Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-01-11
THE TARIFF BILL.


Its discussion was to have begun on
Wednesday of last week. Owing TO a
number of absentees, the Democrats
were unable to secure a quorum OF
their own members, as the Republi-
cans TO a man refused to vote when
their names were called. Four Demo
Gratis acted with the Republicans :
Sibley, of Pennsylvania, Geary, OF
California, Sperry, of Connecticut and
English, Of New Jersey. The sergeant
alarms was ordered TO arrest all
absentees. and Monday he had
brought i'm a sufficient number to
make up more than quorum.
Mr.. Wilson of West Virginia, the
chairman of the committee OH WAYS
and means. made the opening speech.
Tariff reform, he said had been fought
before the American people as no
other question was ever fought out.
In seven Congresses it had been the
chief subject Of controversy in both
bouses We are here" said he.
with the commission of the Ameri-
can people to put into law that gen
eral reform which they themselves
in their constitutional methods OF ex-
preston, have ordered at the polls. 20
Mr.. Wilson said that the majority OF
the members OF the WAYS and means
committee did not profess dealing
with n system which had grown up
through thirty years OF progressive
LEGISLATION, or at one proposed stroke
of LEGISLATION to free il OF its injustice
and to present measure responding
CORRECTLY TO the demand of the Amer
lean people. They expected tha'
friends in the country would fall away
from them whenever they undertook
70 prepare any definite measure OF
legislation. They knew from all OF
their experience in the past that not
all who march bravely in the parade
are found in line when the musKetry
begins to rattle. [ApplauseI. lie
would not stop, he said, TO lnqure
the causes that had brought about
the present prostration of industry IN
this country and demoralized to a
large extent the active business ana
trade of the country. There seemed
TO be some recurring cycle in modern
times about such depressions, but
from whatever cause it had originated
il was ut least an embarrassment TO
them in the performance OF their
duty-if for no other reason than that
il had been eagerly seized upon by
the enemies of tariff reform to kindIe
hostility against the beneficent move.
But if there was ever time when the
burden of taxation should be light
eped. it was time when men were
struggling for the necessaries OF llfe'
|applause. time when trade was
held in the paralysis of commercial
crisis. [Applause.1 All through this
country the enemies of tarlil reform
are seeking to prejudice its success
by an appeal to those whose reason
ing and whose power of reasoning Is
for the time being blunted by their
personal distress. Protection, wheh
expelled from our revenue laws, never
came back into them oy conscious
and intelligent assent OF the Aintri
can people "neii Tue AN ~
pie were III the agony VI 'ne
civil war IL crepi s'eai'n''S III WI
the back uoor' anu II no" '0'7
take advantage OF the present com
mercial distress 10 holu Oh 10 It's pos'
ton III 'he revenue ''
country.
Mr.. wilson showeu no" ''ie ''ea'ui >
had beendepieteu ny various i'ie' 'oN'
under Repu'licah ao'''in's''h''o ~"
by purchasing oohus e' emu 'no"'
premiums ana eA'ra'a@an' 's''
ton. But the greatest ur"'" wa,
from the Dependent Pensio'' '''' "
June, 1890, under WHICH the peais, o,a
Appropriation ia" run up @OO' wv. v,
year. lie "a''eu Tue !'es,.o" "
justice ana Ilherall'!' ou' ne u'' :"
that that OIL never "o"'u nave p"seeu'
just or unjust, II there iiau noI oeen
an Overlooking treasury which IL was
desired to empty ana II 'here iao not
been devised along WITH II lie"
scheme OF taxation under which those
other pensioners-the protected III
duStries In tins country wouIu se'
the biggest pull ana the largest par
of the taxes Levied 10 pay pensions
Applause
The tariff of 1870 represented no'
only high ana hoerai protection
but it represented all thar greco aho
selfiShness and rapacity dared t'