The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-04-25
TARIFF DEBATE IS BEGUN.
CONGRESSMAN MILLS, OF TEXAS, SETS
The BALL ROLLING IN The LOW
ER HOUSE.
HE DEFENDS HIS BILL.
Asserting that the Yankee Worker
Really Needs no Protection
At All.
If-rGr rFTry YFArs Trrr t<eAr-rr OK
HE DEFENDS HIS BILL.
JUDGE KELLY LEAIs THE ASSAULT OK
THE 'BILL WITH USANswERABLE Ar
GU,iEST- AMERICAN INDUSTRY DE-
FENDED-THE FR0TECTIoN OF
svGAK ESsrEAD OF

Z WASHINGTON, April ls.-N.. Roger =.
Mills, with his thin gray hair cut very
short and bis cheeks reddened by the sea
! breeze of Old Point Comfort. opened the
attack on American industries this after
noon 10 iairly well filed house. From
+ a sensational or even entertaining point
T OF view the affair was not striking SUE
eess. on the floor vacant seats here and
there showed the absence Of a compara-
lively large number OF members. while in
the galleries the comfortable seating Of
all the spectators was in marked contrast
to the pushing crowds who usually come
TO the Capitol on a field day. During the
whole speech, except for the occasional
perfanctory demonstrations of the Demo-
erats, there was very little excitement
among the members. and no expression
from the audience.
Judge Kelley in responding for the pro-
tectionists was greeted with round Of
Republican applause, but be read a large
proportion of his speech and kept the
audience more inieres:el than enthusias-
tic. Altogether it was a commonplace
opening to what will be a memorable
fight Mr. Mills himself looked better
than his friends bad expected. He toyed
nervously with his watch chain, and
shifted excitedly every few moments in
his seat, bu. his color was good. hisface as
round as before his sickness AMI his voice
at frst strong and vigorous. Parsee 3"
Moore, who had the Speakers seat in the
members gallery, looked down anxious
ly from above and Clerk Talbot Of the
Ways and Means Committee had a for
tiication of books and papers by his
side, but ne got along without much
assistance
His most apparent weakness was in his
hands, which tFembled as though palsied
when he attempted 10 turn the page of a
pamphlet As he approached the end Of
his speech his voice broke badly, but he
drank ali the more vigorously of the beef
tea which was kept before him, and man
aged to finish apparently without omit
ting anything he had intended to SAY.
The Democrats, though they failed to
welcome him, listened to him closely and
at the close crowded up 10 shake hands
with him. Mr. Randall was one Of the
most attentive listeners, but he did not
appaud him at any time, nor did lie Of
fer congratulations when the speech was
done. Among the others who were con
spicGous iii that same neglect were a
i number Of Northern Democrats. who
have been constantly claimed to vote for
the bin. Republicans at first listened
carefully, but after the first half hour was
done their side began to show e few more
empty seats. 3lilliken Of Maine and
Brunm Of Pennsylvania interrupted once
with questions, but they got no satisfac-
tory answers from Mr.. Mills, and Judge
Kelley, obtaining the floor for a moment
asked that no such Interruptions should
take place again. 'rhe free traders are
stating their platform, said he, and an
interruption at this time is an imperti-
nence.'
Mr.. Mills speech went pretty thor
oughly over the entire free trade argu-
ment. commeneing at the reduction Of
taxes and ending with the American
workmen and their unfortunate eondi-
ton on account Of protection. Part Of it
was intended to show that the taxes dis
criminated against the poor and in favor
of the rich, and the other part 10 show
that the protective duties were seized By
the manufacturers and prevented in any
way from reaching the workmel or the
poorer classes. Between these two prop
0sitions, probably in or,ier forest himself
he rehashei his Providence speech on
the benefits Of free trade in wool.
As he began Judge Kelley courteously
asked that unanimous consent De given
10 extend his time as long a. he wished,
and everybody was surprised to hear an
objection. Ii came from the Democratic
side, and Was finally traced down to a
lenk, sallow- faced individual with q
straw eolored goatee, who IS known
among the Democrats as Nr. Hare Of
Texas. Mr.. Hare had been under the
impression that il was his duty TO object
to anything that Republican would ask
and without knowing what Judge Hel-
ley's request was he had shouted his OBJ
lection on the general principle that il
must be wrong. Aiter the fact that he
was opposing his own leader had been in
serted into his consciousness ne With
drew his opposition hurriedly, and Mr.
Mills proceeded.
Speaking first Of the tariff as a legacy
of the war he asserted that it had been
reduced in few particulars, and that sub
stantiaily il vas as great to-day as when
the revenue it produced was needed for
the expenses Of the armies. Other tax
es, he said, which the war had made
necessary, we're distinguished from the
tariff by being levied on rich men, and
they had been removed by the RepubIi-
cans at the earliest opportunity. The in
come tax on manufacturers, on railroads,
etc, had been removed, bat the war tax
on clothing still remained.
The showing Of the minority Of the
Ways and Means Committee that they
had reduced the revenues was simply
their own confession that they bad taken
the burden from the rich mems shoul-
ders The Democrats would have reduc-
ed the tariff. but the Republicans would
not let them. Leaving this portion Of
his subject. he passed into a hong argu-
ment in which he repeated his Provi-
dence computation about the double
number Of days labor it took workman
TO buy WOODEN clothing under the pres
eut tariff, and the half number OF DAYS
in which the manufacturer made his
profit, also on account of the tariff
High duties prohibited and limited i'm
portations and expectations. We were
feeding the people Of Europe, and when