St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-23
THE TARIFF DEBATE.

The tariff debate in the house of rep
resentatives will close this week, and
voting will begin Oh the amendments
proposed Monday next. There are said
TO be something like seventy amend
mentS already proposed; there may be
seventy more before the end of the
week. A few of these are genuine and
friendly efforts to CORE ct imperfections
in the measure, but the majority are
offered in the interest of special indus
tries that are seeking an increased pro-
lection or the mamie nance of the susie
nance they already receive from the
government. 1t is probable that the
house will make sh ort work of them.
In few instances the ways and means
committee will accept the suggestions
contained in them, and thus avoid con-
troverSy; in most cases the amend
ments will be sum marily defeated.
The management of the debate thus
far has been excellent. While no mem
Der has been deprived of ample opportu-
nifty to express his views, none have
been permitted to fritter away the
time of the house in pGintless discussion
and useless filibustering. Chairman
Wilson has let it be understood that ne
means business. He has been constant
in his watchfulness, and has guarded
every point of attack so as to render his
campaign on behalf of reform irresisti-
bic. He is reported to be greatly worn
by the labor he has been subjected to-,
and some predict his physical collapse
before the end of the debate. He him-
self, however, has no anxiety on that
score, and is determined to do his work
well.
The GLOBE has severely criticised the
Democratic members of congress who
at first eDdeavored to delay consldera-
ton of this measure, actuated, apparent
ly, by motives of timidfty. 1t as freely
congratulates them upon their recent
strict attention to business. A quorum
has been constantly in attendance, and
consideration of the measure has pro-
ceeded with reasonable degree of dis
patch. And there are, fortunately, no
indications of waverIng or retreat to
be seen OH any, side. And as the debate
progresses there is an increasing inter-
est i'll the issues involved In the meas
urea disposition to learn thoroughly
the underlying theories of the protective
| and revenue systems of taxation, and
the strength and weakness of each.
The speeches on both sides have been
characterized by moderation and
thought. The members have studied
the problem thoroughly before giving
expression TO their ideas, and each side
has entrenched itself behind the strong
est of arguments that could be en-
ployed. The signs are hopeful that an
early decision of this important problem
will be reached, and that it will not be
the result of partisan coercion, but of a
deeD-seated conviction of moral Justice
reached after patient consideration
the subject from every point of view.
The public may be annoyed at the de.
lay caused by the disposition of so many
amendments proposed to this bill, but
the fact that the utmost expedition
possible is being employed will go far
towards reeonciling the people to the
delay. Two weeks at farthest will
suffice to land the Wilson bill in the
senate with such amendments as shall
have commended themselves to the de-
liberate Judgment of the members OF
the popular branch of congress. The
public must have patience. They will
doubtless have occasion to exercise it 10
the fullest extent before the senate shall