The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-08-30
TALE OF THE TARIFF

TALE OF THE TARIFF
WHAT WAS Done WITH THE FA-
NOUS BILL IN CONGRESS.
Hastily Sketched History OF the Most
Stubborn Battle Ever Fought BY Amer
lean Law-Nakers-Tha Inception Of the
Wilson Biu and Its seraggles.
Mon Who Did the Work.
Warrington Correspoudence:
The 4th day Of March, 1892, marked
On era In American history. Upon
that Gate for the drst time in the i:e-
time Of q generation the Democratic
party returned to the control of every
branch Of the lsw-naking power o; the
United States Government. Congress
met Aug. I. Two weeks later the
Ways and Means Committee of the
House was appointed. Its Chairman
was William L. Wilson OF West Vir
ginia. With his colleagues OF the ma
jority party, men Of more Or less expe-
rience in the consideration of economic
sub ects, MIR. Wilson began at once
the work Of framing tariff bill.
The labor was one which necessarily
re u;red eat care and delibera-
ton, but, Notwithstanding this, delay
and representation seemed to possess
the committee. The extra session
adjourne with the bill still in an in
.:hoate state: it was not ready when
the regular session was called togeth-
ar, and finally the new year came with
vhe measure still unreported to the
House. When it was 1T last submitted
in the month tf anuary 1T met with a
etorn of disapprova!. Coal and iron
we're on the free list, much to the dis
pleasure of the ennsvlvania, Eir-
ginia, and Alabama Democrats; the
bounty on $, gar was to be abolished by
gradual degrees, while raw sugar was
continued as a free importation. con-
dition which gave the Louisiana men
ground for complaint: the alifornia
lruit growers threatened no ;tility be-
cause of the low duty on competing
prt ducts coming from abroad. ana,
lastly, the Eastern Democrats were up
in arms at the radical cuts made in the
tariff on near.y all manufactured
articles The extent Of this feeling Of
opposition was manifest in the first
parlian entary stage or the bill. Two
weeks we're occupied in the delivery Of
set speeches. 1t was during the week
SGT apart for the consideration Of
amendment, that the free-trade ele-
ment scored its victories. 1t was dur
added to the bill an amendment incOr-
| ffps tov NJ
Genes over -, OCO.
| There was some little spice OF I'M
/ certainty as to the fate of the bill when
the final day arrived. The occasion
bad been duly aSnounced, and the pub
/ lie response was netting unprece-
denied in the history of the Capitol.
! People began to arrive at X o'clock in
the morning. three hours before the
assembling of the Hou {. BY 10 o clock
! the Hobbies were impossible, and the
galleries we're sutfOcating with the
/ compaginated mass of human beings.
Contrary to the rules of the House,
the floor was invaded by the excited
ana eager throngs and presented a
antique and Kaleidoscope spectacle in
the rich aud brilliant costumes of the
ladies' The orators of the day, in the
order of their appearance, were Mr..
Reed, Speaker Crisp and Mr.. Wilson.
The efforts of these distinguished
with the spirit and the Importance of
the occasion. Mr.. Reed was largely
didactic and philosophic. Mr.. Crisp
was direct, practical and logical. 1t
was reserved for Mr.. Wilson. however,
to be the hero of reception such as
has never beel witnessed upon the
floor. The appeal was not without ite
effect. When the roll was called-Mr
wills on had referred to it as q roll OF
honOr-only seventeen Democrats voted
against the bill, which was carried by
q vote of 2U4 to 14G
bill Goes to tho Senate.
Feb. ,, 1894, the bill wa, laid before
conditions va tly different from which
obtained in the lower branch of
Congress. The Democratic strength
was exactly forty-four, or ono more
than the required figure. The Repub
llcans numbered thirty-seven, and the
Populist party had four adherents
whose political sympathies inclined te
the Republican and Democratic side:
in Q }ual proportion Under these cir
cumstances it became absolutely es
sential for the Democrats to command
every vote in their own party for any
measure which they might frame. l,
is true that there was still the posi-
5ility Of overcom .ng any detection by
gaining the votes Of the two Populists
who sat on the Democratic side of the
cha Der. 1t is equally true that il
due time this support aided in making
moe secure the narrow, erilous. ant
scillating bridge across which tn.
measure was fir ally conducted to safety
Senator Voorhees, still remained
Chairman of the Finance Committee
but lacking the physic strength t.
assume the gigantic task Ct preparing
aud managing a bill, MIR. Noorhee
practically abiicated his position AM
the labor passed into the hands of
subcommittee &C insisting Of Messrs
Jones OF Arkansas, Vest OF Missouri
and Mills of Texas The latter was
temporary addition the memo }. shi]