The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-01-05
SHOWING THE WHITE Feather.
The Wilson Conspirators FIoundel ing i'm
the Slough of Uncertainty.

The Wilson Consprators FlOunde. ing in
the Slough of Uncertainty.
The ways ard means committee-or
rather the democratic members of the
committee, who have thus far ignored
the rights of the republican minority
to the slightest voice or vote in the
formation of the new tariff bill-dis-
played evidences of weakness recently.
1t ordered retreat at various points
along the line of tariff duties from the
extreme position which it took in pre-
senting the original draft of the bill.
The fatal spirit of compromise with
the enemies of the Cleveland Wilson
tariff policy, within the democratic
ranks. enforced the retreat.
Congressman Thomas j. Geary, of
California, objected to the reduction of
the tariff duties on champagne and
oranges, in the production of which his
constituents are interested, and tho
proposed duties on champagne and
oranges were increased.
Congressman John c. Tarsney, OF
Missouri, strenuously protested against
the proposed reduction of the tariff
duties on the various forms of lead, in
the manufacture of which his constitu.
ents are directly interested, and tns
rates were increased.
Duties on tin plates, pearl buttons,
cutlery, barley malt, cotton yarns, oil
cloths. laces. carpets, silk goods, jew!
elry, lumber and other articles, were
increased apparently for special and
sufficient reasons known, however, only
to the democratic star chamber COM
spirators on the ways and means com,
mittee, who are still pursuing their de;
liberations by the light of Il darl: lam
tern.
In the open committee rooms and tho
light of day Thomas B. Reed insisted
that the proposed tariff bill, if enacted
into law, would produce a deficit of
seventy-four million dollars year, and
that until means should be taken to
provide additional revenue. it would
be premature to determine how much
the tariff revenue should be reduced.
Beyond an intimation from Chairman
Wilson, which Mr.. Reed worried out OF
him, that the internal revenue would
be relied upon to make up the deficit
no satisfaction could be obtained.
This was an act of extraordinary con-
sideration on the part of the chairman
in view of the previous treatment
which Mr. Reed and his republican col
leagues had received. Indeed, when
Congressman Payne, of Auburn, moved
to restore the duty on peppermint oil,
to save an important New York indus
try, he was simply voted down; and
when Mr.. Dalzell, of Pittsburgh, of
fered amendments affecting earthen-
ware, glass and metal schedules, they
met the same fate.
Quite as significant sign of weak.
ness as the increase of duties was the
committees action in postponing the
evil day when the Wilson schedules
shall become the law of the land from
March l to June l. 1t really insures
three months more of Mckinley duties;
and viewed in this respect the action of
the committee was real blessing to
the industrial and agricultural inter-
ests of the land. But it eliminates from
the situation the only democratic ar
gument in favor of the bill which had
the slightest force ON bearing-thal
the removal of uncertainty from the
general situation and the speedy adj
justment of the affairs of the country
to the new system of tariff required
the enactment of the proposed bill at
the earliest possible moment. Evident
ly Mr.. Wilson and his associates have
come to the conclusion that the bill
cannot be rushed through the house,
muclr less the senate. Albany Journal