New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-26
PRICE THREE CENTS.
TALKING ON THE TARIFF.
DISCUSSION on THE PENDING BILL RE-
SUMED IN THE SENATE.
REFORM SENATOR MPHERsoN's PRO,
PoSAI4-HIS STATEMENTS REFUTED.
BY MESSRS. SHERMAN, ALr
LISON AND ALDRICH.
Ipr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUYE-v

fBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDUSEv
Washington, July 25-The Tariff bill had clear
field in the senate today after l O'Clock. and
the debate which it excited, though of the familas
grown order the start, developed finally into
lively interchange Of views out Of which sone inter-
esting information extracted. Mr.. Vsnce, the
first speaker, read long and dull essay on Tariff Re-
form7qute out Of his usual entertaining and broadly
comic vein. A letter of Mr.. Cleveland 10 Missouri
tariff reform picnic could have been prosier oc
more platudinous. Mr.. Mcpherson, another minority
member of the Finance Committee, followed Mr.
Vance but the New Jersey senator led into making
definite statements about the schedules of the present
bill compared with other tariff laws, and lis
tenton that the proposed rates were higher on tho
average than those imposed during times brought
out a spirited refutatiOn from Senators sherman,
Adrich and Allison.
Mr. Mcpherson offered as a text for his speech, Q
resolution recommitting the present bill 10 the Com
mittee Finance, with instructions report back
average rate equal to that Of l56f This he said. was
about SO per cent ad valorem, and he declared thas
the rate in the bill about 81 per
cent. The NcW-JcrSey fnancicr had tahen however,
the proposed dutiable articles alone leav
ing ont Of account altogether in his calculation the
imports which have since been put on the free list.
With these included, the average rate in the pro-
posed bill shown be less than 30 per cent ad
yalorem, that Mr. Mcpherson actually advo-
eating, If his resolution was meant seriously an ad-
vance over the committees average OF from TO 8
per cent
The Ncw-Jersey Senator's constituents will prob.
ably be interested to know that he fvors a of from
10 to 10 per cent in the present the glassware
and pottery schedules. lie will not offer amend
ment to that effect but if is offered by some
body else he will vote for it,
Mr.. Plumb, Of Kansas, made the last long speech
Of the afternoon. His grievance with the Tariff bu
took the shape of Il very touching fear lest the
enucs should be reduced too much to meet the
pcndituTcs # coming years. His rambling and in
sinuatns talk against the protective features Of the
bill was not unexpected. and he gave notice that he
had n lot Of amendments hand Offer including,
If necessary, proposition for an income tax. Mr..
hldrch made brief but effective reply to Mr. Plumb's
criticisms
The Tariff bill Will be taken mp. paragraph by par
acraph, for discussion and amendment the reading Of
the bill having been dispensed with by unanimous
consent Mr.. Mcpherson seemed disposed to complain
this afternoon that the Republican senators were not
eager to thresh the old straw OF lass. He eyt-
IDENTIFY feas that his Democratic colleagues will
reduce debate the measure to a ridiculous farce and
that cannot be long delayed by empty talk.
lie gave notice, however that amendment would be
offered to every paragraph in the bill If the Demo-
Gratis carry ont that intention rule restricting dis
oussion will be made absolutely necessary If the
is to be finished before the end Of August.
After unanimous consent had been Glven that the
formal reading Of the dill be dispensed with Mr. Vance
proceeded to address the Senate. To tile common
Of unnecessary taxes matter Of wisdom. and
that to continue collect them not to he thought
OF Cor a moment. An average reduction OF two per
in custom duties had been promised in 1562. out
the tariff OF $50 had resulted in increase Of Twelve
and half per cent. The result Of the pending bill
might be reduce revenue 10 a certain extent, bus
not b reduce taxes. \ reduction Of taxes was ono
thing and a reduction Of another and quito
a different thing What the people desired was q
common-sense reduction OF the revenue and cor
responding relief from the payment of taxes, but the
ticking of Of two per cent pound on sugar with one
hand and the paying Of Two per cent pound To .
sugar producer on the other hand, wa5 indeed re-
duction of revenue with both hands. but the taxes re-
maincd and the people paid them all the same Agf-
culture supplied syenty-hve per cent OF the foreign
exports Of the country, and that export might 10
doubled and quadrupcd IL r'le tariff were only ar
ranged that other nations could send in Their prod
ucts 10 pay for American products.
Looking at the high IsoundinS title Of the DILL 10
reduce the revenue and equalizc duties on Imports
and comparing it with what 1t would accomplish the
bill would be pronounced the most stupendou' fraud
which the ingenuity # man had Yet perpetaieh on
much abused and l1nssuiering people. II nel'iler
reduced revenue in the SENSE Of reducing taxation nor
eQuallzed duties, on imports on the contrary II IN
creased taxation and 1t made duties more unequal by
imposing heavicr burdens, the poor than on the
rich Talking OF probable expenditure and revenue
for the current fiscal year, Mr. Vance thought IL saio
10 say that the expenditure would be very close 10
1928 900 0OO of which at least 20 per cent would Do
I'm excess Of revenue. Thus not only woud the surplus
disappear but the sinking Fund would probably suffer
also unless the River and Iarbor bill should DO
sacrificed which seemed 10 him quite likely.
Mr. Vance went 10 arraign the Republican party
for the evil, which. he said pNtectlon hdd brousho
upon the country. lie read from Mr. BlaiheS Ie'Hf
to Mr. Frye. and said that the unnistakable wisdom
Of what that distinguished had said Illustrated
VIII, I1 al
importaut TO extend American trude TO Central and
.,uh America Il could not be unimportant to extend
ii TO the European continent, which IN wealth ana
population ten times greater
Mr. Vances speech received the compliment OF close
attention on the part Of majority Of the Democratic
senators, one Of wh0m however scPO '"'ousu'"' ''
greater part Of IT,
Mr. Plumb said that before proceeding to tie
consideration Of the bill 10y paragraphs he would
like to know what the Finance Committee believed
would be the effect of the bill on the revenue.
Mr. McPhcr-on said that the abe. inci>ve, eloquent
and almost uuan,wcrable speeches of the senators
from Indiana and North Carolina tMr voorhees, ana
Mr. Vance seemed to preclude the necessity of any
further defence the Democratic posltionat least I'M
iii something was heard from the other side Of the
chambct and now the senator from Kansas Mr Pmmo)
in the simplicity Of his nature laughter inquired from
nj, own committee for some information on the bu.
DID NOT that honorable senator know ,at for tie aSs
tbr,e or foar days the newspapers lad been n OF 70
port, that IL been resolved not only by the Finance
committee but by the Republican caucus also, not TO
atemut any defence OF the pending bin Had mob thai
senator noticed that when Senator on the Dcm0cr'ito
side Of the chamber addressed the senate the seats on
the RcpuDucan side mmedatcy became Vacahtf
He therefore in order 10 expedite business, wouio
move that the pending bill be rocommtted 10 the
committee on Finance, with Instructions to report, 40
the earliest practicable moment bill 10 reduce the
revenue aud equaze duties on imports on the basis
that the average rate Of duty should not eAceco
the average AL va0rem war ta1f rate oi ioOf'
Mr.. McPherson undertook 10 show that hei'ner 'n'
farmer nor the consumer would be benefited by tho
Iu Who then. he asked would be bcnehtedi was
lobor1 II was not, although in every campaign tae
Republican party proclaimed itself the friend OK
labor and denounced the Democratic party as the
free trade party lie referred To the campaign OK
lass rs one in which immense sums oi lno"eS ni
,.o,, co,,n,i, raised and coTuptly used in behalf