Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-01-16
THE TARIFF FIGHT.
Amendments Lead 10 In
teresting Ti|tS.
PLACING OF HAT TRIMMINGS
Leads to an Interesting.Debate on the
Relations Of Labor and Capital.

AT ll:25 the clerks began to read the
Wilson bill. IL required two hours and 29
minutes. Immediately after the reading
Of the bill Chairman Wilson suggested
that for three days the bill should be open
to amending sections. instead OF having
amendments offered at any point In the
bill indiscriminately.
Mr. Reed attempted 10 break in with
some irrelevant matter, when he was cut
short by Mr.. Bynum, who objected to Mr..
Reed making speech, and Mr.. VIII
son was recognized 20 offer the
first committee amendment to strike out
In the tobacco schedule the words 'com-
mercially known" in the description Of
wrapper tobacco. He explained that the
amendment was desirable 10 prevent In
correct Interpretation at the custom house.
| A Fight Begun.
| This precipitated very fierce discus
sion. Mr.. Payne (Rep.. n. " offered an
amendment TO the amendment to increase
the duty on cigar wrappers from 81 to %
and supported it in a five minute speech.
Mr.. De Forest (Dem., Comm supported
Mr.. Payne's amendment. lie declared a
high duty would not only protect the to-
b.,cco farmers OF Connecticut, but was
con. sistent with the revenue plank in the
OulCh- ~ PihhiOih ~ was u LAX
on Injury.
Mr.. Ma.rsh (Rep., Ills) wanted to know
why the constituents of Mr.. De Forest,
who elected Elm to congress on Demo
cratic platform, did not take the medi-
cine they voted fer. Then Mr.. Marsh de-
clared that the Den, ,ocratic party did not
have the courage TO incorporate In the
tariff bill the redemption of its platform
pledges.
Bynum and sperry Get at It.
Mr. Bynum declared that cigar manu-
facturers and operators to the number OF
5000 had signed the petitions for this re-
duction. They were deserving OF more
consideration than the tobacco farmers OF
Connecticut. Mr.. Sperry (Oem., Comm
waived the question OF protection to the
Connecticut farmer and supported Mr..
Bayne's amendment. There were, he said,
now in the custom house 5000, 600 pounds
Of Sumatra leaf. III il came In under
the present duty, it would yield IS, 10000
more than the prepared schedule OF the
bill; II the bill passed as it stood, the
money would go into the pockets of
the importers
Mr.. Paynter Dem., Ky.) offered q sub
stitute to further reduce the proposed
duty of 81 to 30 and 35 cents.
Mr.. Marsh (Rep.. Ills.) offered an amend
ment to the substitute to reduce the duty
to % cents, as he said, TO test the good faith
Of the Democratic side.
The vote was then taken on Mr.. Payne's
amendment to place the duty at the pres
ent rate. IL was lost. 70 to lis.
Mr.. Wilson's amendment was then
agreed 10, and the vote was taken on Mr..
Marsh's amendment to Mr.. Paynter's
substitute. Both the amendment and the
Paynter substitute were disagreed TO.
Mr.. Wilson proposed the amendment to
eliminate cables and cordage from the
operation OF the 10 per cent duty on cord
and twine Except binding twine) 30
that they, too, could come in free.
Mr.. Morse Rep., Massl offered an
amendment to the Wilson amendment to
take binding twine from the Nee list and
put 1t back upon the dutiable list. Mr..
Morse said that free binding twine would
destroy the cordage industry Of his state.
Mr.. Morses amendment was voted
down and the Wilson amendment was
agreed to.
Mr.. Wilson's next amendment was 70
the cotton cloth schedule to include cot
ton duck in its provisions. After some
debate this was agreed TO and Mr.. Wilson
then offered an amendment TO add to the
free list sweat feathers, binding ribbons,
cut felt, etc, for hat trimmings. The
present duty, he explained, was 30 per
cent.
Payne Starts an Argument.
At this point Mr.. Payne made state
ment which led TO the most interesting
scene of the day and finally eliminated in
wordy duel between Mr.. Reed and Mr..
Cochran. Mr. Payne declared that pro-
lection enabled the manufacturers to pay
high wages, and while it might be true
that they would not pay high wages Of
their own volition, labor unions enabled
labor to exact high wages
''But do tile manufacturers pay themf'
inquired Mr.. Cochran Dem, n. W
"Yes; every time," shouted Mr.. Walker.
Didn't Andrew Carnegie have abun-
dant ability 10 meet the demands OF the
trades unions when the Homestead riots
occurredt" inquired Mr.. Cochran.
"If he can make steel rails a. cheaply as
Mr.. johnson said he could the other day,
suppose he had" replied Mr.. Payne.
The discussion proceeded on the effect
OF the trouble at Homestead, Mr.. Payne
saying 1t was more profitable TO the en-
ployes at Homestead to pay hundreds OF
thousands of dollars TO put down the
hTlkt tudn W ylfll W iht Va tho
strikers Mr.. Cochran said that the
wages were broken down under the salu-
tary power of capital, and present con-
ditions were the result Of unfair methods
of distribution, rendering thousands
| homeless and hopeless.
| Reed vs.. Cochran.
Mr.. Reed here Joined in. BY adopting
o similar process Of reasoning to that fol-
lowed by Mr.. Cochran, he said he might
charge the present condition Of affairs TO
| the unfaitbfulness OF the Democratic
party. Prosperity had been arrested BY
the threat Of another system, not by the
continuance OF the present one.
"The gentleman says wages depend on
The law Of supply and demand" con-
tinued Mr.. Reed. THAT theory Is long
since exploded. They depend on the con-
dition Of the market. We do not want TO
give up our home market and go TO the
ends OF the earth and enter into n struggle
with the cheap labor Of the world. We
want TO retain our own market and ele-
vate the condition of our own labor.
"In this tremendous struggle all the In
ventive power Of this country il at work,
and now, by bringing us into competition
| u-ftb m lowar cfyflization Won r,ronosa IN