Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-02
Senator GaI|inger Makes a
Speech Condemning Pending
Administration Measure.
CRITICISES THE POLICY
OF PRESIDENT WILSON
Incidentally Declares Federal Gov.
eminent Should Rid National Cap
ital Of Stun Spots.

iHdt tIe general government SnOul0 rio
Washington OF the slum conditions which
exist in certain localities was the declara-
ton OF Senator Gallinger Of New Hamp-
shire. who today addressed the Senate
assailing the Underwood-Simm tariff
bill. His reference to conditions In the
District was made during statement
that conditions In the New England cities
where textiles are manufactured compare
favorably with those in other parts of
the country.
Touching upon a speech recently made
by Senator Hollis of New Hampshire,
democrat. attacking the manufacturers
of textiles in New England and defending
the proposed reductions In the duties on
these articles. Senator Gallinger said:
my colleague called special attention
to the hours Of labor that are required in
the mills of New England. citing the fact
tnat New Hampshire has a law fixing the
maximum at fifty-fve hours a week and.
evidently for the purpose Of showing that
that Is an excessive requirement. cited
the fact that the committee on the Dis
trict or Columbia has reported a bill
establishing the eight-hour law for wom-
en- and children in the District. He might
have added that that bill was reported
under protest from a great many women
In the city of Washington, who prefer
to work longer number Of hours in
cases OF emergency for the purpose of
adding to their scanty income.
Comparison With Washington.
And when my colleague pictured the
conditions Of the working people in the
textile cities of the, country as being in
some respects deplorable he might well
have carried his comparison between New
he He<v -
the alley conditions which exist In the
city OF Washington and which he him
self recently Investigated. II it is the
DUTY OF the manufacturers of New Eng
land to see that the operatives have sani-
tary surroundings. whether they want
mem or not II would seem to be equally
incumbent upon the general government
ana the government of the District Of
Columbia to get rid Of the slum condi-
tons In Washington, which my colleague
In recent interview 50 severely and
properly condemned.
1T is Of interest in this connection
TO note the fact that in the calendar
year 1912 the death rate in the District
OF Columbia was 14.18 per 1000 for
whites and 1858 per 1000 for the col
rate in the District of Columbia for the
year 1912 was 1913. as against is in
the much advertised textile city of
Lawrence. Mass. The abnormal death
rate for the colored people of the Dis
trict. doubtless largely due to insani-
tary and other similar conditions,
might well engage the attention of the
committee of which my colleague Is
q member, with a view to correcting
conditions at the capital of the nation.
which would seem to be as imperative
as to correct conditions In the textile
cities of the country. Efforts have been
made along this line from time to time
but Notwithstanding much progress has
A.
otherwise. there still remains a great
deal to be done to bring about ideal
conditions"
Early Presidents Quoted.
Senator Gallinger quoted Washing
ton. Jefferson. Madison and Andrew
Jackson to show that they favored the
policy of a protective tariff for the
benefit of American producers. Thomas
Jefferson. patron saint of the demo-
cratic party. he said, signed three tarif
acts increasing protection to American
manufacturers.
Jefferson carried his devotion to
American industry so far" said Senator
Gallinger, that he expressed a wish that
the Atlantic ocean might be a lake of fire
to exclude absolutely foreign goods. 1t
was that great democrat. Andrew Jack
son, who threatened to hang as high as
Hannah the men in South Carolina who
sought to nullify a United States tariff
law on the newly asserted idea that pro-
lection to American industry was uncon-
stitutional."
Dates Back to Slavery Contest.
Senator Gallinger declared that the
agitation against the protective tariff
system and in favor Of q tariff for reve-
nue. only was a heritage of the political
contest between the north and south over
slavery. 1.-THE main support Of the tariff
for-revenue-only policy in America has
come from the southern states and from
New York city and that neighborhood,
where the influence of importers repre-
senting European manufacturers is pow
erful," said Senator Gallinger.
After showing that the country did not
prosper during those years when a
revenue tariff law was in effect, and that
prosperity returned to the country after
the readoption of a protective tariff pol
icy just before the civil war. Senator Gal
linger quoted from the writings OF Presi-
dent Wilson to show that he had favored
free trade for many years.
This economist. who Is now President
of the United States. openly declared
that the hindrance that protection offers
the English people could send more goods
to this country. supplanting American
manufactures, thus depriving American
Of livelihood. :" said Senator
Galinger.
That the pending bill strikes a hard
blow at the industries of New England
was the assertion OF Senator GallinRer
He denied absolutely that Senator Hollis
had represented the true feeling In New
England when he recently addressed the
Senate attacking q protective tariff and
the textile industries Of that section of
the country.
Discusses New England Sentiment.
New England believes in a protective
tariff" said Senator Gallinger, land no
man who supports the pending bill. or |
who defends men like Ettor and Hay
wood, who agitated the strikes in Law
renee represents in any way her views. /
NY colleagues declaration that protected |
interfere with legislation. |
secure favors from railroads. control local |
courts, ETC.. Is utterly preposterous
IT am not an alarmist, but can bring |
my mind to no other conclusion than thai |
tho contaminated legisla ton will ;neyi- |