When Randall returned to Washington in 1881 to begin his term in the 47th Congress , the legislature was controlled by Republicans . After Garfield 's assassination later that year , Vice President Chester A. Arthur assumed the presidency . Arthur , like most Republicans , favored high tariffs , but he sought to simplify the tariff structure and to reduce excise taxes . Randall , who had returned to his seat on the Appropriations Committee , favored the president 's plan , and was among the few Democrats in the House to support it . The bill that emerged from the Ways and Means Committee , dominated by protectionists , provided for only a 10 percent reduction . After conference with the Senate , the resulting bill had an even smaller effect , reducing tariffs by an average of 1.47 percent . It passed both houses narrowly on March 3 , 1883 , the last full day of the 47th Congress ; Arthur signed the measure into law . Toward the end , Randall took less part in the debate , feeling the tension between his supporters in the House , who wanted more reductions , and his constituents at home , who wanted less
Garfield 's assassination
Assassination of James A. Garfield
Samuel J. Randall