Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-07-27
TARIFF REFORM BILLPASSED
Chairman Mills Makes a Speech in
Favor OF 4.
The Vote stands i0a t,Iio.

Aftert the house had been called to order on
the 2lst inst. Mr.. Mills, the author, rose 10
address that body in support of the bill
which has occupied its attention for so
many weeks.
He began by calling attention 10 the enor-
nous surplus locked up in the treasury. and
declaring that IL was contracting the Circu-
latiOn and obstruCting the wheels Of com
merce, ANA that the longer 1t was permitted
To increase the greater would be the con
traction Of the results OF labor, and the more
keenly would grow the depression of trade
Mr. Mills briefly outlined the financial con
ditiOu OF the country, and the tendencies OF
the nations capital under the influence of
present tariff laws, and then entered into the
merits OF the measure under consideration.
He said there was no state in the Union
that has tax equal 10 that levied by the
federal government, which amounts 10 -
on the 500 al the present time. And vet
this bill is characterized as free trade
measure because II proposes TO reduce this
tax TO 3 per cent. He declared in favor of
tariff tax which would simply pay the ex-
penses Of an economical administration of
the government. The tariff law Of 1916 was
denounced as free trade measure and yet
il became necessary TO reduce that tax He
made various comparisons between the
present tariff taxes and those proposed by
his BILL and inquired, as each comparison
was made VI this was free trade ~ Especial
attention was given 10 the reductions on
hemp. fax and woolens, explaining that
| they We're for the consumer "a well as the
manufacturer. and that the duty retained
on these articles was amply sufficient u af-
| ford proper protection 30 the producers
and manufacturers. He could see no free
trade tendency in any OF the reductions of
! duty. The free trade was represented in
| the free list. \ strong defense was made
| of The free list. which reduces the income
S2JOoo,oo a wear Free wool, he said, was
! but au Offset 20 the free cotton provided
/ for 10y the republican side of the house
! Nothing was said about free trade when
! the republicans pat cotton on the free list,
| but when IL was proposed TO put wool on
] the free list the combination was struck
| Wool is a necessary article for man and for
beast. 1t is the basis for all articles Of
| clothing. God never intended that il
should be taxed IL should be free. So
should salt. which is on the free list Salt
| is a necessary For the preparation OF
many kinds of food it is Indispensable, and
/ IL should and must be free But any and
, every reduction we make is charged 10 US
as free .aders.' And yet we are not in
favor O. nee whisky long and enthusiastic
applause on the democratic side Item by
! item the free list in the bill was noted
and &C rmeut made upon each.
Mr. Mills speech was just an hour In
length, and amid storms of democratic APP
plause the previous question was called on
| the democratic bill
Mckinley demanded separate vote on
the amendment placing cotton ties on the
free list. The amendment was adopted
ayes l10, nays rs.
The vote was then taken on the final pas
sage of the bill and resulted-yeas 1872
nays i49
MIR Sowden of Pennsylvania, Greenmau
and Bliss OF New York DEEMS voted
against the bill. and MIR. Fitch OF New
York. and Mr.. Nelson of Minnesota (Reps
voted for IT, The four independent mem
bers also voted aye.
or the Michigan delegation, Ch;pnan
Fisher. Ford and Tarsney voted for this
bill; Allen Burrows. Brewer, Cutcheon
Seymour and ON)onnel recorded az un.J
IT, Whiting failed ~ roach Washington I,
tiue ~ eslsf a ysLs