Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-02-08

Washington, Feb. 1.-After a day of
hot debate the Wilson tariff bill, with
tie income tax and internal revenue
measure Joined to it, was finally passed
by the lower hOuSe.The vote was 204
to 40. Many democrats voted with
the solid republican opposition be-
cause of hostility to the income tax
clause. The measure now goes to the
senate, where it will long be consid-
cred.
After the tariff bill with amend
ments had been reported TO the house
Mr.. Reed took the ioor in opposition to
it amid loud cheers.
In this debate" he said,
which was extended over
many weeks, one remarkable re-
suit has already been reached, a result
of the deepest Importance to this coun-
try. That result is that the bill before
Us is odious to both sides Of the house.
IN this side we believe hat while it
pretendS to be for protection it does
rot afford it, and on the other side they
believe that while it looks toward free
rad 1t does not accomplish it.
Those who will vote against this bill
will do so because it opens our mar
kets to the destructive competition of
foreigners, and those who vote for it
do it with the reservation that they
will instantly devote themselves to a
new crusade against whatever barriers
are left"
Reed reviewed the history of pro-
lection and pointed out that the prin-
cipal Of protection is fast gaining ad-
herentS. 1.-THE arguments of the pres
n economists, as clear as crystal, do
not seem to have convinced the world,
nor do they seem to have made any
substantial progress.
son the contrary. these economists
have taken up the task Of tearing each
other to pieces, so that today there is
hardly Il namable important propo-
sition on which they agree, and the
more the facts of the universe are de
velOped the more confusion seems to
reign among them. Meanwhile the
void has proceeded in its own way
without much regard for their tla-
cries and their wisdom.
II do moi mean that studious InGn
have not discovered great truths and
had giimpseS of still greater, but in
the main they have only passed from
u accuracy to another, because they
have forgotten that the whole race is
wiser than any man."
Then followed an eloquent eulogy
On the greatness and vast prosperity
of the United States, articles in lead
ing English magazines being quoted.
Continuing, Mr.. Reed said:
1T only remains to ask if all this
prosperity has been at the expense Of
the labOring men or of those who fur
nished service, whether of brain or
muscle. If it has been at their er-
pense, for I say down with it. The
lowest depths Of the Wilson bill are
not half low enough for such a civil
ZatiOn.
THAT, however, can hardly be so,
from the testimony itself. ~'Sixty-fve
millions of people who spend more
money on dress than any other people
on earth. and whose certainties of
progress in that direction are marvel
ously i~llimitable," have evidently not
been sacrificed to the 'moloch of ac-
cumulated wealth. says Mr.. Francis
Walker. The Aldrich report, which
comes with the approval Of the dis
tinguished secretary of the treasury,
and which emanates from a demo-
cratic bureau of statistics, shows that
never in the history of human o%iviliza-
ton have wages been so high, meas
ured by gold. Applause.)
1--WE may safely assume then, Mr..
Speaker, that a country which has be-
come in the last thirty years the rich
est country in the world to quote Mr..
Jeans, a country which during all that
period was a paradise for laboring
men, does not need to try any dubious
experiments.
What are the reasons why any
change of principle should be had?
Of course, we are not to change the
history Of the last thirty years and the
principles of 100 years, because some
gentleman specially gifted with So
nOrous voices have distributed epithets.
We are not going to risk our all upon
fragments of ancient platform speeches,
upon loud outcries and abusive lang
uage. There must be addressed to us
some old arguments, or at least the
opinions of wise men who have proved
their wisdom by the actual test Of
human life. Surely we are not going
to venture into the unknown because
political economists bid us to do so,
While they still leave unprovoked every
principle upon which they found their
advice. So long as they cannot agree
imong themselves on any of their
propositions, they cannot be cited as
| body to force our conclusions. On no
rackless future will we venture unless
the prospect of increased happiness is
large enough to justify risk and ex-
poSure."
Mr.. Crisp's appearance at the desk
Of Mr.. Clark. democrat, of Missouri,
and his recognition by the presiding
officer. Mr.. Hatch. was the signal for
applause and cheering, equaling in its
intensity the enthusiasm that greeted
Mr.. Reed as he took his seat. Mr..
Reed had pointed out the prosperity
and high rate of wages which had
been reached in this country and said
that it was due to protection. But
he gave no reason to prove that it was
due TO protection.
The minority in their report on the
tariff bill said that foreigners paid the
tax laid by fhp cI1StomS law. which is