The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-20
MIR. BRECKENRIDGE.
Kentucky's er-Tongued Orator
Expressed His Views Friday On
the Great Question.
He Followed Mr.. Randall and
Helped to Spoil His Speech.
His Address Is Truly Characters
istic and Strong One.
II Creates Great Applause All ovey
the House--Even tho Ladies' Join
In and Show Their Apprecia-
ton of Statesmanship.

WASHINGTON, May l0.-Following Is tho
full report OF the speech Of the Hon. w.
@. T., Breckenridge, OF Kentucky, in sup-
port OF tho Mills bill
When the committee on ways and
means was announced on January 8, it
necessarily had 10 confront this condition
OF affairs and attempt TO frame bill which
would 80 reduce the revenues OF the gov
crnmcnt as to bring lis legitimate expcnsea
and its revenues close together; and this,
too, in such way IA to reduce the burden
Of taxation upon the people. 1t recognized
that the revenues could bo reduced by
raising the duties TO prohibitory standard
but this only increased the burdens Of
taxation.
The repeal OF the entire internal revenue
law would also reduce the revenue TO q
point where there might be an annual de-
felt Of 10000, 900, but this deficit could
not work harm for the present, rs the SUR
plus remaining on June 30, 1883, would
be sufficient TO comply with the require-
ments Of the sinking fundun 1901, when
the AIS fall due. But no largo section Of
the American people really favored plan
which removed taxation from spirits, beer
and tobacco, and left the nocessarics OF
| life burdenod; nor was the committee
willing, In the asserting OF taxes and
In tho attempt TO give substantial relief
| from the present unnecessary taxation, to
adopt n plan which did not light a single
| furnace, cause q single wheel to rcvolve,
give 10 labor n single days wages, or re-
move from commercial activity any bur-
dcns nor from the manufacturer any an-
noyanco. This plan simply took from tho
| public treasury that amount Of taxes which
| were voluntarily paid In mode which
distributed those taxes equally, impariially
and not by burdens upon tho ncccssiticsof
| life.
| Rejecting, therefore, the proposition 10
increase the duties for the purpose Of re-
ducing tho revenues OF the government
and increasing the revenues Of the manu-
iacturcrs and the proposition 10 repeal tho
| internal revenue system, the committee
attempted 90 imme bill which would re-
ducc the revenues by q safe amount and
would relieve ~ far ~ moderate bill
could do, the evils Of the present unequal
system, reform the inequalities of tho
present tariff aud promote American in.
NNNNlNif " ENNNN " hNi'fNNNNA NNNRI ANt
hope oi q permanent, able aud profitable
market. II recognized that n system which
had been In existence for over quarter Of
q century could not be hastily nor reck-
lcEsly overturned. II desired 10 harm no
/ industry. II constantly lCant In favor Of
the established rates of duty, aud In case
Of doubt proposed a rate which IL believed
20 be entirely safe. No one can appreciate
moro than W. that trouble reported by us
does not answer oil conditions OF today;
that many duties are lcit NJ a rate entirely
too high; that the relief which ought 10
be- given has not been granted 10 the ex-
tent which the condition Of the country
aud Of labor required but | venture 10
affirm that under all tho circumstances
which surrounded us-tying 10 perform
an oncrous public duty with an eve single
to the public goOd-we have reported q
bill which every iair.mindcd mum in
America may acccpt as wise, moderate
aud proper legislation. Aud upon this
statement, i0r one, | am willing 10 20 10
the country and 10 submit TO ils Judgment.
Referring 10 the criticism OF Mr.. Burrows,
Of Michigan, upon the committee ON
ways and means, aud Us manner Of lram-
ing the hill under discussion, when ho
stated that IN his criticisms he was Nlulat-
ing no secrets 81 thc cOminitlgc.fOOm, Mr..
| Bncknrdro said With q wit which
was cqunlled by the courtesy and much
! greater than the dc-irc Tor accuracy cNlib-
| tied, the gentleman from Michigan inHin-
untrd what no would not BE- reckless
enough 10 that not only WIS tho
| bill reported not prepared 10y ihe commit-
/ tee on ways and means, which reported u,
/ but that there was no member Of the ma
| lority ~ lost 10 all sense Of personal pndo
/ -. 1 that IA
| IL within the most rigorous bounds Of par
| liamcntary language 10 say that this u abb
aoluicly without foundation. In iis
length, breadth, hight, depth and thick
ness tis tho creation Of the gcnilcmans
| fancy, except that ho violated no secrets
/ OF the committeo-roOm Ia making tho
statements What lao violated leave TO
him 10 determine.
As no meeting In that committco.room
OF elsewhere, nj no time or place, IN no
manner whatever has the majority Of that
committee over given anyone any nmtcnso
Ia sny that u denied the responsibility Of
the bill or that anyone but tho members Of
the majority were la any degree RESPONSE
bic for n.
OF course any bin not In whole nor in
mart prepared by thcgcnicman from Mich
| gan would iail To meet his approval, for Il
! ~ ANlN INNHNAAk N'AhA ~ N'ANf'tHNA@ - -
opinion that they alone arc competent 10
prepare tariff bills, and u Il were possible
Tor job 10 return and AK that olden qucs-
ton which puzzled the depth and tho sea,
"whoro Il wisdom 20 be found, aud where
Il the place Of understanding" the modest
gentleman from Michigan, either alone OF
In company with some Of bis colleagues,
would iccl constrained by the irresistible
sense Of duty aud Of fitness 90 rise, and
with downcast eye but firm demcanor ana
hand resting on his many breast, answer
"here."
put n Il propcr that this House and tho
country should know what doubt not 70
known that this bill was the result OF great
labor, OF q desire 90 reach lair and con-
scryatlye compromise measure; aud that
every item OF Il underwent the scrutiny OF
every member Of the majority Of thc COM
mitiee. As a whole Il Is eompfemisa
Of independent and earnest opinions o.
earnest men bent on practical legislation.
II does not pretend 10 change a system.
10 set aside the present system and sun.
sutule, In lieu oil, another and different