Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-05-19

IN the AFTERNOON he House vas IN upr0ar-
The chairman recognized Mr.. Mckinley W no
gracefully yielded fifteen minutes of his
time TO Mr.. Randall He was earnestly ap-
plauded. Mr.. Randall in his turn yielded a
minute 10 Breckenridge. who made the pro-
position that Randall yield back the time TO
Mckinley and Randall be permitted 10 pro-
ceed with limit, the time consumed TO come
equally out of Mckinley's and his own. This
was agreed to with round of applause
from both siles and Ranial concluded.
| Randall concluded his speech at l2. 35 aud
was followed by Mckinley of Ohio.
Mckinley said that both parties agreed that
the revenue should be reduced The con-
tention was over the method. All parties
| agreed that the tobacco tax should be abol-
ished stopping $50 600 900 in revenue. The
members of both parties united at the last
session to secure recognition for the purpose
of offering the bill. abolishing that tax. The
/ speaker refused recognition, though two
thirds of the House favored the movement.
Had the bill been passed there would have
been no surplus TO distribute to the country.
If the tobacco tax was repealed now, the sec
retary of the treasury says, there would be
forty millions of the surplus left. The ques-
ton is as 10 the means of get
ting rid of that forty millions.
anu mere pdruts anu lilulNiuudls ulSlue.
Therein is manifested the two lines of polit-
cal thought which have existed since the for
nation of the government, namely, revenue
tariff or protective tariff. He congratulated
the country on the issue and welcomed it.
Mckinley then defined a revenue tariff and IA
protective tariff, and showed by illustration
hat the Mills bill was revenue tariff bill.
lie said that beyond the twenty -four million
.eduction on tobacco, the bill would not re-
Guce the revenue one cent. The twenty
>even million reduction expected from the
rec list would be more than offset by the iu-
rseased revenues from the lower duties and
Ilie consequent increased importations. In
>lead of reducing the duties all along the line
Il! bill increases them. The bill is unfair
- sections and raised the question of section
alsm, which he much regretted The sub
sittution of an adyalorem for specific svs-
ID IN of assessment ought to defeat the bill.
There can be no honest administration of the
;, venue laws as long as the value of an i'm
ported article is left to be ascertaincd by ex-
rts thousaad miles away from the point
of production. New England's prosperity
" rs due largely to protection. Her pros
lg rity benefited every citizen of the Uni'ed
-ates. He showed by statistics that
N2w England was better market
i,r southern and western products than
4 i'd England. The country was ready for
fee trade the moment European producers
ould bring their labor up to the American
lndard. The gentlemen on the other side
t. lked cheap clothing. Cheap clothing was
o narrow for a National issue. The speak
et produced IA suit of all wool clothes bought
Il; the store of Congressman Morse in Bos-
ton for $40, forty per ct. cheaper than they
could be bought in 1860 under low tariff and
" wages. Mckinley gave figures showing
Il at blankets hich in 1860 cost $40 and
3 apiece, today could be bought for S5 IS
and So TO- On the other hand spinner, weaver,
uGskilled finisher and skilled finisher who
il 1860 were paid respectively Sc, 81, $3.50
I'd Sc week, today receive respectively
-, 10, 50 and SIG per week. Mckinley
il conclusion said that eved the democrats
Y 10 believed in protection must get out of
tie way of the free trade procession. The
l. ljorty of the representatives were not au
4. ,rzed to vote for this bill by the election
ci 1886. That was not the issue The
ouse was not elected on that issue. He
alIepged the authority of the gentlemen
6 the other side, under instructions given
tenn by the people two years ago, to force
It's measure through the House
Scott of Pennsylvania, said he voted for
l.,t cOnsluetatlou Ol tHv hlOrIlsUH hlli anu
H. people sent him back with double ma
jo,ity.
Mckinley said he knew that but one man
Who had between thirty and forty thou sand
n les of railroid, coal mines all over crea-
ton and plantations in Virginia could
come to Congress in an off year on almost
a'.y issue.
Scott replied that he had come to Congress
in the Presidential year from district which
ga se Blaine 5000 majority and gave him
9Gl majority.
Mckinley said to the gentleman that his
associates go back to the people and ask to
be selected to the 5lst Congress on this bill
and the Presidents message. Then if a
majority is returned you are authorized to
vote for the bill.
When Mckinley concluded he was greeted
with round after round of applause, and
was Immediately surrounded by party of
colleagues who were profuse in congratula
tons.
Mr. Mckinley completed at 2.40 what was
considered by many as the best protectionlst
speech of the debate and he was enthusias
tically applauded and congratulated by his
party colleagues.
He was followed by Mr.. Breckenridge of
Kentucky, Who upon rising, was warmly ap-
plauded and cheered by the republican side
of the House and the galleries joining
in the demonstration.
Breckenridge received great applause some
republicans joining. He said the committee
on ways and means attempted to frame a
bill which would reduce the revenues safe
amount and relieve as far as moderate bill
could the evils of the present unequal sys-
tenn. 1t recognized that this system IN ex-
istence for over quarter of century, could
not be hastily or recklessly overturned. 1t
desired to harm no industry. 1t constantly
leaned in favor of an established rate in
case of doubt, a proposed rate which 1t be-
lieved was entirely safe. The bill does not
answer all conditions of today. Many duties are
left too high, and relief is not granted to the
extent that the condition OF the country and
labor require. but the bill is one that every
| fair minded man in America may accept
wise moderate and proper legislation. Up
on this statement | am willing to 20 to the
country and submit to its judgment. The
bill is before Congress, the responsibility of
its preparation was upon us, the response
bility of legislation is upon you. No sneers
| as to its authors no charges however often
| five or discourteous as to the manner of Its
preparation, no abuse of those concerned In
| its preparation. can remove from you the re-
sponsibility of action nor change the issue
| The surplus continue. to grow, and its evil
effects are daily exhibited. Schemes with
out number to squander the public money
and distribute it among the States to cuti-
,ate the habit in the American people of
looking to Washington as the great aims
giver. can be defeated only by your
action as to this bill twill not be accepted
as an answer that was any provision of any
sort in the Confederate constitution, or that
the gentlemen engaged in the preparation OF
that bill were on one side or the other during
the war, or that certain States have Jagged
in progress. The national growth has gone
by when either the passions of war, the de-
nunciaton of the whskey ring, the abuse OF
the South, the identification of revenue re-
formers with the Confederate army or any
other of the skilfui arts which those inter
es,ed in the the maintaiuance of this system
have heretofore so successfully used, can
prevent some action which will be the be-
Cunning of system based on the great prin-
ciple that all tariff legislation should be for
the public good and not for private interest.