St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-09
Congressman Flower Picks
Out Weak Spots in MeKin-
ley's Tariff Bill.
The Overtaxed Agrieulturists
Want Something More Tan
gible Than Promises.
A New Tangled Scheme for
Federal Supervision Of
Elections Sprung.
President Harrison Nomi-
mates officers for Okla
homa Territory.

WASHINGTON, May S.--After the read
ing of the journal, the house went into
committee of the whole (Mr. PaysOn, of
Illinois, in the chair on the tariff bill.
Mr.. Dockery, of Missouri, said that the
exercise of the function of government
involved an expenditure of money.
That the present system OF taxation dld
not restrict the revenue to the needs or
the government was shown by the sur
plus in the treasury. In the last cam
paign the Republican party had claimed
that the farmers would be benefited by
protection. Yet, after the Republican
victory, the depression in agriculture
was greater than everi Turning to the
wool schedule, Mr.. Dockery made an
argument in favor of free wool and a
reduction of duty on manufactured
products. At the conclusion OF the
speech. Mr.. Frank, of Missouri, denied
a statement made by Mr.. Dockery to
the effect that money had been used to
enable the Republicans to carry the
three st. Louis congressional districts.
Mr., Dockery gave notice that he would
answer Mr.. Frank later. Mr.. Burrows,
of Michigan, opened his speech with the
declaration that ''it is theory and not
a condition which confrOntS u.s." There
could be no condition of the treasury
that legislation could not move. The
condition Of the treasury to-day was an
overflowing one. What was the rem
edy? The Republicans would reduce
the surplus by one theory, the Demo-
Gratis by another. In the campaign OF
1888 the two theories were presented to
the American people, and after full
debate on platform and IN the press,
verdict was rendered in favor OF the Re-
publican
Theory of Taxation.
Mr.. Burrows defended the wool and
metal schedules. He favored placing
sugar on the free list and granting a
bounty arguing that it would save the
taxpayers S64, 600, 900, while the bounty
would only amount to S700o,000. MIR.
Mcmillan, of Tennessee, said that the
gentleman from Michigan {Mr. .Burrowsl
in declaring thatit was "a theory and
not a condition which cOnfrOntS US"
seemed to put himself in antagOnfSm
with one of the greatest men of the
country, In the state of Michigan there
were 1900 mortgaged farms, while
there were only $4,000 which were not
mOrtgaged. Was that condition or
theory that confronted the gentleman
at home? The average rate OF interest
paid by his poor, over-taXed constltu-
ents was Is per cent. What remedy
did this bill propose for these over-taxed
people? There was general change Ill
the bill from ad valorum to specific duty.
Prices of commodities were falling all
over the world; and this change pre-
vented the consumer from getting the
benefit of the reduction. MIR. Bayne, of
;nnnfrad if tho nnpon-
cratic secretaries, Manning and Fair
child. had not recommended change
from ad valorem to specific. Mr. Nc
MILAN replied that they had in some in
stances, but the Democratic party had
declined to do it. Mr.. Mcmillan then
discussed at length the Republican vic
tory of 1888, which he said did not eX-
press the will of the people. He argued
that the bounty system will promote
jobbery. Mr.. Bayne, of Pennsylvania,
regarded the tariff question as settled
bv the last election. The Issue had
been clearly drawn. and the people had
decided in favor of the Republican doc
trine. Referring to the agricultural de-
preston. he admitted that in some parts
OF the country the condition OF the farm
ers was bad; but the foreign farmers
were in a much more
Deplorable Condition.
He made the proposition that the CEN
sus of 1890 would show vast increase
in the value of the farms of the country
over the value given them In 1880.
There was one example presented by
the Democratic party that he recon-
mended to his side. They stood togeth-
er and upheld their committees action.
Mr.. Flower, of New York, said that the
trainers of this bill had wholly miSap-
pretended the situation in this country,
and misunderstood the demand that had
forced them to offer measure dealing
with the income of the government.
That situation was industrial Stagnation
and plethoric treasury, due In large
measure to an unjust and unequal sys
tenn of taxation. The pending bill
disregarded all consideration of the
equality OF citizens and industries under
the law, and proposed to increase pres
ent duties and levy new ones In the in
terest OF partiality and unjust discrimi-
nation. He then reviewed the tariff
and in a critical manner the provisions
to increase the duty on tin plate, for
bounty on sugar, and to increase the
duty on Sumatra leaf. In conclusion
he said of the bill: ''If it becomes a
law in its present shape it will destroy
many industries, throw out Of employ
ment the men engaged in some, and
work a reduction of wages in nearly ALL"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Flowers
speech, which was greeted with ap-
plause, the committee rose and the
house at $50 took recess until
o'clock.
At the evening session speeches were
delivered by Messrs. SinOnds, of Con-
necticut; Cooper. of Indiana; Kinney. Of
Missouri; Pierce. of Tennessee; Stock
bridge, of Maryland; Enloe, of Ten
nessee: Stewart, of Texas, and Brook
shire and Shively, of Indiana. The
house then adjourned.
unRsTEDS ARE WOOLENS.