New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04

Ing cast iron mortars This bill became ia aS
without the Presidents signature, SepteH'per -
1888 .,
Commissioner at a salary Of 5000 year wa
created out Of the old Bureau OF LABOR. unuel
bill introduced by Representative " Mem 'Dcl..
Mol This was merely an expansion OF an e"'S.
ing service Investigations as to trust mort
gage indebtedness. effect OF the tarlH: eu'' "ei'
committed to it. Approved June 10, 1879 ,,u
Labor arbitration in case OF strikes on ran
reads running between two or more states va
proposed by an excellent bill. one OF the rev
meritorious Democratic measures OF TINS con
gress introduced by Representative omen
Oem. MOI. 1t proposed that the railroads shoul'
name one arbitrator, the strikers announcer
these two to select third. This Board snoui1
investigate strikes and file its report ana oe
cision with the Commissioner OF Labor. WHO'S
duty ii should be to make the same pubic Ih'
President was empowered to create a temporar,
commission at any time, for similar purpose
by selecting two persons, who. with the com
missioner Of Labor should constitute the Boaru
The decision of this Board in every case "a'
to be submitted to the President and Congress
There was no opposition III either house. APP
proved October j, 1883.
An increase in the Navy was authorized by al
act ordering the construction OF two steel cruis
ers of 5000 tons each. with speed OF nineteer
knots, to cost 81, 100000 each; one steel cruiser
of 1900 tons. with a speed OF twenty KNOTS, u
cost Sl.SOOO 900; one armored cruiser or a3
TONS to cost 81. 800 900: three gunboats OF 2.Ut
tons each. to cost 100000 each; and one stee
practice vessel for the Naval Academy. to COS
$26O,OOO. Approved September Z. 1888.
Two bills to punish postal crimes. introduced
respectively by Senator Vest Dem, MOI ant
Representative Dockery Dem. MOI. were
passed without a contest, and became laws
These enactments were made positively neces
sary by the shocking mail service which PreSi
dent Cleveland had given the country. Not only
was there an enormous number Of blunders de
lays and mistakes in the handling Of the mails
but thefts by dishonest mail clerks had espe
he'd m 81 10 n KIN W
and more vigorous laws for their punishment
became necessary The damaging nefficiency Of
the mail service during Mr.. Cleveland's -four
years was the subject Of complaint from one
end of the country to the other, BY business
men Of all parties
THE BATTLE OVER THE TARIFF
What this session failed to do is a longer story
The tariff was promptly made an object of at
tack. Long before Congress met the farmins
and industrial interests of the country fore
warned of this had prepared in advance for the
battle. An interesting incident was the action OF
The Tribune, which began an energetic campaign
to ascertain the sentiment of the farmers Of the
United States concerning a reduction of the
tariff. Early in 1887 The Tribune published q
series Of statements showing the disastrous
effects Of the reduction OF 1883 on the farming
interests of the United States In the sum
mer of 1887 The Weekly Tribune which had ar
enormous circulation in every part of the Union
invited farmers clubs the lodges of Patrons OF
Husbandry agricultural societies wool tobacco
sugar and cattle growing associations and the
farming readers of The Tribune in general tc
state their wishes with regard to the tariff and
indicate the changes they deemed necessary
Replies were received representing several hun
dred thousand practical farmers. The Tribune
then formed commission consisting of United
States Senator Warner Miller, of New York
Ex-Governor Cyrus c. Carpenter. of Iowa; the
Hon. John Il. Rich OF Michigan: United State.
Senator James Wilson, of Iowa; the Hon Johr
-. Lyman. eX-SeCretary of State of New-Hamp
10 Iva r1 81
the New Jersey State Board OF Agriculture; the
Hon. j. II. Hale, Master Of the Connecticut Pa
irons Of Husbandry; w. C.. Morse, president OF
the Chemung Valley On. ~ Tobacco Growers
Association, and Colonel William NJ Grosyenor
of The Tribune staff. To this commission all the
replies from farmers were submitted for exami-
nation and report The report Of this commits
sion printed in The Tribune February =
lSss. 1t recommended raising mot lowering)
the duties on foreign agricultural products, and
specified the duties they desired This repor,
attracted the attention of Congress and the coun.
try. and 1t is here to be noted that in after years
every recommendation Of this commission was
adopted in the Mckinley bill.
THE MILLS BILL.
The Democrats In Congress were however no,
to be deferred On April > 1855 Roger O. Mills
Dem.. Tex). chairman Of the Ways and Means
Committee Of the House, reported to that body
a new tariff bill to reduce duties on imported
goods. Mr.. Mills stating specifically that this
80 -, Po.s'S y" icsiuent SleVeland'S rec
concentrations" This bill had been prepared IN
secret by the Democratic members of the com
mittee. No opportunity had been given 10 the
Republican minority of the COMMITTEES In taLe
part in the discussions on the bill No consuIta :
ton whatever with the Republicans had been
had. Furthermore every delegation OF farr,
ers. workingmen. merchants. manufacturers and
business men which had applied To the Demo-
SIa,ic members OF the committee for hearing
had been refused. The COMMITTEES dec,inad -
listen to any Of them. The Mills (otherwiso
known from its origin as the Dark Lantern"I
bill proposed to put foreign wool. foreign flaw
hemp fruit meat. timber and many other farm
products on the free list, as well as many athnr
Articles. and liz. c,''' NN'''