The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-10-09
SIGNS TARIFF BILL
PRESIDENT AFFIxEs SIGNATURE
IN PRESENCE OF CABINET
AND HIGH OFFICIALS.
ACT FOLLOWED BY SPEECH
Nations Executive Asserts Work Is
Only Half Completed ard He
Urges Early Action by Congress on
the Currency Measure.

N''N SiiNs "GdSuTG.
Washington, Oct 6.-President VIII
son affixed his signature to the tariff
bill at ten minutes past nine o'clock
Friday night, this being the last pro-
ceeding necessary to make it a law.
The new law became operative at
midnight.
The signing OF the bill marks the
end Of almost six months of legislative
work since its introduction April Z. 1t
marks also the death of the Payne
Aldrich tariff bill.
The signing took place in the presi-
dents big private office in the execu-
tive offices, in the presence of the
cabinet, the tariff committee of the
two houses. the speaker and the vice
president and a score of newspaper
men.
After aftiXing his signature Presi-
dent Wilson presented the two pens
he had used to Chairmen Underwood
ana simmons and then congratulated
MS colleagues" upon their work.
An impressive silence prevailed as
the president delivered an extempor
aneous speech in easy, natural tones.
Gentlemen, feel very peculiar
pleasure" said the president, in what
nave Just done by way of taking part
IN the completion of a great niece of
business 1t is a pleasure which is
very hard adequately to express in
WORDS because the feeling have is
that we have done the rank and file of
the people of this country great
service"
Il have had the accomplishment of
something like this at heart ever
since | was a boy, and know men
standing around me who can saw the
same thing-who have been waiting to
see the things done which It was nee
essary to do in order that there might
De justice in the United States. |
ana SO it is a solemn moment that
orlhgs such a business to conclusion.
ana nope | shall not be Thought TO
De demanding too much of myself CT
u my colleagues when | say that this,
great as 1t Is, is the accomplishment
u only half the journey. We have set
ne business Of this country free from
nose conditions which have made
monopoly not only possible but in n
sense easy and natural. But there is
10 use taking away the conditions of
monopoly If we do not take away also
ne power TO create monopoly; and that
financial rather than a merely
lrcumStantial and economic. power. ]
The power to control and guide
nd direct the credits of the country t
the power to say who shall and who
nall not build up the industries of the {
ohhtry, in which direction they shall
70 built and in which direction thew
hall not be built We now are about
take the second step, which will be
ne maj step in setting the business z
thls country free. That is what
e snail do in the currency bill, which +
lie house already has passed, and A
men have the utmost confidence S
ie senate will pass much sooner than C
'me pesslmistic individuals believe
ecauSe the questions, now that this +
ece or work Is done. will arise all o
yer the country, For what do we o
ant? Why should we wait to crown tt
lrSelVes with consummate honor? a
re we so self-denying that we do not
lSh TO complete our success?' N
i was quoting the other dav 70 ~
me Of my colleagues in the senate !,
ose lines from Shapespeare's Henry %
Whlch nave always appealed to me ~
II be sin tC covet honor, then am -
the most offending soul alive And -
am happy to say that do not covet a. a,
for myself alone. ! covet it with IL
ual ardor for the men who are asso-
ated with me, and the honor is going
come from them. am their asso- y
ate | can only complete the work ..
llch they do l can only counse, II
len they ask for my counsel. can a.
me IN only when the last stages of "I
business are reached. And | covet
IS honor for them quite as much as w
coYet 1t for myself; and | coyet II
the great party of which I am a
emDer; because that party is not
norable unless it redeem its name Al,
serve the people Of the United tie M
ates. W
So feel tonight like a man who is 80
lglng happily In the inn which lies ~,
II way along the journey, and that tio
the morning with fresh impulse On
shall go the rest of the Journey ro, ~
sleep at the journeys end like w.
n with quiet conscience, knowing "
nave served our fellow men and toI
'e thereby tried to serve God" ,