The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-07-28
THE TARIFF IN THE SENATE.
The Conference Report ON the Bm Do
bated.

the conference report on the tarin bill He
yielded the floor 20 Senator Smith (dem., N.
-. Senator Smith criticized the president
for attempting 70 interfere with the preroga-
tives OF the legislative branch OF the govern
ment lie said that In the senate 20 pass the
bill as a party measure needed every demo-
cratic vote. and the finance committee had
gone heroically 70 work 10 harmonic the diff
ferences on tho democratic side.
He then proceeded 20 deliver glowing eulogy
Of the tarin bill as II passed the senate, which.
unlike the house bill, he declared. contained
no menace 20 the industries OF the country He
asserted that the trainers OF the house bill and
q large proportion OF the democratic party
were not tarin retormers; they were free trad
ers. The president In his letter accepting the
nomination had favored not free but "freer''
raw materials.
I say, concluded he. for myself know,
and for many others believe. that n I were a
member OF that committee. should say 20 the
conferrees from the house In answer 10 the de-
hanoe which has been flung ia our faces:
Gentlemen. there IS our bill II is the result
OF great labor and Infinite pains II has met
with tho approved both OF the free trade and
protection elements OF our party. II Is adapted
20 conditions not theories. IL Is not perfect
but II Is as nearly perfect can hope 20
make IL at this session. In any event such as
IL is. there II lies. You are at liberty 20 take
Il or leave st." That. sir. would be my posi-
tion would not recede from II so much as q
hairs breadth.
Mr.. Hin, in closing HIS speech. called atten-
tion 20 the fact that the president. who had
been so often quoted in the tariff debate as
favoring the income tax. had at last, on yester-
day, come out In no uncertain tones against Il.
Mr. Gray moved that the senate insist upon
It's amendments and consent TO further confer
ence. There was nothing, said Mr.. Gray In
speaking TO his motion, that had occurred 70
make an unusual action upon the part Of the
senate necessary He did not think IL was nee
essary 20 retreat on account OF the determined
attitude OF the house or threats from any quar-
ter He commended the wisdom which over
came the dificulties which stood In the way OF
passing the bill
AZ the conclusion OF Mr.. Gray's speech Mr..
Villas took the floor and offered a motion TO in
struct the senate conferrees 20 reccde from so
much OF the senate sugar amendment as pro-
vided for duty OF X cent pound on refined
sugar In addition 20 the 40 per cent ad valorem
on all sugars
Mr.. Villas addressed the senate In support OF
his amendment He referred 70 the petition OF
the business men OF Chicago, presented 20 the
senate, praying for speedy and profitable end
20 this long uncertainty. He Endorsed that po-
tltion. The conference had failed. The two
houses we're nrrayed against each other.
The majority In the house to-day was a ma
tority sent by the people to crystalize the doc
trlne OF tariff reform after years OF agitation.
~
had sent TO the senate a measure OF tariff re-
form that had been received with JOY by tho
country. When the senate had heaped upon
that measure its amendments the bill was not
received with cordiality by the people. II was
hardly recognizable. Yet IL was proposed TO
stand fast for each one OF tho 63f amendments.
The senate sought TO make articles dutiablo
which the house placed on the free list. The
amendment he offered. he said. would strike
down iniquitous and indefensible amend
ment placed IN the bill by the senate.
MIR Palmer (dem.. I'D proclaimed that no
was In favor or free raw materials, and an
nounced that he would oppose the one-eighth
dinerontial 20 the sugar trust. lie thought
sugar producers Of Louisiana we're in poor
company when they Joined hands with tho
sugar trust The partnership should be dis
solved.
Mr.. Vest took the nooi whom Mr.. Palmer sat
down. After tho speech OF the senator from
New York. he began, II was q subject OF con-
graduation that he and the president had at
last found a platform on which both could
stand The lion and the lamb had nc last lain
down together and we're led as a little child by
the ways and means committee. He left 10
others 10 decide which was the lion and which
was the lamb.
The senator from New York had said that
free raw materials was a cardinal principle OF
democracy, The president went further and
declared that failure 20 place raw materials on
the free list was democratic perndy and dis
honor
Mr. Vest then proceeded TO read the letter
OF acceptance OF President Cleveland ia 1892
pronouncing In favor OF free raw materials"
Yet ne now denounced free raw materials as
peridy and dishonor. In scathing tones he
arraigned the president. Where did the presi-
dent get the right 20 dictate TO congress: 10
donounce one branch OF congress TO the otheri
Did he embody In his single being all the de-
mocracy. all the tarifi-rcform sentiment In this
country Mr.. Cleveland was big man. But
the democratic party was greater than any
one man. IL had survived Jefferson. Madison.
jackson II would survive Grover Cleveland
Personally, he said. the bin did not suit
him. lie was radical tariff reformer. but n
he could not get all he would take what he
could get. II give II as my opinion" he de-
clared In conclusion. that we Will pass this
bill or no bill"
Then senator hin got the floor and spoke as
follows;
"A theory as well as q condition now con-
fronts us. The theory OF the democratic party
Is that In the enactment OF tariff legislation
free raw materials should always be an essen
tal and conspicuous element.
Until recently had supposed that there
was no dispute upon this question OF principle,
but that every democrat worthy OF the name
was willing 20 conclude that n there was one
thing more than another TO which the demo-
cratic party was committed. Il was In favor OF
the doctrine OF absolute free raw materials
The true and honest construction OF every
democratic national platform for twelve years
past irrcvocably commits as 10 this Just and
principle"
Senator Hill read the democratic national
platform OF 1892 and continued
III any democratic orator In any part OF the
country. forgetting the interests OF the whole
land and subscribing the supposed interests OF
a location. promised the people OF any state or
section that there would be any exception made
10 the enforcement Of the general principle %
free raw materials when tho democrats should |
obtain power. he exceeded HIS authority and
our position
II Is said by some In justification OF or ex-
cuse for their present action that the prcsi-
dents letter OF acceptance IN 1892 modified the
extreme demands OF our platform. IL is true
that some portions OF his letter may tend 10
bear that construction.
"But no matter what idea 10 may be claimed
was intended 20 be conveyed In his letter OF ac-
ceptanoe In mitigation or modification OF the
platform, there can be no doubt as 60 the
presidents position at this time upon this cs- |
sential principle % free raw materials. Let mo
read from that remarkable letter Of tho pres
idents which was yesterday submitted 90 the I
house OF represcntatfVe@ IL oNUresseq better |