The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-07-26

4
the other end of the capitol which hao
been 40 uproariously displaced. he
called attention to the difference pc
tween the house and the senate: 1e
reviewed the events in the mousse
which eliminated in the passage oI
the bill with the loss of II Democratic
votes in that body. In the senate an
was changed. Every Democratic
vote was needed to pass the Dill II IL
was to be passed as party measure
and the members of the finance COM
mittee went heroically to work 10
harmonic the differences existing on
the Democratic side, They had &C
complished their purpose, to tneit
everlasting credit be it said. he hau
been one of those who had stood out
for concessions in the interest oil MS
constituents; he made no cOncealment
of his position then, he MADE none
now. He then proceeded to deliver a
glowing eulogy of the tariH Dill as IL
pagsed the senate, which, unlike the
house bill, be declared, contained no
menace to the industries OF the
country. He asserted that the
trainers of the house bill and large
p,oportion of the Democratic party
were not tariff reformers; they were
free traders. The president in his let.
ter, accepting the nomination, favored
not free, but freer raw materials. he
proceeded to point out the reductions
that the senate bill made on coal, iron
and lead ore, and detailed at length
the reduction on other sCheOules.
Then the speaker touched sugar. a
majority OF 81 in the house had en-
abled that body, he said, to ride rough
shOd over the wishes Of the repre-
sentatives Of the sugar producing
states, in the face of the presidents
protests, the chairman OF tbs ways
and means committee proposed to
place sugar, raw and refined, on the
free list in separate bill. He then
devoted some time to an exposition OF
the situation with reference to sugar,
raw and refined, contending that the
proposed reduction in the senate bill
was one of the biggest made in any
schedule.
From statistics obtained at the
treasury department he maintained
that the enactment OF the senate Dill
would reduce tariff taxation S7S4,O OO,~
600. He had voted for the bill with
the income tax corporated with great
and with the distinct I'M
derstanding that he was not willing
to vote for bill by which a single in
dustry should be stricken down or
the resumption Of q single industry
He had asked for far
greater concessions for his COnstitu-
ents than he had from the finance
So far as | am concerned,
and speak also for several of my col
leagues. there has not been and will
rot be the slightest change in my pc.
,itiou, said Mr.. Smith. 81 accepted
the income tax in its modified form
from a sense of duty to my party but
did so with the greatest reluctance
and with the distinct declaration re-
yarding other portions of the mea-
sure that L would not vote
'or any bill or any amendment that
would make it impossible for a single
industry to continue to resume opera
ions. | believe, sir, that the COM
nittee on finance will bear me out in
he assertion that | have done every
hing in my power to aid them in
heir work. 1t is true that l have
urged the necessity Of care and mod.
grafton in revising the schedule
which directly concerns the indus
ries of my state. But | believe they
will cOncede disposition on my part
10 he fair and reasonable; know that
have demanded far greater cOnces-
lions for my constituents than | have
sought from the finance committee.
1t has been charged that we are not
jincere in our advocacy Of the senate,
hat we have made for trading pur-
poses and that those of US who oppose
he Wilson bill would rush
nto line at the first
rack of the whip. | did
lot suppose that any person familiar
with the character OF this body should
% mised 10y notion so puerile. But
/ ls evident from the attitude of our
in the house that either
hey DO not believe that we do not
mean what we say or are willing to
invite defeat. OF the former | have
)nly to say that they have mistaken
heir men. OF the latter they must
answer to the people for the defeat of
\ bill which should aud l believe
would satisfy all reasonable expecta-
ions. | have tried, MIR. President, to
ietine the position of my colleagues
md myself with the candor and mod
grafton BETTING member of this
cody. l have tried to speak dispas.
Iionately and in q spirit of friendli-
less rather than of hostility. | have
ried to be frank and have scrupu-
ously avoided covert threats by in
erence or inuendo. have not sup
posed cases of whose existence knew
nothing. l have not said that If this
he true, such and such must be done.
But in the circumstances and in view
Of what has been said, L should cer~
tainly fail in my duty if [ failed to
speak with the utmost plainuess.
And so, sir, [ cay in conclusion, In all
towards those who have
aspersed our motives, that, so far as
am concerned, they need expect no
further concessions. / have labored
earnestly and honestly to bring about
4 satisfactory settlement of this ques.
ion. But, sir, l have reached the
limit. 1 have done. 1t would be I'M
becoming in me, Mr.. President, to
suggest to our conference what they
should do. they are old and wise
and know what is best. But it is GER
ainly fitting that they should under.
stand the wishes of their colleague.