Evening journal., 1888-10-09
SENATE TARIFF TALK
Mr.. Allison Starts the Ball
Rolling.
AND MIR. VANCE HELPS 1T ALONG

Mr.. Allison Says the senate Bm Contem-
plates the Abolition of the Surplus.
Mr.. Vance Says the Mills nil Is for the
Relief OF tho People.
WASHINGTON, Oct 9-After disposing Of
several routine matters, the senate began the
discussion on the senate substitute for the
mousse tariff measure known as the Mills bill
Mr. Allison took the floor, and entered into
long explanation Of the substitute He
spoke Of the length OF time it had taken the
house to prepare bin not, he said, for the
purpose Of strengthening the industries Of
the country, but with the effect OF greatly
disturbing those interests From the report
OF the secretary OF the treasury for the first
quarter Of the present iiscal year he calcu-
lates that there would be a reduction Of
astOuO,0O0 in import receipts as compared
with last year, and a reduction OF Sli 600
wv as compared with the secretarys esti-
mate lie thought reduction Of S60000,-
OOO 20 s'0OO0,O10 as great as could be safely
made. The senate bill contemplated that for
the present fiscal year and years TO follow
There should be no surplus for the sinking
FUNDS, certainly none beyond the amount
necessary TO redeem bonds falling due Oct !,
1871. He could not understand by what pro
cess OF inanciering such a large surplus
should have been allowed 10 accumulate,
when the government could have purchased
bonds 50 rs to have made per cent on the
money. Coming 70 the features OF the bill,
he said that the senate bill differed from the
house bill in that it proposed to deal with all
ne schedules OF the tariff. while tho house
did not
The senate committee had sought in this
bill TO care for every industry in the conn
try lie spoke of the divergent action OF
the minority OF the committee He said the
report Of the three Democratic senators who
bad been able to agree was full Of misn-
formation. The calculation Of the reduction
to be made by the Mills bill was based on
the assumption that the importation OF arti-
cles on which the tariff was increased would
be eorrespondmgly reduced, This was prob
lematic- but there was no question OF the re-
duction 70 be made by tho senate bill II
was between Sdl 900, 600 and S73, ,OO0ooO
Speaking Of the tobacco question Mr.. ALI
son said that the committee had yielded 10
what they supposed to be a universal senti-
ment in taking the tax from that article
As TO the abolition Of the tax on alcohol Tor
use in the arts, Great Britain and Germany
had had that principle ia cir taxing system
for many years and found no difficulty ia
preventing frauds in that cunneetion.
Coming 70 the sugar question Mr. Allison
said that even with the proposed reduction
Of ~ per cent. the duty would remain at Al
per cent. ad valorem.
He believed that sufficient encouragement
for the production Of sugar from sorghum Or
beeis was left in this protection. The clTect
Of the house bill in regard to the sugar
schedule, he said, would be 20 legislate
s6,000,OOO year, or T. per cent. on their capi-
tai, into the pockets Of the sugar trust The
effect Of the proposed advance IN duty ON inn
ported cigars would not be much felt, as they
were a luxury. As to the schedule Of pro
Visions he said the senate bill proposed
specific duties as far as possible The com
mittee was considering rate ON imported
eggs The committee had substituted specific
TOR ad valorem duties on silk and silk goods,
following the Recommendation Of Secretary
Manning. This, he thought, would increase
somewhat the duty on silks.
In conclusion Mr.. Allison said that the SEN
ate bill was distinct measure Of protection
to American industries while the house bin
was a long step in the direction Of what was
known as free trade.
MIR. Vance, a member Of the minority Of
the finance committee, took the floor. He
said that the government Of the United States
had entered into a partnership with the
manufacturers Of the United States at the
close Of the war, TO establish an unhov and
iniquitous system Of taxation upon the many
for the benefit Of the few The house bill
made total reduction of S7s,O0O,OO0 How
did the senate substitute divide its reduction
Of dutiesl It took 50 from the government
for every 81 it took from the manufactures.
Mr. Vance continued at somo length to
argue that the senate bill was framed IN the
interest Of the financial casses. He said that
il Henry Clay was alive he would denounce
the senate bill most bitterly. It was non
sensical, he said, to hold that high tariff
meant high wages If it did, wages would
not differ in every state Of the union He
denied that the manufacturers furnished a
home market for the farmer. and said that
the decay Of agriculture was most noticeable
in manufacturing districts.
He accused the Republican party Of thwart-
ing the efforts Of the Democratic party 10
reduce taxes They would have the presi-
dent pay premium OF 30 per cent TO their
friends the hondholders 10 reduce the surplus;
he said the president did not choose to do it
Nobody would be deceived by the charge
that the Democratic house was responsible
for the delay in sending measure to the
senate, for it was well known that the Re
puhlicais Of the house had resisted every
step in that direction and the Democrats
who had helped them to defeat the efforts Of
the Democratic party had been lauded to the
skies.
In conclusion, he said that the house bin
had been framed 70 rslieve the people, and
the senate bill to relieve the treasury
To correct statement Of Mr.. Vance. Mr..
Aldrich said THAT the bin did not recommend
that opium be added TO the free list, but pro-
hibited its importation.
Slr. Hiseock took the aoor, and the bill
was then laid over.
An Awful Crime.
KgIGHTsTowN, Ind, Oct. 9.-The house