The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-07-20
THB GREATEST DEBATE
OF the Generation is Finished
and the Mills Bill
IS REPORTED FAvORABLY
To the House by the Committee of
the whole-Thc Vote to be Taken
Saturday and it will Pass, of
course--Now for the Senate.

WASHINGTON, D. c., July 19.-After
little routine business, the House wen
into Committee of the Whole (Mr
Springer, of Illinois, in the chair oil
the Tariff bill, the pending amendmen
being that offered by Mr.. Mills, o
Texas, restoring the present rate of dut!
on tobacco.
Mr.. LaFollette, OF Wisconsin, though
the motion made by Mr.. Mills was no
actuated by any sympathy for the domes
tic tobacco industry. The amendment
was offered, not because Of any consider
alton for the industry or because the far
mers wanted protection, but because
the amendment was necessary to helE
the Democratic party carry Connec
ticut.
Mr.. Mills amendment was then agreed
to without division.
On motion OF Mr.. SpinOla, OF New
York, the present rate Of duty was re
stored on pipes, pipe bowls and al
smokers articles not otherwise provided
for.
The next few items were passed ovel
quickly, and amendments restoring the
present rate OF duty on the various arti'
cles were voted down without division
Mr.. Springer, Of Illinois, having call
ed Mr.. DOCkery, OF Missouri, TO the
chair, addressed the committee in regard
to the bill. He stated for the informa,
ton OF the members that twenty-three
day and eight evening sessions had been
consumed in general debate, one hun
dred and fifty speeches having been
made. The debate under the five min
ute rule had consumed up to to.
day tweuty-eight days, or one hundred
and twenty hours. The debate would
be remembered MS the most remarkable
which had ever occurred in parliamen.
tary history. 1t had awakened lively
interest not only in our country, but
throughout the civilized world and
henceiorth as long as our Government
should endure, it would be known MS
the great tariff debate OF 1888. He then
proceeded to argue in support of the free
wool feature Of the bill.
He justified the Presidents message
upon the subject and argued that the
total tariff burden to people on account
of protection OF woolen goods would
amount to $l76,0OO,0O0 in 1888. The
reduction OF wool or its abolition had
more frequently resulted in increasing
the price OF raw wool than in reducing
it. The duty being taken off the for
eign product greater proportion ot free
wool would be used.
Mr.. Springer spoke OF the benefits that
free wool would bring to the laboring
man and his small family and to every
branch OF industry.
Mr.. Dingley, OF Maine, ridiculed Mr..
Springer's arguments and said that Pro-
lection had developed
THE WOOL INDUSTRY,
and if not broken down, it would soon
enable our farmers to produce all the
wool consumed in the country.
Mr.. Reed, OF Maine, contrasted the ap-
pearance of the Democrats at the begin
ming OF the tariff debate with that which
they presented to-day, when it was
about to end. Throughout the whole
debate not a single speech was delivered
on the other side which did not
contain the principles Of free trade.
The gentleman from Illinois, Mr..
Springer, had some idea that he was n
little afraid OF being u Free Trader him
self. Why were the gentlemen so anx-
ious to show that they were not so much
in favor OF Free Trade? Why was it,
that the Chairman OF the Committee on
WAYS and Means THAT lofty and cour-
ageous citizen OF Texas who dared TO ex-
plain his views everywhere) had gone to
New York and declared that there need
be no fear OF Free Trade.
Mr.. Springer had hoped that in these
last moments OF the debate there would
have been the kindest feelings prevail
ing. But the gentleman from Maine
(Mr. Reed) had showed his usual Pc
culiarity of sneering and scolding tile
Democratic side. That gentleman re-
minded him OF Poo.Bah, who was born
with snoer and kept that expression to
the day OF his death. The gentleman
had charged that the Demo
cratic party had not maintained the
position taken by them at the
beginning OF the debate. The minority
Of the Committee on Ways and Means
had gone into the House and with d
flourish OF trumpets had declared that i
they could not amend the Mills bill
they would offer substitute. Where
Oh, where was that substitute
Laughter.
The Democrats were not afraid to gc
TO the country on the issue presented
On Saturday the roll would be called and
that roll call would be heard around the
whole country.
This closed the discussion and 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 and hearty
applause from the Democrats. Its
further consideration was then post.
poned until 1880 Saturday morning.
Mr.. Dibble, OF South Carolina, as
question OF privilege, called up the
Allentown Public Building bill and
the Presidents veto message. The re.
port OF the Committee was read recon-
mending that the bill be passed, not
withstanding the veto. The House
refused to pass the bill over the veto
yeas, l4l; nays, 81; not the necessary
two-thirds. The housethen took recess
until s o'clock, the evening session to he
for the consideration OF bills reported
from the Committee on Military Affairs
p...l;.1 ~ A,,r.or,.r.