The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-05-08
THE BATTLE BEGUN.
Mr.. Mckinley Ably Explains the Pro-
visions of the Bill.

WASHINGTON, May THE House today
went into committee of the whole for the
consideration of the tariff bill, and Mr.. Nc
Kinley took The floor in support of the BILL
He Said that under the existing statute any
citizen of the United States could import an
article, pay the duty on it, make it into
complete product and export it, and the gov
ernment refunded 90 per cent of the duty
paid on the raw material. The Committee
now. recommended the government should
retain only one per cent, instead of 10 per
cent This gave the people of the United
States practically free raw material for ex-
port trade, and this provision completely
disposed OF the argument that If the manu-
facturers only had free raw material they
could compete in the markets OF the werld.
IL applied to everything 1t was asserted by
the minority that the bill would not reduce
the revenues OF the government, and on the
contrary II would increase revenues: The
instant duties were increased to a fair pro-
tectiVe point, that instant importation was
diminished, and the revenues were CORES
pondingly diminished. If the bill became
law, the revenues of the government would
be diminished from fifty millions to sixty
millions. Every relief which could be af-
forded the agricultural interests of the coun-
try by the tariff had been recommended. The
majority had advanced the duty all along
the line. If the gentlemen reflected upon
the dltference in the price of labor here and
abroad IN the production Of wheat it would
line, so far even as our own home market
was concerned. The farmers had
come to appreciate that the time
was already here when the American
agrlculturist, must sell his products in the
the markets of the world in competition
with wheat produced by the low priced la
Dor OF other countries. Then the care must
hereafter be to preserve our own market, for
ne must be driven from foreign ones, un-
less by reducing the cost OF production he
eou,d compete with the unequal condition.
Under the duties fixed by the bill annual i'm
ports OF $25, 900 of agricultural products
would be supplied the people of the United
States by the American farmer rather than
py the Canada farmer and this $25 COO, 900
distributed among the farmers would relieve
some s. OF the depression prevailing and. give
tnem confidence, courage and increased abil-
lty to raise the mortgages upon their farms.
Applause During 10 years of reciprocity
with Canada the United States Lought
much more than she sold. Foreign markets
were as accessible under the bill as under the
existing law; as accessible under the bill as
they would be under absolute free trade.
The bill put no burden, no taxation, no re-
s&t66Hid st6Hfitdaeh aehc6arase and sustain foreign trade
Why should we pass over the best market OF
the world, our own market? Notwith
standing all the crOakings OF the Tree traders,
we are now exporting more prodqfet;s than az
35 Der cent more than the exports from free
trade Great Britain With the same aid to
shipping that Great Britain gave, the ships
of the United States would plow every sea,
under the American flag in successful CON-
petition W ith the ships Of the world. ZAP
plause.
Mr.. Mills of Texas, following, said that
this was the first bill that had come before
the American people with the mask torn off.
like highwayman demanding their purses.
Applause, To check importation was to
check expectation. No man could show that
he might sell without buying When he re-
fused to take the products of other nations
that refusal was an interdictiOn against his
efforts. AS we removed the barriers OF free
exchange we increased our trade; Protec- tee
tion boiled down, meant more work and less
result Carried out to its conclusion 1t meant
all work and no result.
Two years ago Democrats stood on this
floor and declared the country on the edge OF
dark shadow. The Republicans rldiculed
this, and said that farm mortgages were only
further evidence of prosperity and wealth.
Laughter At length these gentlemen were
brought to their knees, and at the comics
sional admitted there was depression
throughout the agricultural regions; What
did the bill do to aid agriculture? The com
mittee found out that the wheat production
was in danger, and increased the duty 90 per
cent. The United States exported 90,O 600
bushels of wheat last year. and imported the
startling amount of 1,946 bushels. Laugh
teri The increased duty was to protect the
American farmer against the pauper OF
India.
Mr.. Mills attributed to the majority OF the
committee one bold and audacious move
which meant the deliverance Of the farmers.
They had placed duty on cabbage that was
to be a panacea for all ills. The farmer could
stand in his cabbage patch and defy the
world. laughter The Democrats would
not impede the passage Of the bill. but
when the Republicans appear before the
great American people, after. passing this
measure" said Mr.. Mills, may the Lord
At the evening session, Messrs. O'Donnell
of Michigan and Post Of Illinois spoke in
favor of the bill, and Messrs. Stewart of
Georgia and Ellis of Kentucky opposed 1t.