Mr. WILLIAMS. I think, with all deference to all the gentlemen concerned, that there are 2 interests that were not consulted in this arrangement which has been made here as much as they ought to be. The one is the revenue of the U.S., and the other is the interest of the consumer. I feel entirely disinterested in this question; I do not know that I belong to the East or to the West so far as the controversy about flaxseed is concerned, but I think that an article which is so univer sally consumed as linseed oil ought not to be made so very expensive by the imposition of this duty. I heard all that was said upon this subject in committee, and my criterion has been in judging of these matters to decide from the practical facts that were submitted to the committee, and I have not yet been satisfied by any representations made to the committee that this flaxseed interest was suffering to any great extent in this country. Flaxseed, which brought a dollar and some cents before the war, now brings 3 dollars. There is demand for it and it is raised. Men go about in the country, as I am informed, where the flaxseed is raised and buy it of the farmers and pay large prices for it. It is manufactured into oil. Now, it has not been made apparent to me that this high tax upon seed is necessary to enable the farmer to prosecute the business of raising flaxseed; of if it is not necessary, . To: then it seems to me that we ought to take into consideration the revenues of the country and the interests of the consumers. Where I find and am satisfied that for want of the necessary protection a certain business is languishing, is suffering, then I find a reason for extending protection; but when the business is a prosperous business, and the only object of putting on a high tariff is to make the men engaged in it richer, then I do not see any particular necessity for the proposed addition. I know that there are conflicting representations upon the subject, as there are on all others; but according to the best information that I can obtain the flax seed interest is not suffering as much as some other interests in the country; and I know that the crushers along the sea board here do say (with how much truth I cannot determine; I presume, though, they are entitled to as much confidence as other men who appear before us) that to increase the tariff on flaxseed is to ruin their business; and there is a good deal of reason in the statement to my mind. This seed is raised in the West; it is manufactured into oil there, and people who use the oil on the sea board must either have it manufactured where they live and where they require it to be used or they must go West and buy of the men who manufacture the oil there; and according to my judgment I may be mistaken; it is exceedingly difficult to form a correct opinion about it this tariff, as we fixed it in committee, is as equitable and just as it could be arranged.