The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-07-20
PREPARED FOR SATURDAYS VOTING.
The Mills Bill Finally Rugged for the
Expectant Democracy.
Mr.. springer's Tropical EIoquence
Very Fiourishing.
Messrs. Reed and Dingley Show up
Democratic Hypocrisy.

WASHINGTON, July 10.
In the Senate to-day large number of
bills were takeE from the calendar and
passed, and the Senate proceeded to tie con-
sideraton of executive business.
The House went into committee Of the
whole on the tariff bill, the pending amend
ment being that offered by Mr.. Mills, restor.
ing the present rate of duty on tobacco. The
amendment was agreed to without division.
The present rate of duty was restored on
pipe bowls and all smokers articles not 9TH
erwise provided for.
The next paragraph was that imposing a
duty of 30 per cent ad rQl0rem on bonnets,
hats and hoods, composed of hair, whale
bone or any vegetable material.
Mr. Elbach moved to increase the duty TO
80 per cent, stating that he did so in the in
terest and at the request of the hatters of
his district. 1t was lost. He then offered
an amendment fixing the rate of duty on
pearl buttons at 4 cents per line per gross
English measurement. 1t was rejected.
Mr.: Springer Of Illinois, called Mr.. Dock
cry OF Miss0usl TO the chair, and addressed
the committee in regard to the bill. He
stated that % days and eight evening ses-
S10ns had been consumed in general debate,
and 151 speeches had been made. The de-
bate under the five minute rule had consumed
up to today 2S days or 100 hours. The debate
would be remembered as the most remark
able ever occurred in parliamentary history.
1t had awakened lively interest through
out the civilized world, and henceforth, So
long as our government should endure,
would be known as the great tariff debate of
1888. he then proceeded to argue in support
OF the free wool feature Of the bill. He said
the high tariff on wool restricted the wool
growers to the home market. Since the i'm
position of the high protective tariff Of 1867
there had been many seasons of depression,
hard times and disaster in the wool and
woolen industries. Why not try new de-
parture as proposed? Put all woods on the
goods. The probable effect would be to re-
duce greatly the price of woolen goods while
the quality Of goods would be much inn
proved. This would create larger de-
mand and would cause an advance in the
prices of raw woods for manufacturing pur-
poses. This increased demand and conse-
quent increase in the price of wool would
soon restore the prices prevailing under pro-
lection without increasing the cost of wool
en- goods. This. statement was confirmed
by the truth of history. The reduction
of the tariff on wool or its abolition had
more frequently resulted in increasing the
price OF raw wool than in reducing it. Free
wool would bring increased health and COM
fort to every house in the land, cheap and
abundant woolen clothing to our working
men during the rigors of the northern winter
would cover the floor of the poor mans house
with woolen carpet; would furnish his
children with suitable apparel for school and
church; would cover the beds of the people
with all wool blankets in the winter time and
furnish the working man, his wife, daughters
and sons with more solid enjoyments than
any other act OF legislation that could be de-
vised. 1t would stimulate manufactures,
create demand for labor, machinery and
fuel in every branch of industry, would give
a healthful impetus and new life to all trades,
professions and employment There would
be no falling off in the production of wool in
this country. No hands now employed could
possibly be thrown out of employment. 1t
would result in benefit to all, injury to none.
Pass the bill and a new era of industrial
prosperity would dawn. Factories weuld
spring up in the States Of the Southwest and
the Territories. Those already in existence
would run ON full time and increase their
plant from year to year. In after years,
when the full measure of its countless bless
1ngS should nave been realized, the genera
tions then living and those which might come
alter, would rise up and invoke the blessing
of Providence upon those who originated it,
and upon those who gave to 1t the force and
power of law. [Applause.l
Mr.. Dlngley OF Maine argued that where
imported articles came into competition
with articles produced in the country the
consumer did not pay tax. He ridiculed Mr.
Springer's arguments. declared the tariff on
wool and woolens stimulated the manufac-
ture of wooden goods, and held the home
market for our producers. The temporary
effect of putting wool on the free list might
be to deprecate the price of wooden goods
to the extent of the reduction of the duty,
but when the home manufactures were de-
stroyed, then the price would again rise and
ultimately the consumer would have to pay
more than at present Protection had de-
yeloped the wool industry, and if not broken
down, would soon enable our farmers to pro-
duce all the woolen goods consumed in the
country. He then proceeded in general
way to denounce the Mills bill as slaughter
tering every farming interest in the North,
while leaving duty of 68 per cent on sugar
and 1C9 per cent on rice.
Mr.. Gallinger of New Hampshire ridiculed
as illogical the position taken by the adyo-
Gates Of free wool that placing wool on the
Iree list would not cheaper raw wool, but
make woolen clothes cheaper. The stand
taken by his colleague (McKinney) in favor
OF free wool, would insure an additional Re-
publican representative from New Hamp-
shire in the next Congress, and he doubted
not that other sections of the country would
give enough gains to make the next CONGRESS-
in harmony with the administration of Pres-
ident Harrison. Applause from the Repub.
lican side.
Mr.. Butterworth, of Ohio, said the bill
would pass the house against the protest of
every Republican representative, with one or
two exceptions. No industry affected by the
measure had been accorded a hearing
Neither had any working man nor interest
affected
Mr.. Reed contrasted the appearance of the
Democrats at the beginning of the tariff de-
bate with that they presented today, and ac-
cused them OF taking back water on free
trade because they had begun to hear from
the people, because of the fact that the people
were In favor of the American doctrine of
pr0Iectl0n. Applause on the Republican
slde.l And from now until election the great
efort OF the gentlemen on the other side
would be to explain away the declarations
they so boldly made, and show that Cleve-
land himself was a thorough protectionist
side.]
Mr.. Springer said the gentleman from
Maine showed his usual popularity of sneer-
Ing at and scolding the Democratic side
mat gentleman reminded him of Pooh Bah,
who was born with sneer and kept that ex-
preston to the day of his death. The min
ority of the committee on ways and means
had come into the House with a flourish of
trumpets, and declared that if they could not
amend the Mills bill they would offer sub
stitute. Where, oh where, was that substi-
tute: [Laughter.I The Democrats were not
AFRAID TO go to the country on the issue pre-
sented. On Saturday next the roll would be
called, and that roll call would be heard
around the whole world. In November next
the popular voice would be heard in the tri-
nmphant reelection of Grover Cleveland.
IApplause on the Democratic side.l
This closed the consideration of the bill in
committee Of the whole, and upon motion of
Mr.. Mills it was reported to the House with
favorable recommendation amid hearty ap-
plause from the Democrats. Further con-
sideration was postponed until 11.30 Satur-
day morning.
The House then took recess until SEQ
o'clock.
This evening the House passed the bill
providing that the army be paid monthly
whenever the Secretary of War shall so di-
rect. The previous question was ordered on
bills retiring Gen. William f. (Baldy) Smith
with the rank of colonel, Gen. A. ]. Smith
with the rank of colonel, Gen. w. w. Averill
to State homes for the support of disabled
soldiers and sailors, but no final action was
taken.
The House at 1850 adjourned.
Fusion Expected In Michigan.