The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-03
WILL FIGHT 1T OUT
If it Takes Till the Fourth OF
March.
Mr.. Kelley Makes a Proposition to POST
pone the Bill Until After the Election
But Mr.. Mills is Not Willing.

! hlr. NILS caIleQ up the tdrLI DILL Hcn 4hL'
Kelley rose and said that he had proposition
to make, which he thought would be accepta-
BILE to both the house and the country. Neither
! Chitty's Pleadings, he said, nor any other book
indicating the methods of reaching an issue,
! could lead to a fair or more direct issue than
existed between the two great parties OF the
| country First, the president had sent to con-
| gress message; the democratic convention
had Endorsed and approved it without qualifi-
cation. The republican convention had not
found in 1t anything worthy of commentator,
and the issue there was perfectly clear. The
| Mills bill las it was called had received the
| approval of the st. Louis convention, and
condemnation as cordial of the Chicago con-
| vention. The action Of the majority OF the
| house in urging the bill forward had been ap-
| proved at st. Louis, and the course which had
| seemed fitting and matter of duty to the re-
| publican minority of contesting every modif-
cation which its judgment could not approve,
| had been cordially approved at Chicago.
There was, at this point oflKelleys remarks,
some manifestation of sarcastic laughter from
the democrats, which led Mr.. Kelley to explain
that he spoke but for himself, no other person
| being responsible for his proposition.
Continuing Mr.. Kelley suggested that the
| Mills bill should be laid over until the next
session, with the understanding that if, at the
| November election, it should be approved
! by the people, the republicans would with
| draw their opposition; and, if, on the other
| hand, it should be condemned, unnistakably,
the bill would be no further
pressed. That would leave the question
he also had suggestion to make; that as a
| concession to the condition that confronts us,
| the other side of the house would allow the
| entire internal tax upon tobacco to be re-
| pealed, instead of making two bites Of cherry
and repeating about S1S, 100000 of the $31 000,-
| coo of revenue derived from tobacco. He
| thought this proposition should be accepted,
| and that members should not swelter out their
| lives in Washington until the end of Septem-
| Der.
Mr. Mills said that it was true, as the gem
| tleman sad that the democratic convention
| had Endorsed the measure, which was now be-
| fore the house for reduction OF taxation on ne
cessitieS of life 1t was also true that the issue
was severely and fairly made, and that it must
| be met in the coming campaign, and it must
| be decided in November, whether the people
| proposed to reduce the surplus by reduction
OF taxation Oh the neceSsaries of life or by a
reduction of the tax on whisky. These things
| being true, it was somewhat remarkable that
| proposition should be submitted from the
menority side to the majority side, when that
| majority side had been instructed to go for
ward and pass the bill, not only to consdera-
| tion, but to final passage. The majority which
| was responsible to the people for the admin
| istration of the government, and must go for
| ward IN the path of duty. Applause on the
| democratic side.
That path was a plain one, and it was to
| press the bill, III season and out of season, I'M
| til unnecessary and unjust taxation on the
| necessities OF life was reduced and the surplus
| OF the treasury reduced. He had counter
| proposition to make. If the gentleman from
! Pennsylvania QAelley) had faith in his own
| proposition, it seemed to be the part of Wis
| dom for the minority to welcome the time
| when a vote should be taken on the bill, and
| democrats put down on record upon it, APP
| piause on the democratic side.
| He (Mills) made the proposition that there
should be stop put TO unnecessary talk in the
fAltcf
that an early day should be fixed upon which
the bill should be put upon its passage in the
| house.
Mr.. Reed, of Maine, said that the proposition
| made by the gentleman from PENNSYLVANIA
| (Kelley) had been properly declared to be an
| individual suggestion. Applause ON the re-
| publican side. The republican party had re-
solved by its properly credited assembly that it
| would give due and deliberate consideration to
every item in the Mills bill, believing that it
was its duty to explain and expose the errors
| of the measure. lie desired here and now to
| repeat the assertion which had been made in
| open day so many times, that there had been
| no discussion with any purpose Of delay-n0th-
| ing but an honest and fair discussion fairly
! brought out by an attack political attack
| upon the industries OF the United States of
America. Applause on the republican side.l
| The republican party had taken ground be-
| fore the country that the system of protection
was valuable in itself, and because it was to
| the interest and advantage of the American
| community was not to be sacrificed. BY that
| doctrine the republicans would stand and by
| that sign they would conquer. Applause on
| the republican side.]
| Mr.. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, said that he
| did not intend to make any passionate speech
| in response to the gentleman from Maine
| Rced), but lie rose for the purpose of suggest
| ing that day be fixed for taking vote upon
the bill. 1t might well be understood now,
as at any other time, that majority of repre-
| sentatives of the people unon the floor intend
| ed 10 have n vote the III II ODncc If
| March was reached by obstructing tactics.
We are perfectly willing, interpolated Mr..
! Buchanan, Of New Jersey, and il the gentle
man from Maine (Reed) was candid in his
statement. and he accepted the statement as
| candid, nothing up to this time had been done
| for obstruction and nothing would be done for
| obstruction i'll the future, surely some practical
| agreement could be arrived at This was an
| effort to reduce taxation.
"Oh, nc" come in chorus from the republi-
| can side.
ooh, yes" retorted Breckenridge; ooh, no,
but OH, yes, it does reduce taxation. 1t does
! relieve burdens. 1t does take money that
! would, under the present system, go into the
! pockets of 4 favored class and keep it out of
| the pockets Of men that earn it. Applause on
| the democratic side. That is its object and
| that Will lie its effect"
| The democrats had shown no spirit to pre-
| vent fair discussion. No attempt had been
! made to limit debate. The democrats desired
| TO be liberal, but with that Eberality they de-
oiACN II " 'S uuNeiStuJu lllHL lItN INTENDED 10
| pass this bill, if the gentlemen did not use OBJ
| structive tactics. They intended to pass it if
| obstructive tactics were employed unless the
| gentlemen wore out the time for which this
! house had been elected. Applause On the
| democratic side.
Mr.. Springer, of Illinois, asked unanimous
consent Tor the present consideration for the
| following resolution:
| Resolved, That The committee on ways and means
Be in ructed u report to the house rule for the
tariff bill providing for stated time for vote or
! more important prUrosticns, and fixing day on
which the bill shall be reported to the house and
| put upon its passage.
Mr.. Kelley objected.
Mr.. Breckenridge. of Kentucky, said that
! one of the reasons which made the suggestion
! was because it had first been made by the gen.
!lemaE from Maine and his colleagues, who,
/ i'll their report. stated that as the last resort
they would present a substitute. What he
| was proposing today was simply to offer an
| opportunity. rive will find our opportunity"
I interiected Mr.. Reedl which those gentlemen
I said they would seek as the last resort SO when
the gentleman charged him, with a good
/ many adjectyes, with acting unfairly, he
] (Breckinridge) was simply Offering the gen
41.ass, ~. IT,. l.. 4