The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-21
CAPT. PURSE TALKS BACK.
Senator Walsh and the Savannah
Board Of Trade.

Ao--9tSSA ~ dASu ana the savannah
Board Of Trade.
Editor Morning News: In order TO make
eprfectly clear the position of the Savan-
nah board of trade IN the correspondence
had with Senator Walsh on matters per-
tanning to the tariff, and to which the
senator alluded in his mastery effort at
the taeater Wednesday evening, permit
me the use of your valuable columns.
Rlce Is leading product of the coast
counties Of Georgia, the CarOlinas and
louisiana, and since the war between the
states, IN consequence of foreign cheap
labor competition, home production has
been - protected by a duty, every
cent from which went into the
public treasury, without cOntri-
button TO any blOated monopoly. The
House (Wison) bill reduced the then
existing duty y per cent, and in the
Senate an amendment sought to make
this industry yield - per cent. more re-
ductlon to the cause of tariff reform.
Against this second reduction all the
states interested, through their CONNER
ciaI bodies, endeavored to enlist their
senators in opposition, and by combined
EFFORT our senators defeated the amend
ment, to have it again injected into the
tariff Dill at later date, and Unable to
reach 1t for remedy in the closing scenes
of tariff legislation. The Savannah board
OF trade became the champion of the
rice industry because it was
commercial interest under its
protection and believed to be a Just
subject, like sugar, for yielding revenue,
because in both cases the whole receipts
from the duty 90 into the treasury for the
support Of the government. This much
for the seeming LrotectionIst attitude of
| the Savannah board of trade
After the Senate tariff bill had been
| agreed to by the House, and was practi-
cally law the House passed bills plac-
ing sugar, iron ore, bituminOus coal and
barbed wire on the free list, the first by
an almost unanimous vote and the latter
| three by decisive majOrities, and the Sa-
vannah board of trade adopted resolutions
indorsing tine action of the House and
! urging our senators to secure the passage
of the four free raw material bills by
! the Senate, that the manufacturing in
| dustries that have already been made to
| contribute so largely, by reduction of
| duties to the sixty odd millions of dollars
saved to the people by the new tariff, may
| be put in stronger position for competi-
| tion with other manufacturing countries,
! and millions more rescued from trusts
added 70 the general relief of the whole
| country"
In communicating this action to the
| junior senator from Georgia, he was not
| requested to amend either measure by
lacking on free rice, because it was be-
! tweer the lines as clear as the writing on
| Belshazzar's palace wall, that it was ex-
pected that same patriotic senator would
| prevent disappointment to any one. And
with the greater reduction that would
| come in price of all the necessaries and
semi-IuXuries of life, fewer tIde-waiters
| in collecting revenues, and other ecOnO-
mics in the conduct of the government,
! up the duty on rice for cheaper labor re
| suit Of Cheapened living, and cheaper i'm
! plements, result Of cheaper raw materials
| entering into their construction. because
! their crops would be made and marketed
| so much cheaper
The CORES ondence upon these matters
was conducted through Senator Walsh
| because on previous occasions he had
| acted with such courteous promptness
in responding by act and letter to re
quests made upon MIN concerning sub
| iects and affairs of interest to this city
| and section, reminding one of the con
| gressiOnal record of the great cOmmOneT
who so grandly and so long represented
the old Eighth Georgia district, of which
| Senator Walsh was then and is now a
resident and who was beyond doubt the
most approachable, courteous and atten
tive to the needs and demands of his con
| stituents, which EN- braced the whole
state in his big-heartedness, of any in the
| long list of great iEtellects who have
} illustrated Georgia in the councils of the
| nation.
Whether Senator Walsh succeeds him
self or the toga nantes other shoulders,
already he has done splendid service for
| Georgia and the south in impressing
| upon the country in his forceful and OBJ
! ject lesson style Of address their wonder
| full resources of forest, field and mine,
| with capabilities for unlimited remuner-
alive development. This alone entities
| the junior senator from Georgia to the
| everlasting gratitude of his constituents,
and should embalm his services among
the most cherished memories Of the state.
d. @. PURSE.
Savannah Ga SaDt On 1901