The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-08
TARIFFTALK UNDER WAY
M,KINLEY AND MILLS OPEN THE
DEBATE ON TIE BILL.

The AutnOr OI us measure Starts
Out With. an Erroneous Statement
Concerning the Wishes of the Peo-
ple as Proven by the Result of the
Last Election.
WASHINGTON. May THE volumes of
tariff speeches in the Congressional Record
for the first session of the last congress
seems to have satiated the public. At all
events the galleries were almost empty
when Mr. Mckinley opened the debate on
his bill to-day with a three hours speech.
compared with their crowded condition
when Mr.. Mills began the debate on his bill
in the last congress. Perhaps another reason
for the absence of the audience which Mr..
Mckinley evidently expected is found in
the popular belief that the proceedings in
the Mckinley bill are all cut and dried, the
republican caucus having cut the several
debates down from the twenty-three days
allowed under Speaker Carlisle to the four
days allowed under Speaker Reed, and the
little ring of republican managers having
already announced that they propose to
rush the bill right through under the party
lash
Speaker Reed himself disdains to say any,
thing. He said it all, he thinks, SO far as
the general argument is concerned in tie
lest congress, and he apparently does not
think it worth while to discuss the details
Of the Mckinley bill. Next TO the absence
of the people from the galleries was noted
the absence of prominent strangers from
the floor. Ben. Butler wandered In Just as
Mr.. Mckinley began, listened awhile, and
wandered out again.
IRoN-CLAD RULES NOT PRESENTED.
Rather to the surprise of those members
who had prepared themselves for an attack
on the caucus, because of the limited time
which win be allotted for general debate
Mr.. Mckinley refrained from present.
ing the iron-clad rules which were ex-
pected, SO that the anticipated pre-
liminary wrangle was avoided. Although
Mr.. Mckinley was granted Unlimited time
in which to present his argument, he had
stated in advance that he would not occupy
much more than an hour, and the indica-
tions are that the speakers who follow will
also reduce their speeches to a small COM
pass.
TWENTY HOURS OF GENERAL DEBATE.
Exclusive of the promised night sessions.
which the more notable speakers avoid
whenever possible, there will be in all but
twenty hours of general debate. Following
established custom, thirteen mmbers of the
ways and means committee must each be
allowed an hour, or thirteen hours in the
aggregate, SO that but seven of the day
light hours will remain for partition among
the remaining 315 members of the House.
DETAILS OF THE DEBATE.
In the House to-day Mr.. Powell of Illinois
presented the report of the committee on
elections in the Alabama contested election
case of McDuffie VS.. Turpin. The report,
which favors the claims of the contestant.
was ordered printed.
Mr.. Mckinley moved to 90 into COM
mittee of the whole for consideration of the
tariff bill. In making this motion Mr..
Mckinley stated that he would endeavor to
close the general debate Saturday evening.
The committee on ways and means had in
tended to ask the committee on rules to re-
port a resolution limiting the five minute
debate to eight days, but had not done SO on
account of the absence Of Mr.. Carlisle.
Mr.. Mills of Texas thought the time
allowed for general debate was entirely too
limited. Two years ago the democrats had
conceded twenty-three days general debate.
All he could do was to demonstrate against
the short time which was to be allowed for
the debate.
Mr.. McKinley's motion was agreed to
without division, and accordingly the
House went into committee of the whole
WIN MI. fdySOn In the chair, Tor con-
slderatlon of the tariff bill.
On motion of Mr.. Mills the committee
granted to Mr.. Mckinley the privilege of
speaking without limitation of time, and
similar courtesy was accorded to Mr.. Mills
on motion of Mr.. Mckinley.
MIR. Mckinley then took the floor in sup
port OF the bill. In the last political cam
paign the tariff had been the absorbing
question before the people. 1t seemed to
him that no extended discussion Of this
great principle was expected or required or
necessary under the existing conditions, for
IL any one thing was settled by the political
contest Of 1888 it was that the protective
poDey as promulgated by the Republican
party IN its platform, as maintained by the
Republican party through long series of
years, should be secured IN any legislation
which was to be had by the congress chosen
IN this great contest and on this mastering
issue. He interpreted the victory, the ma
Jorlty IN this House, and the incumbencv of
the presidency Of the United States by the
present chief executive to mean that revs-
Ion of the tariff was demanded by the
people, and that that revision should be
along the line and in full recognition
Oh the principle and purposes of protection.
lApplause.l The people had spoken and
they asked this congress to register their
VIII and embody their verdict into the
public law. The bill presented by the COM
mittee on ways and means to the House was
Thorough answer to that demand. 1t was
IN full recognition of the principle and pol
ICY OF protective tariff.
ITS INTERNAL REVENUE CLAUSES.
The bill had not abolished the internal
revenue tax as the Republican party had
pledged itself to do in the event that that
abolition was necessary to preserve the pro-
SSectlve system, because the committee had
round that abolition of the one was not nee
etsssary to the preservation of the other The
OIL recommended the abolition of all special
Iaxes aud the reduction of the tax on to-
oacco and snuff, and it removed thesrestrie-
lions upon growers of tobacco. With these
exceptions the internal revenue law stood
as at present. If these recommendations
were agreed to internal taxation would be
reduced little over 100000.
BRANDS OF THE COUNTRIES.
The committee also recommended pro-
VISION requiring that all imported articles
pear a mark indicating the country in
winch such articles are manufactured. The
.Season that actuated the committee was
suaO IL had become too common among
some OF the countries Of the world to copy
spnle OF our best known brands and sell
.neln @ In competition with our own home
made product.
ne next provision recommended was one
seAIenolng and liberaliziug the drawback
sectlon OF the law. Under the existing
o'atue any citizens of the United States