The Portland daily press., 1888-04-25
SPEECHES MADE ON BOTH SIDES.
First Day Of the Debate on the Dark
Lantern Bill.
MIR. Reed States the Position of the
Republicans.
Some Washington News OF Interest
to Maine People.

| sion of the Mills tarlll plii, Mr. McMliiln Oh
Tennessee, having the floor in advocacy of
the measure.
| Unanimous consent that all gentlemen
might be allowed to print in the Record any
remarks upon the subject of the tariff. was
asked, but Mr.. Reed Of Maine objected.
| Mr.. McMillin said that the Congress that
appointed the tariff commission of 1888, find
| ing the rate of taxation averaged about 43
per cent under the pretence Of revising it,
| left it so that it since reached AZ per cent.
The people had no relief. The tariff was
higher today than at any time during the
war. Commenting on the surplus, Mr.. Nc
Millin said: 1--WE are drawing money from
commerce, and locking it up in the treasury
at such rate that it is only a question Of
time when stringency will set in, panics be-
gin and ruin follow. We are robbing COM
merce of its life blood, and the people of the
means of paying their taxes and debts. All
sorts of jobs are proposed to Congress, and
all sorts of jobbers are focking here. Mr..
Kelley demanded the repeal Of the internal
revenue system. yet the Republican party
| was responsible for that system. When
| Judge Kelley was chairman of the ways and
means committee, he did not repeal 1t. The
| internal revenue yields 100000 600 and the
annual surplus is only sixty millions, so if
/ the internal revenue laws be repealed, IL
would leave deficiency OF sixty millions.
| with nothing to raise this deficiency from
| that the people will allow to be taxed. we
| must determine whether we will reduce the
| tax on whiskey or on clothing and sugar.
| The contest narr0wS down to one DetWeen
the drunkard's belly and the poor mans
| back"
| After reviewing what the tariff has cost.
| especially the destruction of the carrying
| trade he said: while the government has
| thrown up tariff walls without monopoilsts
| have Joined hands within for the purpose OF
putting up prices, and plundering the people
through devices known as trusts, pools aad
| combines"
The Speaker then described the different
kinds Of trusts fiourishing and their results.
| Touching upon the decay of foreign COM
| merce, he attributed it to high Tariff;
Mr.. McMillin was here interrupted by Mr.
| Dingley, with question whether commerce
had not fallen off from 1855 to 1861, 1prlor 10
| the enactment of che high tarlf.
Mr.. McMillin admitted there had been
| falling off, but declared that, owing. to the
present high tariff, commerce had fallen into
a state Of utter decay. He inquired whether
Mr.. Dingley fayoring policy when .l ab; permit,
citizen if that ship was bought abroad and
brought into hottie port.
Mr.. Dingley replied that he favored the
policy, inaugurated by Washington, OF CON
uUlUk AlutllCdu lCElobiiCo " fCooOio Oes.s -
this country. IApplause on the RepuDiican
Mr.. McMillin referred to James Russell
Lowell as distinguished member OF the Re
sive laughter from the Republican side. He
remarked that Lowell had been the Represen-
tative of the last administration to the court
of st. James.
Benedict Arnold was major general in
the Continental army" was Mr.. Kelley's
Mr. McMillin concluded his speech amid
loud applause from his party colleagues.
Mr.. Burrows,
of Michigan, followed in opposition. The
possible S75, coo surplus at the end of the
next fiscal year must be ayerted. The ever
accumulating surplus not only invited profit
gacy, but insured swift financial disaster.
The method by which the reduction was to
be accomplished had become the main point
of the controversy. The Republican party
insisted that the protective system should
not be disturbed except so far as might be
necessary to correct its incongruities and
harmonic its provisions. If Congress fol-
lowed the lead of the President, and secured
the reduction by such revision Of the tariff
as he proposed, leaving untouched, as he
suggested, the internal revenue system, not
only would the protective system be destroy
ed, but the nation would be out on the high
way of free trade. In this contest the Re-
publican party took the side OF protection,
and would resist to its uttermost any attempt
to cripple American industries, destroy
American capital or pauperize American la
Dor. The eras OF protection In the country
had been eras of prosperity The eras OF
free trade had been eras Of depression and
disaster. =.
wool industry. When it was ruined we
would be bound hand and foot at the mercy
of the foreign producer. The chairman OF
the committee of ways and means hopes the
measure viii pass There f Is not asad memnes per
United States who is not In sympathy with
him. Free trade England stands on. tlptoe
in expectation and screams with delight:
LET me warn you, gentlemen Of the South"
no good to you. 1t win arrest the invest
ment of capital, and bring your industries to
a stand still There is no portion OF the
country where the measure should meet
more united and determined opposition tnan @
in the South. Outward circumstances have
heretofore retarded her material progress,
but the way is now open for her to march un-
impeded to splendid industrial future The
advance is already sonnded; He who does
not respond will find himself without party,
and without following" ;,
When Mr.. Burrows concluded the co mmit-
tee rose.
Mr.. Reed
said it was we'll known to the House that ef-
forts had been made to reach an agreement
as to the time to be given for the debate of
the tariff bill He stated the Republican po-
sition of ten days on their side, night ses-
sions not to be included in the time, and re-
cited the proceedings in committee and his
understanding of the temporary arrange
ment made for the continuance OF the de-
lx-A Iln ly0d
Mr.. Mills to fix some time for debate, and
suggested that ten days be allowed on side,
with so many evening sessions in addition,
as the House might be disposed to nave.
There had been no consideration OF the Dill;
no public hearings had been given on tne
Republican side, and no public hearing on
the part of members the interests OF whose
districts were concerned. If it should turn
out that it was not necessary to prolong tne
might be shortened.
Mr.. Mills spoke in favor Of night sessions.
However he would be glad to meet the gen
tleman tomorrow in the committee room 10
make another effort for agreement. In tne
meantime he would move recess, until
o'clock. The yeas and nays were taken, re-
sulting, yeas, 13i mays. 81. No quorum ap-
pearing, Mr.. Mills moved to adjourn and the
House, at o'clock adjourned.
OF interest to Maine People.
The Bodwell Granite Company. Rockland.
are the lowest bidders for the granite for the
masonry materials of the Augusta post Office
building. The price is about $25.Qoo.
In the Treasury Department Miss Augusta
M. Pettigrew, of Maine, has received an ap-
pointment to the $500 class in the office Of
the Sixth Auditor, under civil service rules.
Senator Hale's wife and family are to re-
turn from Europe in the course of month
or so. They will take house in Washing
ton until after the adjournment.
luncheon party was given Saturday at
Mount Vernon by Mrs: Sweat, wife OF Hon.
i, ID, M. Sweat, Of Maine. The guests were
Miss Florence Bayard, Mrs. Senator Hearst,
Mrs. Senator Gray, Mrs. Senator Manderson,
Mrs. Senator Palmer, Mrs. Swami, Mrs.
Hornby. Mrs. Langborne, Mrs. Febiger,
Miss Markoe The table was spread in the
old Estate kitchen" and Mrs. Sweat offered
the Inequalities Of the place as vice,regent
of the Mount Vernon Association for Maine.
Messrs. u. p. Ham of Lewiston and w. K.
Hilton of Portland, spent Friday and Satur-
day in Washington.
Pensions and Post offices.
Henry E. Halves was appointed postmaster
at Dixmont Center, Penobscot county, today,
vice Albert Mudgett, resigned.
. The following Maine pensions have been