The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-14
Mitchell, OF Oregon, Pours Out
Platitudes on the Subject
OF Tariff
Which He Calls a Historical Re-
view Of That Important
Subject.
Democratic Caucus Decides to Make an
End Of Republican FibustsrinE In
the House.

Of Oregon. spoke against the Wilson bill
to-day. lie declared the passage Of the
bill would give legislative recognition OF she
most dangerous economy and eonstitu-
tional hsresy. In 1896 she democrats
elected buchanan on that policy, almost
bankrupted the treasury. the national
credit was badly shaken. and 10 1860 they
were hurled from power. The sams re-
suit will follow In 1896 IL the bill bo passed.
The union was brought about because OF
varving tariffs in different states The
eonstitutionalitv OF protection Was not
attacked tail 1892.
He condemned ths ad valoTem syste m and
discussed wool at length. pronounelnR the
schedules arbitrary and unjust. because
they protected the manufacturer and not
the producer. and favored foreigners.
Placing wool on the free list is = most vis-
ionary fallacy. Clothing is now cheaper
than before the passing of the Mckinley
bill. Barley, hops, plans and prunes also
received attention. Agricultural pro-
ducts. be said. fell under tie blightinR in.
nuenco OF the Wilson bill, aud he quoted
the speech OF Voorhees,, delivered in 1881.
proving him once proteotionist. This
bill was based on no definite policy Of Gus
toms taxation, and was ssetional. unamer-
icsn, undsmocratie and unrepublieau.
He quoted from history TO support kis
assertion that the present evil times bear
no comparison in disastrous consequences
10 tho experiences through which ths pso-
pie passed tefore the adoption of the con-
stitution. when the country was over
vhelmed by English exports. the oirculat-
ing medium was contracted, specie drained
avaT, and wages ana prices vent down. He
said;
These historical dofensss give some idea
of the condition of our country duinR
that period when there was no constitu-
tional power in congress TO regulate COM
mefce with foreign nations and among
the several states. and 10 is
10 such condition ouF cOuntrV aud
its people will be again driven II the fear
ful heresy that there 10 no constitutional
power in the congress OF this new nation 10
regulate commerce with foreign nations by
imposing restrictive and even pfohibitory
customs duty should ever ind substantial
expression on the statute books of our
country"
No state in the union had IN proportion
10 population 80 much money invested in
sheep and wool aa Oregon. lie argued that
no greater fsllHoy va3 ever entertained by
visionary theorist than that by placing
wool on the free list the clothing of the
masses OF the people would be oheapened
Arguing against this assumption. Mr..
Mitchsll said: The whole history OF the
doctrine and the practical effect OF the doc
trine of protection afforded conclusive
answers to this hsresy."
He further contended that by the de-
struction OF our wool industry we would be
placed at tbs mercy OF foreign producers
and be obliged TO double our importations.
As a result prices would increase far be-
Naa nuTa II A.. -
would be formed to oppfess as and our
country would be drained OF more than
$50 900, 900 in gold annually 10 buy wool,
and our people by the destruction of our
sEeep herds, would be deprived of ohesp
and nutritious food.
BY the provisions OF she bill millions Of
dollars were thrown 20 the fishermen of
Csnada. Careful inspection of the pending
bill disclosed the remarkable fact that out
Of Sl50.OO0O00 duties which this bill puts
u on the free list S6500O,0O0 we're taken
from duties on agricultural products. He
asserted that the Wilson bill nnallV de-
siroyed the silver mining interests by re-
ducing the duty on lead contained in sill
ver-lsad ores.
Coming to q conclusion. Mr.. Mitchell
gave n startling list OF caiamities and dis
sisters which had afflicted our country
since Cleveland's inauguration, described
in glowing terms the prosperity of the city
as follows: The bill as 10 stands to-day Il
based on no definite. we'll recognized prin-
ciple or policy OF customs taxation. IL il
neither free trade nor protection. and yet
it is both. In word, the pending bill is 9
legislative moRstrosity. with the head OF q
man. the arms of a dragon. the tail OF a
nsh. aud the claws of a bear. IL Ia a dan
0erous menace 20 the prosperity and gen
eral welfare Of the people OF the United
States"
When he ooneludsd his speech the vice
president land before the senate a message
from President Cleveland. HanamittinR
some Hawaiian correspondence. The mo-
ton OF Senator Chandler TO adjourn was
lost. no quorum having appeared. Senator
Hil inquired how many uHirs were an
nounced. aud being told there were nine.
made the point OF order that the record
showed the nance OF a quorum, for thirty
six had voted. aud nine more had answered
90 their names and announced their pair.
thus showing abe presencs Of 70 ty-flve. OF
two more than a Quofum. Ihs vice p esi-
dent was about 10 ule on she question ~ to
whether n quorum bad been shown. but
recognized hr. Hill, who yielded 10 Mr..
Cockrell, who moved that the senate &c
into executive session. After a short eK-
ecutiye session the senate adjourned.