The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-07
Mr.. McLaurln's Tariff Views.

Mr.. McLaurin the new senator from
Mississippi, whose name had been men
toned among the obstructionists: He had
no hesitation in saying that in relation 10
some Of the provisions OF the Wilson
tariff bill. that bill as IT came from the
House. did not suit his views. He had
gone before the Finance Committee as a
Democratic senator, and had suggested
certain changes which he believed TO be
for the interests of his people, and also
I'm accordance with the Chicago platform
OF his party lie believed In a revenue
tariff, and If he had the formulation of "A
tarn bin he would not have any free
list al all. but would put everything on
the dutiable list at revenue rate. lie
would do so not for the fact OF protection,
but for the sake Of revenue and Of reve-
nue. only. lie had not made any demand
which did not look toward a simple reNe-
nue. duty on the particular article, but
he wanted 10 say. emphatically, that al
the same time that he had so expressed
himself TO the Committee on Finance ne
had also said. 81 am Democrat and II
that bill is brought In as a Democratic
measure. whether as 1t came from the
House or in any other FORM IT will receive
my earnest and cordial support He
had said however, that the committee
ought TO look 10 the present prostration
Of the Industries of the country and let
down the high protective system gradual
| ly, and not cut the stills from under them
| at once He added that the people were
| not so interested in the items Of the
| different schedules Of the bill as they
were in the prompt passage Of some tarlli
measure.
Mr.. Morgan was the next senator to
| seek the floor He said: Mr.. President
D No
doubt. that the senator from West Nir-
ginia is not guilty as charged. O-aughter.
have TO say for myself that 1 have
not been nearly so abused as he. and that
therefore, | am not guilty. (And the sena-
tor resumed his seat amid continued
laughter)
Mr.. Call. another Of those senators re-
ferred 10 as obstructipnists, declared
that the statement, so far as he was con-
cerned was absolutely false, and that
he believed IL 10 be false I'm regard TO
every other senator mentioned.
Mr.. Allison Ciep., Iowa.. member Of the
Finance Committee said III morously that
he desired 10 vindicate the senator from
Arkansas. That senator had never ap-
preached him as a member OF the Finance
Committee. UauchteD
Becoming serious, ne said: HAS it come
TO this, in the history OF tariff legislation,
that the Senate is Obliged TO take a bill
as IL comes from the coordinate branch,
without the dotting Of an or the crossing
Of a {? Have we lost I'm this chamber
our power Of consideration or of amend
ment on tariff bill? A general tariff
bill is the most important subject that
can engage the attention Of Congress. Ii
not only affects the revenue. but it affects
every interest and industry in the United
States. The House OF Representatives had
this bill under consideration for more
than six months before II sent IL to this
body. Has IL come 10 this. that because
the Finance Committee Of the Senate thai
is. the Democratic members of III has
considered II for five weeks. we tmean-
ing the committee) are to be gibbetted on
the crossroads of public opinion because
we do not hurry this bill, pell-mell, 10