Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-11
DIRECT TAX BILL IN THE HOUSE.
The Senate.

The TARIFF BILL.
The Senate then, at 12:4O, resumed consider
alton Of the tariff bill, the pending question
being on Mr.. Harris amendment to reduce the
duty on beams and girder's from lilo cents
per pound to CLIO Of q cent.
MR.. VEST REPLIES TO nR. sHrRxAN.
Mr.. Vest, referring to Mr.. Sherman's speech
yesterday, denied the assertion that the late
election has settled the question Of tariff legis-
lation. He (Mr. VesD was not disheartened by
that result. II the Senator from Ohio and his
party thought that the election had settled the
tariff question a greater mistake had never
been made by mortal man. The question would
last as long as the country endured, because it
involved a fundamental difference in the con-
struction Of the constitution, aside from the
policies OF the government. If the position
one (that Of unlimited taxation for the purpose
OF protection) the war would never cease,
because it was, in his judgment, q
subversion Of the principles Of the government
and Of its autonomy. Unless he was very much
mistaken in the American people, and had
studied human nature in vain, the result was
just as sure, in the course Of time, as that he
stood in the Senate chamber to-day. But what
he had particularly wished to say was that, al
though the Senator from Ohio might be right
the protective principle, be absolutely denied.
in the most emphatic terms, that it settled the
question as to the details of the bill
AS TO THE SENATE SUBSTITUTE.
The people had not meant to indorse the
Senate substitute. The details were, as mat
ter Of course, left to be adjusted afterward.
For himself, he would exercise his right to
criticise and to oppose every single provision
OF the substitute, although it should take up
the balance OF the session, because, in his
Judgment, the highest duty Of every Senator
r,or rov,h cl and
to discuss and vote upon it intelligently. Pro-
ceeding to details, Mr.. Vest undertook to con-
travene the statement made yesterday by Mr..
Sherman that, on the metal schedule, there
was reduction Of 10 per cent duty in the sub
stitute.
Mr.. Adrich made explanations in contra
diction Of Mr.. Vests statement, and declared
that
NIB. sHERMAN's STATEMENT YESTERDAY WAS COR
RECT.
Mr.. Vest-Do understand the Senator from
Rhads Island to ssy that ON this metal schsdula
there is reduction Of 10 per cent in duties2
Mr.. Aldrich-What mean to say is that, on
large number of items in the metal schedule
there is reduction fully equal to, or in excess
of, 10 per cent
Mr.. Vest-I want an average of the whole.
Mr.. Aldrich-1t is almost impossible to give
an average.
Mr.. Sherman said that he was absolutely cor
rect IN his statement yesterday-that on the
metal articles. which are largely imported
(steel rails being the largest item) the reduc-
tion OF duties proposed in the substitute was
more than 10 per cent.
House Of Representatives.
In his opening prayer the chaplain said:
1--WE devoutly bless Thee for the illustrious in
stances Of benevolence and benefcence fur
nished lately to the land by the Puritan Daniel
Hand and the Quaker Isaiah Williams. I'm
press on the rich men of the country the
solemn lesson that great fortunes are trust
held for the benefit Of their fellow men, that
money only becomes wealth when wisely used
to help others to help themselves; that then
only it is like money, twice blessed, blessing
him who gives and him who takes Inspire
the monied classes of this prosperous country
ing them to learn that happiness is not to be
found in boarded wealth, not in selfish and
vulgar display, but in humbly following in the
footsteps of Him who came from Heaven to
teach, in life and death, by word and deed, that
it is more blessed to give than to receive"
THE DIRECT TAX BILL.
After the reading Of the journal the House
went into the committee Of the whole (Mr.
McCreary, Of Kentucky, in the chair) on the
direct tax bill
Mr.: Hopkins Ql) spoke in support Of the
amendment refunding the cotton tax. If there
was merit in the latter proposition that merit
should be discussed in q separate BILL and the
amendment should not now be brought for
ward to embarrass the consideration of the
pending measure. He controverted the posi-
tion taxed by Mr.. Barnes (Ga.) that the cot
ton tax was unconstitutional, and he cOntended
that the tax was uniform, as contemplated by
the constitution, being levied the same in
Illinois as in Georgia, and having been col
lected from rs states and territories.
THE SECTIONAL VIEW OF IT.
The assumption that this tax had been paid
by the people Of the southern states was mis-
taken one. 1t had been paid by the consumers
in the northern states. In answer to the
declaration made by certain members from the
south that that section was borne down by in
ternal revenue taxation he presented q COM
parative table to show that that declaration
was incorrect. Kit was true that the producer
and not the consumer paid the tax, it would be
seen that in the decade ending 1880, Illinois
had paid slSs, ,24s,0 900 against "a, l9O, 600 paid
Georgia.
Mr.. ALIENS coNsTITuTIoNAL VIEWS.
Mr.. Allen Miss said he could find no war
rant in the constitution for refunding Of the
direct tax. The advocates of the bill believed
IN constitutional limitations, but thought that
the limitations should be on somebody else and
not on themselves. The principle Of the blu
was bad-that the tax should be refunded be-
cause some states had not paid it. He did not
believe that any Of these back taxes should be
refunded.
THE BEST THING FOB CoN0REss TO DO
was to spit on the slate and rub out these ques-
tions, and give its attention to the present and
the future. But If Congress was going into the
business OF righting the wrongs Of the past he
Misned 70 call attention to the cotton tax
ne pictured the condition Of the south when