The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-28
DISCUSSING THE TARIFF.
a PROPOSITION TO TAKE OFF THE
TOBACCO TAX.


Mills-The Republicans Asked to
Name a Day for the Vote or Submit a
Measure of Their Own-Claims of the
Minority That They Could Pass a
Measure-Several Changes Made.
WASHINGTON, June 27.-In the house TO-
day Mr.. Mills called up the tariff bill
Then Mr.. Kelley rose and said that he had
a proposition to make which he thought
would be acceptable to both houses and the
country. Neither "Chitty's Pleadings," he
said, nor any other book indicating the
methods of reaching an issue, could lead to
a fairer or more direct issue than existed
between the two great parties Of the coun-
try. First, the President had sent congress
q message. The democratic convention
had indorsed and approved it
without qualification. The republi.
can convention had not found
in it anything worthy of commendation.
aud the issue, therefore, was perfectly clear.
The Mills bill, as it was called, had received
the approval of the st. Louis convention,
and a condemnation as cordial at the
Chicago convention. The action of the
majority of the house in urging the bill
forward had been approved at St. Louis,
and the course which had seemed ftJing
and matter of duty to the republican mi
nority of contesting every modification
which its Judgment could not approve had
been cordially approved at Chicago.
SARCASTIC LAUGHTER.
There was at this point of Mr.. Keley's
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 under
standing that if, at the November election,
it should be approved by the people the re-
publicans would withdraw their opposition;
and if, on the other hand, it should be con
demned unmistakably the bill would be no
further pressed. That would leave the
question of surplus, and upon that subject
also he 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
repealed. instead of making two bites of a
cherry and repeating about $18,000,000 of
$3l 100000 Of revenue derived from
tobacco. He thought that this proposition
should be accepted, and that the members
should not be sweltering out their lives in
Washington until the end of September.
Mr.. MILLS PROPOSITION.
Mr.. Mills said that it was true,as the gen
tleman said, that the democratic conven-
ton had indorsed the measure. which was
now before the house, for q reduction Of tax
alton on the necessaries of life. 1t was also
true that the issue was sQuarely and fairly
made, and that it must be met in the COM
ing campaign, and it must be decided in No
vember whether the people proposed to re-
h.. ~ ,-a1,, = 30,
tion on the necessaries of life, or
by reduction of the tax on
whisky These things being true, it was
somewhat remarkable that a proposition
should be submitted from the minority side
to the majority side, when that majority
side had been Instructed to go forward and
press the bill, not only to consideration, but
to final passage. The majority, W lioh was
responsible to the people for the admins
tration of the government, must go for
ward in the path of duty. Applause on
the democratic side.]
THE PATH PLAIN ONE.
That path was plain one, and it was to
press the bill in season and out of season
until unnecessary aud unjust taxation on
Che necessaries Of life was reduced, and the
surplus in the treasury relieved. Applause.
He had counter proposition to make. II
Nhe gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Kelley had faith in his own proposition it
seamed to be the part of wisdom for the
minority TO welcome the time when vote
should be taken upon the bill and democrats
put On record upon it. [Applause on demo
cratic side.1 He (Mr Mills made the
proposition that there should be astop put to
unnecessary talk in the way of obstI tIucting
the passage of the bill, and that an early
day should be fixed upon which the bill
should be put upon Its passage IN the house.
THE MINoRITY's POSITION.
Mr.. Reed of Maine said that the PROPOSE
ton by the gentleman from Pennsylvania
lMr. Kelley had been properly declared to
be an individual suggestion. Applause on
republican sidel The republican party had
resolved by its properly constituted assem-
bly, that it would give due and deliberate
consideration to every item of the Mills
bill, believing that it was its duty to explain
and expose the errors of the measure. He
desired here and now to repeat the assertion
which had been made in the open day so
many times that there had been no discus
sion here with any purpose OF delay, moth
ing but honest and fair discussion, fairly
brought out by political attack upon the
Industries of the United States of America.
Applause on the republican side.] The re-
publican party had taken the ground before
the country that system of protection
was valuable in itself, and because 1T was
to the interest aud advantage of the Ameri-
can community, was not to be sacrificed.
By that doctrine the republicans would
stand, and by that sign they would con-
quer. Applause on the republican sidel
WANT TO FIX A DATE.
Mr.. Breckinringe of Kentucky said that
he did not intend to make any passionate
speech in response to the gentleman of
Maine (Mr. Reed, but he rose for the pur-
pose of suggesting that day be fixed for
taking vote upon the bill 1t might as
we'll be understood now as at any other
time that the majority Of the representa-
tives of the people upon the floor intended
to have vote on the bill unless March 4
was reached by obstructive tactics,
I'VE are perfectly willing, interpolated
Mr.. Buchanan of New Jersey,l and IL
the gentleman from Maine (hr Reed
was candid in his statement, and he ac-
cepted the statement as candid-and moth
ing mp to this time had been done for OBJ
struction and nothing would be done for
obstruction in the future-surely some
practical agreement could be arrived at.
This was an effort to reduce taxation.
"Oh, no." came in chorus from the
republican side.
"Oh, yes" retorted Mr.. Breckenridge,
mot oh, mo- but oh, yes, it does reduce
taxation. It does relieve burdens IL does
take money that would, under the present
system, go into tho pockets OF the favored
Class and keeps it in the pockets Of the men
that earn it, TApplausc on the democratic