New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-09
FIGHTING FOR PROTECTION
SENATOR ALL1soN's STRONG ARGUMENT.

\ TAME SPEECH FROM Mr.. vANCE-MR. ALLISON
CoRRECTS FREE-TRADE ERRoRs-THE SEN
ATE SUBSTITUTE EXPLAINED HOW
LONG WILL THE DEBATE LAST.
fsr rxIxoRArH TRIBuNE-
Washington, Oct e-The contest between free
trade and protective tariff was renewed in the Sen
ate to-day. Before Mr. Allison began his speech
Senator Harris, in behalf OF the minority, desired
to obtain unanimous consent that general debate
should close at the expiration Of ten days. The re
guest was not granted, because no time whatever
would DO gained II the Senate should fie itself with
such agreement Every person familiar with the
rules Of that body knows that after general DEBATE
ends any Senator may speak as often and as long
as hs may choose, on any proposition to amend the
bill
Senator Allison spoke with unusual vigor, and his
lucid explanation OF the provisions OF the substitute,
Is well his cogent arguments In favor Oh H. ana
his merciless exposure of the crudties, absurdies
and other shortcomings of the Dark Lantern Dill
were received with careful attention by the Senators
present Mr.. Allison also exposed the absurdities
and which abound In the document
called the "views of the Minority The minority
had not even taken the trouble TO correct the esti-
mates OF probable reduction contained in the Dark
Lantern" report submitted to the House, but had
incorporated that document entire with its estimates
Of about s7s 100000 total reduction, although sub
seQuent action by the House had lowered the esti-
mate TO some 81 100000.
Senators Harris and Vance appeared to be en-
barrassed when this piece Of carelessness was cx-
posed. Mr. Allison brought out clearly the radical
difference between the manifest intent and purpose
OF the House bin and the Senate substituteone being
essestally freetrade measure, While the other IS
designed to foster and encourage American labor
and industries, as well 10 reduce the revenues
Mr.. Allison, who is chairman of the Appropriations
Committee, well member of the Finance Com
mttee, is, of course. thoroughly familiar with cS-
Inmates, appropriations and expenditures, and his
remarks on the surplus and the proper measure OF
reduction are entitled to great weight lie showed
that the substitute goes TO the verge of safety
in reducing the revenues He also criticised in Sc
we're terms the policy of loaning 10 favored banks
without interest, and for indefinite period, $780,
600 900 of the surplus, which might have been
applied the reduction of the public debt and have
yielded the Government profit equal to = per
cent.
One Of the strongest parts of Mr.. Alson's speech
that which dealt with the internal revenue
question. lie showed conclusvely that the release
from taxation of alcohol used in manufactures and
the arts be accomplished without danger to the
revenue from the tax on distilled spirits used as
q beverage, while the internal tax sections OF the
House bill virtually provide for free wiskey, pro-
vided II be turned in distlleries with smaller
capacity than twenty five bushels per day.
In discussing tho sugar schedule, Mr. Allison re-
ferred to the Views Of the Minority" in which
the tariff is denounced as the nursing mother OF
trusts He seemed TO think that 1t required vast
deal Of assurance for mon to denounee trusts and
In almost the same breath favor bill which, to
Mr.. Allisons words, "lcgislates So,OOO,OOO per
annum into the pockets of the Sugar Trust, sum
equal to IL per cent Of the total capital employed
In the sugar refining industry Of the United States,
tax which is paid by the domestic consumers and
bears most heavily the poor
Everybody hoped when Senator Vance took the
81 To Mn nisnn 70
marks the subject of trusts but he diu not
do His speech had been written beforehand, and
he did not wander from mis- manuscript, which CON
tanned some remarkable misstaements which showed
conclusivcly that he had not read the Senate sub
stitute. Mr.. Vance has recently written series of
frcetrade essays, which have been published in The
Baltimore SUM-" and from which he seemed TO have
drawn freely for his speech of today. a single
example will indicate the care and thoroughness
with which the Senator has studied the substitute
IL contains a section which Absolutely prohibits the
importation Of opium PREPARED for smohng ana OF
opium containing less than per cent OF mO O9 n
fciturc Of all such opium imported In violation OF
law, or found in the United states; and yet Mr.
Vance, member Of the Finance Committee who
signeo the views of the minority, asserted that the
Finance Committee had placed opium for smoking
on the free list, and was disposed TO insist that
this was another proof of Republican friendship for
the general improvement of affairs since = economy
and public virtue in with the Democratic party
smile when he used The words above quoted. OF
course Mr.. Vance declared in the most solemn and
emphatic terms he could employ, that he is not
free trader and that the Dark Lantern" bin IS not
q free trade measure and If to show how sin
cere the declarations were his speech was plcnti-
fully nterlarded with such expressions as these:
"This unholy and Ubiquitous system Of taxation
referring the tariff.
- substitute which actually proposes TO give to
its panpered benefciaries a bonus of $1,000 600"
"'The incarnation by law of human seltshness.'
"This shameful iniQuity."
These barons of the eXchequer who divide an
untold of plumber"
To satisfy every tariff robber' ,.r
system Of simple and unmitigated plumber
AS the "tar-heel' statesman dealt out these and
other like phrases. of his colleagues looked
appIehensvely a. Senator Joe" Brown, who listened
lntcntly, with an expression of grim disapproval
He IS sturdy believer in the protective system, and
he was careful and approving auditor during the
delivery of Mr.. Allison's powerful argument. But
Senator Vance is a of courage, as he proved
today and If he noticed any signs of dsapprobation
ON the Democratic side, he did not regard them.