Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-07-01
F0SS FLAYS TARIFF.
Says Honest Revision Must Come
From Democrats.

Congressman Eugene N. Foss, the
Democratic victor of Massachusetts,, a
leading manufacturer, by the way, and
an ex-Republican whom the govern
ment's tariff policy has driven into the
Democratic ranks, indicated his new
position in stirring speech delivered
in the house on May 20. He said:
lit cannot be denied that the people
have, rightly or wrongly, come TO re-
gard this whole revision scheme of the
Republican party leaders as planned in
the last national campaign and as pro-
mulgated in their platform and as finally
butchered in the special tariff session
of congress as an intentional and delib-
crate bunko game from start to finish.
Speaking of the appointment of a
tariff commission to report az to the
difference in cost of production here
and abroad. he insisted that the COM
mission should report to congress and
not TO the president. He asked:
"Why does the administration seem
to be so solicitous that this commission
shall be absolutely under the control of
the executive, seeing that it is primarily
intended for such Legislative purposes?
Is there an ulterior motive?
'lf the commission is to be merely an
executive instrument and report only to
the president, how is congress to receive
the information excepting as the presi-
dent may elect to transmit it. and what
Is to prevent the executive department
from withholding or suppressing or
coloring such information. as has more
than once been done heretofore? Is
there not an evident fear that the con-
troll Of this commission will too soon
come into the hands of Democrat and
reform congress?"
In ominous tones that caught the at
tention of the house he continued:
II recognize that the people have lost
confidence in the Republican party and
that they are no longer looking to them
for an honest revision. The people have
turned to the Democratic party. Now
the responsibility of an honest revision
of the tariff is up to the Democratic
party with the aid of the insurgent and
such independent elements as will ally
themselves with us.
In voicing his demand for apothe.
special session to revise the tariff the
speaker said: THE people demand that
the revision and reduction of the tariff
which We're promised two years ago b,
the Republican party be carried out b,
the Democratic party as soon as tn,
new congress can convene The Demo
cratic party ought to raise the issu,
that there shall be an extra session
convened next spring to do the work t,
which this congress has proved faithless
The people have made the immediat
reduction of the tariff the issue, and tn
Democratic party must pledge itself In
most distinct and specific way to carr
out this course in order that the mandat
shall be compelling one, that the vic
tory shall be so complete that the Re
publican executive will be forced {
acquiesce in it and call congress to
! gether."
Mr.. Foss declared that the rallyin
cry should be made Free wool an
cheap clothing" But the climax @
his speech was his open declaration as
, manufacturer that duties were unneces
sary;
''Now at this point 1t seems to dsyoly
upon me as q representative here j
congress of this reform and as repre-
sentative manufacturer in the iron an
steel industry of New England engage
in the production of important lines O
machinery. employing large numbers o
iskilled workmen and using large quaint