The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-04-28
Senate Tariff Bill.

WASHINGTON, April Ex-senator Voorhees, has
written letter to Hon. John B. StOll. of South Bend
Ind. referring to criticisms upon the Senate tariff
bill.
Senator Voorhees, says: There are several features
in the bill now pending in the Senate which did
not desire to have in it, but because was overrued
on those points did therefore feel at liberty TO
join the Republican members of the committee, re-
port no bill at all. defeat all proposed legislation
and thereby leave the Mckinley law to remain on
our statute books You will see that the bill we
ported reduces taxes nearly s70.OOO0OO per annum-
S2S5OOOOO of that amount being taken off the wear
ing apparel of the people. I say to you with the
utmost frankness and sincerity that / fought hard
against any duty at all being put sugar iron and
coal, but when it was demonstrated in full three
days, Woodworking caucus of all the Democratic
senators, as well as in the committee. that bill
with these articles absolutely on the free list could
no more pass the Senate than ship of lead could
navigate the ocean, came to the conclusion, after
anxious and painful solicitude that 1t my plain
clear and explicit duty to the laboring masses of
the country, and especially 10 the Democratic party
of Indiana TO support the bill as it now stands; to
make sure of the immense reductions in tariff taxa
ton which it guarantees and then continue to fight
for further progress and reform hereafter. If have
made mistake in the discharge ofmy duty as one
OF your sendlOfS IL ~ DeiltNluB bAC We
reported and which is now pending is greatly to be
preferred to no legislation at ALTO the odious Nc
Kinley law which we stand pledged to repeal.
''But think much is being said and written now
in absolute Ignorance of what the Senate bill well
as the Wilson bill actually contains. Are the people
of Indiana aware of the fact that the lowest average
of duty or OF tariff tax ever known in this country
since the Walker tariff of 1916 and its subsequent
Democratic amendments in 1857 is the rate now
provided for and contained in the bill had the
honor to report to the Senate on the Goth day of
March, and which is now pending The imperious
demand that the Senate shall pass the Wilson bill
without amendment is a burlesque on common
sense There is not an intelligent man in the
United States with information on the subject, who
has for a moment thought the Wilson bill was to
pass the Senate without amendment Its own au-
thors and supporters have never expected anything
of the kind. Rather than knowingly and con-
sciously secure the passage Of q bill which aimed
10 provide revenue for the government but in
reality provided for a deficiency and consequent
increase of our Understanding bonded debt, l
would gladly leave my seat here in the Senate and
hide myself forever far as possible from public
disgrace After aI however both the bills are alike
merely tentative and experimental They viii
have to go together to the joint conference commit
tee of the two houses neither of them in terms win
become the law
The great coal strike organized by the National.
Convention of the United Mine Workers went into
effect on Saturday, when many thousand bitumi-
nous coal miners in Pennsylvania, Ohio. Illinois
Alabama and other points, quit work. Presidents
Mcbride, at Columbus, Ohio, said that 81 600 men
had gone out about whose action he had been in
doubt The Kansas, West Virginia. Maryland, and
Coal Creek miners in Tennessee. remained at work.
Altogether there are about 100000 men in 1t. the
greater majority OF whom were earning from sl.40
to 81 per day.
Bishop Potter confirmed fifty deaf mutes on Sum
day afternoon at st. AIMS Episcopal Church, New
York city. They are inmates Of the Gallaudet
Home. Of Poughkeepsie. DR.. Gallaudet with his
hands translated all that was said during the cere-
monies into the sign language. The church was
crowded when the ffty Inutes knelt at the chanoel
rail to receive confirmation.
Chicago despatch says that strike of the 4eo0
employees ofthe Pullman Company will be declared
m, May