Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-05-24
THE TARIFF DEBATE.
The Discussion of the Mills Bill
Drawing to Gloss.

synopses OF Speeches Delivered in the
House of Representatives by
AIessrs. Randall, Mckinley
and breckenridge.
At 11:o5 a. m. Mr.. Randall tPa.) was recog-
nlzed The floor was filled with members
and the galleries crowded with spectators.
many of the diplomatic corps being in their
gallery. Mr.. Randall opened by reading
portion Ct the Presidents message
and drawing therefrom the inference
that the President was averse to any reduction
of internal taxation and desired the whole le-
duction of taxes to fall on the tariff. He diff
fered from the President on these points. and
advocated the total repeal Of all internal
taxes Republican applausel, except the reten-
ton of a tax of fifty cents gallon on whisky
not used in the arts, and the collection of this
tax he would transfer to the customs officers.
He would also revise the tariff as promised by
the Democratic platform of 1884. He discussed
IN detail the principles of the bill introduced by
himself on these lines.
Mr.. Randall's voice became so inaudible that
members shouted "louder..' Promptly at the
expiration of his hours time twelve o'clock)
the Speakers gavel fell. Mr.. Randalrs disap-
pointment was plain.
There were cries of "Go on,' go ON.
Mr.. Mills walked down the aisle and shouted
sTobject". Groans and cries OF ''Oh, oh.-don't.
DON'T came from both sides of the House. and
members focl1ed around the chairman of the
ways and means committee and begged him to
withdraw his objections and permit Mr.. RAN
dali to proceed but Mr. Mills was memorable.
Finally, Mr. Randall asked personal favor
that he be given few minutes more
mo. / will not withdraw my objection" said
Mr.. Mills. 81 must draw the line, and draw it
here"
At this there were renewed groans, Kisses and
EXPLANATIONS of "oh, OH.
<t,1 Ie@ fl,oo pio Nfr oL( MI
who follows Mr.. Randall. arose and said he
would give the gentleman from Pennsylvania
fifteen minutes of his (McKinley's 81 time. This
was received by tremendous applause.
Mr.. Breckenridge CKy.) who follows Mr.. M C
Kinley, then proposed to give an equal amount
of time from his hour, and Mr.. Randall re-
sumed his speech.
He quoted from Edw ard Atkinson to show
That since the close of the war, and even since
the so-caled panic of 1873, there had been
greater progress in the common welfare among
the people of the United States than ever be-
fore The statements of Mr.. Atkinson Mr.
Randall thought, seemed to settle the question
to whether we should adhere to the benevo-
lent policy of protecting home manufactures.
1t demonstrated Enthusiastically the truth that
to increase wages products must be increased,
for in the end. wages were but the laborers
share of the products. While dollar might
buy more in another country than here days
labor here would obtain more of the comforts
of life than anywhere else. Under free trade
this advantage to labor disappeared, 1t was
impossible it should be otherwise If the tariff
itself did not give higher wages to the laborer,
it did preserve from foreign competition the
industries from which the laborer received
his wages,
Referring to fundamental proposition
which had been advanced in this tariff discus
sion-that the duties were always added to the
price to the consumer, Mr.. Randall said that
cp ,r+;n1 mot in tic ntruf &c
doubtless was true as general rule, and meas
urably true on articles in part produced in this
country, but not in sufficient quantities to sup
ply the home market. But on all commod ties
produced in sufficient quantities to supply the
home market different principle controlled.
In these things competition determined the
price, and the foreign producers came into
this market, where prices were liked,
and the duties were what he paid
for the privilege of coming into the
market. Another erroneous proposition
that had been put forward was that duties on
articles produced in this country were tax or
bounty. which the consumer paid to the manu-
facturer. by which the manufacturer derived
large profits. Monopoies, Mr.. Randall said.
existed without the tariff. The Standard Oil
Trust and other trusts were not produced by it.
He was for protection of labor in all States.
Referring to the late Secretary Manning's re-
ports on economic questions, he said that they
were marvels of honest, conscientious and eff.
fective labor. He quoted extensively from
them. He then took up the criticisms that
had been made on the metal schedules of his
own bill, and quoted figures sustaining his po-
sl.on.
In criticizing the Mills bill, he said that a
large number OF articles were placed on the
free, list, supposedly as free raw material,
which were really manufactured articles.
These were lumber, glue, oils, clay. china, ETC.
The bill placed on the free-lst as so-called raw
materials various articles which it would be
impossible to manufacture in this country ex-
ccpt by reducing American labor to worse
condition than that of the laborcr of Europe
He asserted that instead Of reducing customs
revenue fifty-four millions, the effect would be
to largely increase the revenue while it would
destroy an incalculable amount OF
material wealth. He stated that the
bill would give free tin plates to the
Standard Oil Company, and would impose
duty of one hundred per cent. on rice. 1t would
make free the animals imported by the gentle
men of the turf, and free statuary to the mill
ionaire. He said that he did not think the
adoption of the committees bill would make
sure Democratic control of the Federal Gov
He woul not be coerced by party
caucus. The period of the political caucus had
never to return, and yet the party
should confer and have unity if possible.
In conclusion, Mr.. Randall spoke OF indus
trial development in the Southern States. A
new era of industrial enterprise, he said, had
already dawned upon the South. No section of
the country possesses greater natural advan-
tages than the South, with her genial climate:
her limitless raw materials: her mines of coal
and iron, with abundant labor ready TO develop
them. Considering what has been there
achieved in single decade. what may not
century bring forth, under system calculated
to favor the highest industrial developments
''When read the history of my country, and
consider the past and present, and reflect on
what is before us. I can not believe that the
tdao hicbfy int no mi cir of
will ever again dominate the destinies of the
Republic
He analysed the metal schedule of the Mills
bill, and declared it would bring about meal
culable injury to the industries of America.
He could find nothing in the bill which gave a
return for free wool. He found many nequali-
ties in it, and discovered few features intended
to relieve the poor or the laboring man AS he
dwelt on these features Of the bill, his voice
grew louder, and he became almost eloquent.
He referred to the declarations of his colleague
(Mr. Scott), who sat near. as supercilious, and
said he would consign them to the obscurity
they should be cast into. He pleaded with
his Democratic friends not to undo the good
which has been done the manufacturing in
1ustries by the protective tariff, and read
from Jefferson, Monroe and other Democratic
forefathers to prove that protection was a
Democratic principle. He closed
With tribute to the results and principles of
protection, and asked that they be maintained
and maintained through the efforts of the
pa ty that instituted them.
Messrs. Foran tO) DEM, Wise, fVa-) Dem
Ind Kelley (PaD Rep, were first to eX-
end congratulations to Mr. Randall at the
of his speech. Unanimous consent
vas granted that the time to be given Messrs.
and Breckenridge be extended with
tut limit.
Mr. Mckinley began speaking at 1910 p. m.
4 large body of members carried their chairs
rom their desks and seated themselves about |
he gentleman from Ohio who began
~ saying that his objection to
he reductions proposed by the Mills
Jill was not to the Reductions themselves but