The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-01-05
YESTERDAYS DOINGS IN WASHINGTON.
Democrats Troubled by Their Free
Trade Speeches.
Trying to Explain Their Love for the
English System.
The Nicaragua Canal Bill Passed In
the House.

WASHINGTON, Jan. Ain the Senate today
Mr.. Vance moved to amend paragraph 1913,
referring to Hamburg edgings by reducing
the rate from 10 cents a pound and Is per
cent ad valorem to 40 per cent ad valorem.
Mr.. Vance said he intended to continue his
stump speech" with increased energy, as
long as the scheme to rob the American peo-
pie by taxation was kept up. So long as his
life lasted, he should be found doing busi-
ness at the old stand and ON the same terms
Laughter.
Mr.. Hawley replied to Mr.. Vance. asking
MIN whether there was any nation which he
thought had any approximately just system
OF taxation, and If not, which Of the nations
was nearest right.
Mr.. Vance replied that the system nearest
right, as far as he was acquainted with them
was the English system.
Mr.. Hawley-"That is about the answer /
expected"
Mr., Vance-"l see the true inwardness of
your question. The object Is that you may
charge that we are in England's s interest,
thai. We. follow the English system, that we
are foreigners to our own people; but never
was there greater piece of hypocrisy than
this pretense of dislike TO foreigners. You
only dislike foreigner when he brings
something to sell cheaper than you are will
Ing to make and sell 1t. Then you despse
the. foreigners and appeal to all kinds of
prejudice against him. But when the for
elgner comes himself, you welcome him with
an open, bypocritical embrace. That is what
Is universally done In half the factories of
New England now filled with men who are
not even naturalized citizens. but who came
across the border from Canada and else
where, and return with the profits of their
labors."
Mr., Hawley-"l gave the Senator from
North Carolina no excuse for saying dis
alran fAar II x..l.
for disllking England or Englishmen. did
not believe in the English system of tax
alton, and what l wanted was to get one
Democrat to avow frankly the honest pur-
pose OF that party that the adoption OF free
trade. is the policy of that party. Not one
time In fifty; on the stump or in the news
papers, were we able in the campaign to get
Democratic politician or editor to tell the
truth in regard to the position of their party.
England levies no protective entries what
ever, There is great variety of vegetable
productions she cannot produce and there
are many things necessary for the table and
manufactures which she cannot produce,
and wool and cotton she cannot grow. So
England is utterly unable to adopt our pro-
tectiye policy if she would. Here we have a
territory ranging from the arctic to the trop-
les, covering a wide range East and West
with possibility of producing everything in
the world. So we can live with what we
produce. l said in the campaign that if we
had the famous "Chinese walp' of the free
traders 100 miles wide and kept it up 80
years. breaking down the gates then. they
would not find us needy or starving, but a
rich, happy and intelligent people,"
Mr.. Vance said in reply: "The Demo
cratic party has pronounced itself again and
again in favor of taxation of foreign i'm
revenues to the government. 1t never advo-
Gated any other system. That is the system
/ prefer, but prefer the English system to
a system which will be established should
God Almighty for awhile affiict the Ameri-
can people with this bill. Iprefer anything
else to that +"
Mr.. Reagan also defended the Democratic
party from the charge of being free trad
erS.
Mr.. Dawes argued that if protection was
robbery, it was just as much so when the
plunder was used to support the government
as when it went to enrich manufacturers
Mr.. Reagan said that under all systems of
government taxes must be raised, but pro-
tectiye tax for the sake of protection was
Mr.. Dawes said that taxes could be so im-
posed as to have no element of protection in
them, like taxes on tea and coffee. These
taxes had been repealed aud the Senator
from Texas had voted for their repeal.
Il did moi" said Mr.. Reagan, ''on the con-
trary, gave notice in the House that
would move to restore those taxes"
Mr.. Dawes said that all Mr.. Reagan's par
ty in the House voted for it. Mr.. Dawes
said he had no disposition to put duties on
manufactured articles penny higher than
to equalize the conditions # production in
this country and foreign countries.
The billlwas finally laid aside.
On motion of Mr.. Aldrich the rules were
so amended as to include among the persons
entitled to privileges of the floor the Presi-
dent elect and Vice Preside1t-elect. After
q brief, executive session the Senate ad-
journed.