rs to drive away in
disgust all republican protectiOniStS,
except Quay. 1t is safe to say that
Mr.. Quay, of Pennsylvania, is the
only protectionist republican who can
stomach such scryile and unjustitiabe
protection as that which has been
given to the sugar trust.
Ii is significant that the last acts of
the senate democracy before finally
passing the bill were to add several
further protective amendments. 1t
seems that Senator Ransom, of North
Carolina, had not yet received all the
protection which he wanted on his
mica industry, and so the senate, demo
Gratis and republicans, howled with
laughter and granted the tariff reform
statesman from the Carolinas the pro-
lection which he thought he needed.
Senator Chandler rushed over into
Ransom's aisle and profuSely con-
graduated him on his noble crusade
for protection. The democratic sena-
tor from California had not yet cot
all the protection which he wanted for
his boraX industry in Deaths Valley,
and so the protection already given
was doubled The proposal to put
fence wire on the free list was de-
feated, The proposition to make coal
free of duty was killed. All further
amendments against the interests of
the sugar trust were defeated. The
duties on type material and files and
rasps were increased. The duty on
various kinds of paper was increased.
The proposition to reduce the pro-
lection on wooden goods was voted
down. The demand for a slight pro-
lection for the wool-growing industry
was defeated. Finally, after a de
mandatory speech from Senator Hill,
the bill came to vote and passed by
a vote of 80 to 81, strictly party
vote, barring Senator Hill, who voted
with the republicans. The populists
divided, Senator PETER voting with
the republicans, and Allen and Kyle
voting with the democrats in favor OF
the famous sugar trust measure.
The bill now goes to the house
where, without much doubt, in its pres
ent form, it will be defeated. In an
ticipation of this event, the senate has
already appointed conference com
mIttee of seven to meet a like commit
tee from the house, with a view OF
agreement upon a compromise. The
program now before the country is fol
the house to wreStle with the present
BILL fight with the Hobbies of the sugar
and whisky trusts, debate and Offer
amendments, until the senate bill il
about as badly amended a bill as the