Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1894-08-30
TALE OF THE TARIFF
WHAT WAS DONE WITH THE "A.
NOUS BILL IN CONGRESS,
Hastily okotohsd History Of the Most
Dsubborn Battle Ever Fought by Amer
lean Law-Makers-Ths Incsp,ion Of the
Wilson BIN and Its Struggles.
Men Who DID the Work.

Wilson Blu and Its Btrugglss.
Men Who Did the Work.
Warrington Correspondsnce:
Tho 4th day OF March, 1892, marked
IN era In Anne lean history. Upon
that cate for the 6rst time in the life
time Of q generation the Democratic
party returned to the control of every
branch OF the lsw-making power OF the
United States Government. Congress
met Aug. I. Two weeks later the
Ways and Means Committee Of the
House was appointed. Its Chairman
was William L. Wilson Of West Vir-
ginia. With his colleagues OF the ma
jority party, men Of more or less expe-
rience In the consideration Of economic
sub. ects, Mr.. Wilson began at once
the work OF framing tariff bill.
The labor was one which necessarily
required g.eat care and delibera-
tion, but, Notwithstanding this, delay
and procrastination seemed to possess
the committee. The extra session
ad djournel with tie bill still in an in
choate state; it was not ready whom
the regular session was called togeth-
or, and finally the new year came with
the measure still unreported to the
House. When 1t was ut last submitted
in the month Ct January it met vita u
storm OF disapproval. Coal and iron
were on the free list, much to the dis
pleasure OF the Fennsylvania, Vir-
ginia, and Alabama Democrats; the
bounty on sugar was to be abolished by
gradual degrees, while raw sugar was
continued as q free importation, con-
dition which gave the Louisiana men
ground for complaint; the California
iruit growers threatened no ,tility be-
cause Of tho low duty on competing
products coming from abroad, ana,
lastly, the Eastern Democrats were up
In arms at the rad. .oal cuts made In the
tariff on near all manufactured
articles. The extent OF this feeling Of
opposition was manifest in the first
parlian entary stage OF the bill. Two
weeks were occupied in tho delivery OF
set speeches. 1t was during the week
set apart for the consideration OF
amendment, that the free-trade ele-
mont scored its victories. 1t was dur
ing this time, too, that the party
added to the bill an amendment incor-
porating q tax of 2 per cent. upon in
comes over s. ,OCO.
There was some little spice OF un-
certainty as to the fate OF the bill when
the f,nal day arrived. The occasion
had been duly announced, and the pub.
lie response was mething unprece-
dented in the history OF the Capitol.
People began to arrive at 8 O'Clock In
the morning, three hours before the
assembling Of the Hou 9. BY 10 o clock
the Hobbies were impossible, and the
galleries were suffocating with the
compaginated mass OF human being 3.
Contrary to the rules of the HOu- 9,
the floor was invaded by the excited
ana eager throngs and presented a
unique and kaleidoscope spectacle in
the rich au1 brilliant costumes of the
ladies. The orators OF the day, In the
order of their appearance, were Mr..
Reed, Speaker Crisp and Mr.. Wilson.
The effort, OF these distinguished
leaders were thoroughly in keeping
with the spirit and the Importance OF
the occasion. Mr.. Reed was largely
didactic aud philosophic Mr.. Crisp
was direct, practical and logical. 1t
was reserved for Mr.. Wilson, however,
to be the hero of q reception such as
has never beel witnessed upon the
floor. TIC appeal was not without Its
effect. When the roll was called-Mr
Wilson had referred to it as q roll OF
honor-only seventeen Democrats voted
against the bill, which was carried by
I vote OF 2O4 to l4C.
BAl GOES to tho Senate.
Feb. 2, 1894, the bill wa laid before
the Senate. In that body it confron' ed
conditions vastly different from which
obtained in the lower branch OF
Congress. The Democratic strength
was exactly forty-four, or ono more
than the required figure. The Eepub-
licans numbered thirty-seven, and the
Populist party had four adherents,
whose political sympathies inclined to
tho Republican and Democratic sides
in equal proportion. Und er these Cir
cumstances it became absolutely es-
sential for the Democrats to command
every vote in their own party for any
measure which they might frame. II
10 true that there was still the possi-
bility OF overcoming any detection by
gaiuing tho votes OF the two Populists,
who sat on the Democratic eide Of the
chsnber. It II equally true that in
due time this support aided in making
moro secure the narrow, Ierilous. and
Cscillating bridge across which the
measure was arally conducted to safety.
Senator Voorhees, still remained
Chairman of the Finance Committee,
but lacking the physical strength tc
assume the gigantic task Ct preparing
and mana9in9 q bill, Mr.. Voorhees,
practically abdicated his position and
the labor passed into the hands OF 9
subcommittee consisting Of Messrs
Jones OF Arkansas, Vest OF Miss Ouri,
and Mills Of Texas. The latter Wa, q
temporary addition - the memo,l shiy
OF the Finance Committee. taktn the
place Of Mr.. MCPHERSON OF New Jersey
whose health ~, also precarious
When tho bill passed into the keeping
Of this subcommittee two methods oI
procedure were open to thom. They
could have framed 1t according to theft
individual ideas. reported it to the full
committee and to the Senate, and then
careless - to It's fate and indifferent tx
Its mutilatiou, have allowed it to be
amended by the combined strength o.
the always hostile Republicans aud the
conservative Democrats. That such &
course would have eventually resulted
in the utter defeat of all tariff legisla
tiou it seems idle to doubt. II, on the
other hand, bill could be so form ii ated
within party lines as to command q
united Democratic support 1t was rea
sonable to hope that some Legislation
1t least Wolild be effected.
Tho necessity for rarty unity became
all thu mora aDVlnrAut AR rumOrS pr0 q