The record-union., 1894-04-03
Special to the REcoRD-UN1oN.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON. April 2.-The principal
interest in the Senate to-day centered in
the speech of Senator Voorhees,, the
Chairman of the Committee on Finance,
who thus launched the tariff question
upon the sea of Senatorial debate. While
his speech was read from manuscript, it
was read with all the fiery energy which
characterizes his usual extemporaneous
efforts. There was an unusually full at
tendance, both on the floor and in the
galleries, and the conclusion of his speech
was greeted with hearty burst OF ap-
plause. He lauded the Walker tariff bill
of1S4S as ''blessed and glorious memory"
and regretted exceedingly that this bill
did not more closely resemble it. lie
vigorously defended the income tax feat
ure and the free wool clause, and as Wig
orously condemned the sugar bounty and
reciprocity features Of the Mckinley bill
the former being characterized as "a
tumble and fraud" The latter was
characterized as an unconstitutional
fake"
He called attention to the fact that to-
day was the 150th anniversary OF the
birth of Thomas Jefferson, "that great
emancipator of mankind and quoted
extensively from Mr.. Blaine's Thirty
Years in Congress-"
In the morning hour Senator Morgan
sought to have passed a bill providing 1or
the carrying into effect of the awards of
the Paris tribunal of arbitration in the
Behring Sea matter, but as it was on its
passage, it went over until the bill could
be printed.
Then the unfinished business. the bill
of Senator Hansbrough for the destruc-
tion Of the Russian thistle, was laid be-
fore The Senate, and Immediately came
in collision with the tariff bill, which
Senator Voorhees, had given notice OF his
intention to call up at this time.
Senator Hansbrough asked that the
unfinished business should be tempor-
arily laid aside in favor of the opening
speech on the tariff, without losing its
place as unfinished business. This led to
a motion from Senator Harris, that the
tariff bill be made the unfinished busiss
ness. While he was opposed to the bill
from the Senator from North Dakota, he
said if there should be any gap in the
consideration of the tariff bill. he would
have no objection to the Russian thistle
bill being taken up. He would be will
ing to give the Senator his day in court,
but he could not offer TO let the great tariff
The tariff bill must now be made the un-
finished business, he declared, or a ma
jority of Senators must declare against
it. Senator Hansbrough, then defeated,
marched off the field with colors flying
and bands playing, so he announced that
although the thistle bill was aimed at the
protection Of agriculture, While the tariff
bill, from his point of vision, was in
tented TO destroy 1t, yet, in view OF pres
ent circumstances, he would withdraw
his proposition, the tariff bill being made
the unfinished business in the enthusi-
astic acclamation of the majority, while
only few SCARCELY heard noes came from
the Republican side.
Mr.. VOORHEES, was recognized. tie
looked around upon well-tilled cham
ber, whose mem berS accorded him the
closest attention. a number Of Repre-
sentatives came over from the House to
follow the progress OF the bill. The gal
leries were crowded with an attentive
audience. which paid the strlctest atten-
ton to the speaker on the floor.
Senator ' oorhees, as IS his usual GUS
tom, read his speech from convenient
desk made of large books. piled upon his
desk. He said:
''1f1. President: Great abuses in a Gov
ernment, strong by sanction and the
growth of years. imbedded in the power
fuI interests of privileged classes, created,
fostered, encouraged and protected by the
laws themselves, have rarely, II ever, IN
any age, been promptly and totally erad-
icated except by forcible revolution and
bloodshed. Such is the concurrent and
unbroken testimony of history. The
spirit of political and practical reform, on
the other hand, is a reasoning and pro-
greSSive spirit, moving forward, step by
step, no matter how radical and thorough
its ends and aims may be, and overcom-
ing the most gigantic evils with patient
wisdom and courage rather than by Vlo-
lent and wholesale assault.
1.-The protective system OF tarlH taxa
ton as developed and fastened upon the
business and labor OF the American peo-
pie especially during the third OF a CEN
tury past, growing worse at every stage,
is system OF iudescribable injustice and
oppression, and yet, who Will contend
that all its vicious principles and work
ings. ramified as they are through every
branch of trade and commerce, can be
annihilated by single blow, or totally
wiped out by a single legislative enact
ment? For the bill now under consider
alton no such claim is made, but IN It's
behalf it can be truthfully asserted, and
will be successfully maintained, that it
accomplishes vast world of tariff re-
form, embodies great relief to the peo-
pie from inlquitous existing laws and
constitutes a long stride, though not a
final one, toward the approaching day OF
full and perfect deliverauce.
''Sir, l challenge the attention Of the
Senate and the country TO the great and
commanding fact that by the provisions
OF this bill the coming paradox of re-
duction of taxes and at the same time an
increase of public revenues will be recon-
ciled when it becomes law.
II will not stop at this point to consider
the individual robberies committed in
protected markets, the untold and incal-
IL, hf faf.l-f glaii lox-in
American manufacturers for their own
pockets on their enforced customers when
cut of from all outside competition; IL is
enough for my present purpose TO say
that we have hberaliZed the American
markets, made them more accessible to
the traffic OF the world, and, while not
establishing free trade, will have made
trade freer and more eyen-handed be-
tween the manufacturer and the con-
sumner. But over and above and beyond
this wide and well-known field of extor-
ton and injustice, it will be found from
the schedules of this bill that the tarlil
taxes, now officially ascertained and PAID
uuder existing laws. on the wants, neces-
sities and daily consumption OF the labor
ing men. women and children OF the
United States have been reduced more
than SO 100000 per annum. These re-
ductions are as follows: On chemicals
81 000, 900, on pottery, 81, 100000; on glass
S0Ut,uUU. Oh lllSlSiAS, Sl-BoVNsOOHs Va "NNN~
100000; on tobacco, s., 800, 600; on agri
cultural products S3. 100000: on spirits
wines. ETC., 81, SOC, ,000; on cotton manu-.
factures. S3. .450, 600; on flax, hemp anC
iute manufactures, So, 100000; on wooleI
manufactures, S23. .500.0 900; on silk manu-
factures. So. 100000; on paper and pulp
s.. .000. 600: on sardines, s., 100000; trans
ferred to the free list, Sl2. 10000. Total
S76. so. 600.
80 this must be added the further i'm
,,oSiner fact that the bill provides for ful