, 1890-05-08
TALKS ON THE TARIFF.
Opening Debate on the New
Tariff Measure.
Mckinley and Mills Lead the
Discussion.
The Senate at Work on the
Silver Bill.

piui III ia'Or vi lue Clhlus VI the COuteel'
ant Ordered printed.
Mckinley of Ohio moved to go into
committee OF the whole for the coDsidera-
ton of the tariff bill. Mckinley
said he hoped to close the debate Sarur-
day evening.
Mills of Texas protested against the
short time allowed for debate.
McKinley's motion was agreed to and
the house went into committee of the
whole. Mckinley then took the floor in
support of the bill. He said the result of
the last political campaign-the majority
in this hous, and the pre- sence of Harm.
500 in the presidents chair-meant that
a revision of the tariff was demanded by
the people, and that the revision should
be along the line and 10 full recognition Of
the principle and purposes of protection.
[Applause
The bill presented was in full continue
ton of the policy Of a protective tariff.
The bill had not abolished the internal
revenue tax, as the committee had found
the abolition unnecessary. 1t recon-
mended the abolition of all special taxes
and a reduction of the tax on tobacco and
snuff. and removed the restrictions upon
the growers of tobacco. With these ex-
ceptions the internal revenue law stood as
at present. This reduced internal revenue
taxation over $40, 000, 00o. The bill also
liberalized drawbacks on imported raw
materials when exported after manufac-
ture. The present law allows 90 per cent
drawback. the new law would allow 90
per cent. This disposes of the free raw
material question.
After discussing the bill more in detail,
Mckinley said that under the duties fixed
BY the bill the annual imports of S25,-
00o, 900 of agricultural products would be
supplied the people of the United States
by the American farmer rather than by
the Canadian farmer, and that $25. 200,
900 dist; ibuted among the farmers would
relieve some of the depression prevailing
Inc give them confidence and courage and
increased ability to raise the mortgages
upon their farms. During the twelve
years of reciprocity with Canada the
United States had bought more than it
had sold. What Canada wanted. what
other countries wanted. was a free and
open market 10 the United States. What
the United States wanted. if it ever had
reciprocity, was reciprocity with equality.
Mckinley explained and defended the
wool schedule and the paragraph IN
Uut uittal scnetult concerning TIN
plate, and considered the free
list. Referring to the growth OF the car
pet industry in the United States, be said
the price Of carpets had gone down, while
the ad valorem equivalent had gone up.
The ~favorite assault OF the Democratic
free trader and revenue tariff reformer
was to parade this high percentage and ad
valorem equivalent u show h enormous
burden OF taxation imposed upon the peo-
pie. When steel rails we're 800 a ton
there was an equivalent ad valorem duty
upon them of IS per cent. but when rails
were reduced to $50 a ton because OF this
tariff duty of % per cent, which had 10
duced our manufacturers to engage in
hat business. the ad valorem equivalent
went up to Sc per cent. The Democrats
looked at the per cent; the Republicans
looked at prices. The Democrats would
rather have low ad valorem equivalents
and high prices than high al yaIorem
equivalents and low prices.
There was a complaint against the bill
that it would stop expectation and inter
fare with our foreign markets. Was the
foreign consumer a b ,tter consumer than
the American consumer Under the
system of revenue tariff we bought more
abroad than we sold and paid the bal
ahNN III kpiis gu uuiltdlthJ vi al
fairs. Organized opposition to the bill
came from consiRlors here and consign-
ors and merchants abroad. The press of
other countries condemned the bill.
Why ? Bee luse it works against them.
This bill was an American bill. made for
American interests. notwithstanding all
the croaking, We are exporting more pro-
ducts than at any time in or history.
Our exports have increased 35 per cent
more than the expo t. from free trade
Great Britain. While Great Britain had,
between 1870 and 1880, lost 10 per cent
of her commerce, the United States had
gained % per cent and with the same aid
to shipping which Great Britain gave,
the ships of the United States would
pillow every sea un Ter an American flg
in successful competition with the ships
of the world. We had enjoyed twenty
nine years of continuous protection. the
longest period since the foundation of the
government, and found ourselves in
greater prosperity than at any other time.
In 1860, after fourteen years of revenue
tariff. the country was In a state of de-
preston. We had neither money nor
credit. We have both now.
The accumulations of the working
classes had increased; their deposits In
o'h OahhS SAcstucu those OF the
working classes OF any other country.
Those deposits told their W story. Tbe
public debt of the United States per
capita was less than any nation in the
world. We lead all nations in agriculture
and mining. Could any nation furnish
such evidences of prosperity? Yet men
were found to talk about the restraints we
put upon trade.
The greatest good to the greatest mum
Der; the largest opportunity for human en-
deavor, were the maxims upon which our
protective system rested. Applause.
At the conclusion ofMcKinley's speech
he was warmly Congratulated person lily
by almost every Republican member pres
ent, while the cry of vote" vote" was
heard all over the western side of the hall.
Mills followed. He declared that this
was the first bill that had come before the
American people with it's mask torn off.
like a hiphwayman demanding their
purses. To check importation was to check
expectation. When we refused to take
the products of other nations that refusal
was an Introduction against our exports,
and as we removed the barriers to free
exchange, we increased free trade. Pro-
and less result, and carried out to its con
%clusion. it meant all work and no result.
Mills criticised the provisions of the
bill relating to hides, tin plate and sugar,
and then said: At length these gentle
men were brought to their knees at the
confessional and were bound to admit
there was widespread depression through
out the agricultural regions. What did