The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-07-26
THE TARIFF DEBATE.
Senators Who Led the Opposing
 Forces in the Contest.
Why Voorhees, Placed the Democratic Forces Under the Command of Harris, Jones and Yest-Leaders on
 the Protection Side.
Special Washington Letter.

Special Washington Letter.l
 Although the subject of the tariff has been uppermost in the minds of the statesmen of this country during the past fourteen years; although it is to-day the leading topic of discussion by the politicians in the various states; and although it is the subject concern ing which there is most discussion by the plain people of the republic in every neighborhood; it is yet but little understood by the country for the req son that it is matter requiring study, research, scholarship and ripe Judg- ment.
 A tariff bill named after the chair man of the committee on ways and means of the house of representatives, and therefore known throughout the country as the Wilson bill, was passed last January by the house of represen- tatives and immediately transmitted to the senate. The bill was considered by the senate committee on finance for six weeks and was then laid before the senate for discussion and consideration.
 The chairman of the senate commit lSC Oll Al1luiNCS 1SlldbOA 'OOAhCNS, Ol Ah- diana, has been one of the most poten- tial political leaders in this republic for more than a generation. It was due to his aggressive leadership that the sherman silver law was repealed during the extraordinary session of congress in 1893. It was expected that when the tariff bill was laid before the senate this year it would be passed in a similarly masterful and determined manner by Senator VoGrhees; put, to the disappointment of his party friends, Senator Voorhees, stepped aside from the forensic arena and gave the man. agement of the bill into other hands than his own. This course on the part of Senator Voorhees, was necessitated by the fact that he is in the sere and yellow leaf of life, approaching his three score years and ten. and unable to expend in parliamentary contest his remaining vital forces.
 You have undoubtedly read a great deal about the progressive and deter mined manner of Senator Harris, of Tennessee, into whose charge Senator Voorhees, committed the parliamentary management of the tariff bill upon the floor of the senate. It would seem strange indeed to the average citizen if he were to see the stalwart Voorhees, and realize that on account of advanc- ing years he had laid aside the burden and brunt of battle; but it would be greater surprise to see the man to whom the sword and shield of leader ship were given. Senator Harris is nearly bald, save for a thin fringe of gray hair around his neck. His face Is smooth shaven, barring bristling mustache, which is gray. He looks much older than Senator Voorhees,, and it is generally believed that he has more than passed his eightieth year. The congressional directory does not give his age; but states that he ''com- menced to practice law in 1S41." Sem ator Harris must have been at least twenty-one years of age at that time, and, according to reasonable calcula- tion, is therefore now not less than seventy-four years old. He is never theless a strong, sturdy man of power ful personality, who endeavored upon every occasion to hasten action upon the bill.
 Although Senator Harris had charge of the revenue bill in a parliamentary sense, the work of debating and ex- plaiuing it was relegated by Senator Voorhees, to very distinguished and able colleague of the finance commit tee, in the person of Senator Jones, of Arkansas. As Senator Jones was called upon to undertake the direction of the preparation of compromise bill, the passage of which might be procured in the senate, that distinguished lawyer entered upon the task with a degree of energy and determination which was surprising to his most intimate friends. Senator Jones had never been known us a particular student of the subject of political economy, and, although it was known that he was a superior lawyer, it was not presumed that he had mastered in detail the subject of the revenues and expenditures of the government Therefore, when he stepped into the arena to assume the direction of the bill in debate, his mas terful manner and determined spirit almost dazed the aggressive republican leaders, who had anticipated an easy parliamentary repulsion of the senator from Arkansas. During the latter part of the debate, however, 1t was custom ary for the leaders of the minority to call upon Senator Jones and discuss