New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-10
THE TARIFF DEBATE BEGUN.
NESSRS. MMILIIN AND DINGLEY ADDRESS
TIE HOUSE.
SLIGHT INTEREST DISPLAYED on THE FLOOR
ANDI TIE GALLERIEs-TnE WOOL ELL
THE TENT, BUT PROTECTION
rBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIDUNE.1

tBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE1
Washington March 0.-When the House Of Repre-
sentatives went into Committee OF the Whole 'o'"! w
consider revenue bills there nothing whatever 10
indicate TO the most careful observer that day TO
which IN ridden and grooming millions nave looked
forward with eager anxiety for relief from thei OPP
pressive burdens had arrived. That ovefGro"l' UT
umphant Democratic majority Of 40 which Ofeah'""
the House three months ago. loudly proeai"lhs "'o
speedy redemption of lis pledges TO reduce ta1h taxes
All along the line was conspicuous chiefly on account
of its absence; not than onethird of the Demo
cratic members in their seats Wieh WI
NcMilln took the floor at 90 p. m, 10 open
the tanf debate of 1892, and of these ho'
more than three listened with attention
to his exhaustive speech. Tie small attendance ara
the lack of Interest exhibited by the tariff efoTneis
who were present were alike significant II was APP
parent 10 every Intelligent observer that the aJoH!
Of the House determined TO shh the tariff issue as
IL would be glad shrk the silver issue tuat inc
movement begun 70 day is designed to ehd III ii shhh
BATH with blank cartridges.
colonel Mills the logical" leader OF the tarih
smashcrs I'm Congress. was not present MI McN'Ihh'
As is well known, favors the Mills policy ci gen
eral revl,ior OF the tariff. Ills speech todaV wh'h
had becn hastily prepared after it was found neces
sary for him 70 take Mr. Sp?nscrs place indicated
that his views in opposition TO the holepuacNins
scheme had undergone no change. II was an arg"-
msnt against che existing tariff as WHOLE rather IMAM
a plea in favor Of the Wool lill
The existing tariff is to he again attacked win 'hc
weapons Of instrumentation and untruh which were
found effective I'm 1890. Otherwise Nj McMilhh
would not have started out with the assertion mat 'c
average rate Of duties on imports under the present
law exceeds co per cent" higher than ever oei'c !"
our history" MI. McMilln undoubtedly knows mat
the average rate of duty all imports was lower III
1891 than it lad been at any previous time In hrt'
years and he did not attempt TO show that inc
aborer has been forced 10 pay more for any oil 'ie
articles be mentioned The subject evidently !, one win
which the Tennessee economist l. not 'horouE"s
familiar, and he had apparently depended 700 mu'h
upon the report prepared hy Chairman SpnnEet-
whose stock of accurate Information on the SHINE sub
ject appears be small. The consequence was that
Mr. McNIillin was compelled 10 give evIsve and
unsatisfactory answers 20 many IF the questions asked
BY Republican members.
The speech of Mr. Dngley In reply 10 McMilhn was
one of the best which he has ever delivered In The
House and it was apparent that much Of it was i'm
promptu lie thoroughly dis,ected the position and
premises OF the Democratic party in regard to The tariff
and exposed their Inconsistencies and absurdities Mr.
Dingley a member Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee which framed the existing law. and he Is thor
oughly familiar not only with It's provisions but with
their effects. His analysis OF the pending bin was
keen and searching ana rs argument against IL WIS
cogent and unanswerable.
In the course Of his speech Mr.. McNn said
The last Congress imposed the highest tariff taxes
extavagant appropriations ever made here IN time OF
peace This Congress sent here 10 correct both evils
The TaIin law ia, been in operation for Year
and five months. Where the beneficial effects that
were TO follow from it Where is that magnificent
price the farmer and wool grower realize from
it, Where are the increased wages the lsbOrng man
was get The aborer has been forced 10 pay more
for the roof that shelters him. for the Lat that covers
his head and the wOOllens that cover his back. lie
has had pay for the linen he wears. the ham
lave not gone up What benefit has i'll
creased protection been to him!
After relieving the history Of the wool duties he
continued
After twenty-five years OF experiment with high
rates of duty wool the result has been reduction
Of onehaf in the number Of sheep in states east Of
the Mississippi and Missouri and reduction OF
about one-hal in the price OF wool. Nor have the
have been restricted to the quality Of wool they
could afford to buy in the gIse BY reS%n OF n ne
stantally 10 their country. This high tax ON
s TEGi sa for se ms SS and dsn
They have taken the place Of the feeces Of :Ooooooo
the Whole United states.
The authors of The pix take much credit to them hem
did it is true, place some and most CT the grades 81
taxed heavily the benefit Of the m4nnfaeturer ana
lie is left with more protection by mat bi t.i " tnV
odd millions of dollars wa, taken on the sugar taN.
But th, wa, free viii Offering for the same meaeure
producers Of sugar bOunuc,. Again While M,
odd millions of tax wa taken on 'nsT' increase o.
other things. and generally Oh me Nee s!ic> OF
te Inc eGnoqmfr WAS neE'r ,1s how much
more tax he could endure. .
Mr. McNiIln then took up other features Of the
Mckinley Act. denonncng them all
Mr.. Dneley spoAe In part as follows:
II the gentleman from Tennes,ee OFT McMillin ryp,
resents in his speec and his recent North American
article the views and purposes OF tie Deih"cIdr
marty As 10 ian legislation, then the three sporadic
ils reported by the Democratic majority Oi the Ways
and Means Committee and now before the committee
tariff reform scheme Of DemOcdt House con
tanning 40 Democratic majority AFFORD tne most
striking exhibition of letting Il dare not before a
Presidential election wait on Il would after the elec
ton. - ,,, $500, ,s Co.
accept Democratic promises Ia Ne" England t!lt tlr
DemorIatic scheme of tariff reform looked to The
relief of manufacturers suffering for want of iree coal
free iron and free pig iron WIN sly lntiiniioh
that manufactured articles would be undlsturbed are
snxiously awaiting the redemption OF these pleotcs
Inv This Democratic House. The voters in West \l
vfnls Virginia and other coal and iron producing
states who were told that tie Democratic plan Of
Tariff reform would leave coal and iron ore ana pig
ron und ,tlrbcd and would severely cut the duties
on Eastern manufactured products. are beginning -
ask for the redemption Of pledges MADE 10 th"W Ana
those Western and southern farmers whose VOtes were
c.ntured hv the assurance that the Democratic pan
of tariff reform cOnteripa general oVeTlhfO" OF
The Mckinley tsTrf and protection, are becoming IN
.%otn I'm This situation, with the Republican policy
f,y and clearly forth In the existing law. N..h
The representative of the great Democratic majority
I'm this House repeating ms Oh Commentators
~ Inc enormites Of the Mckinley tariff,
what do the Democratic majority OF the Ways aud
Means Committee propose as the democratic pan 81
tariff reform First, to place binding twine on the
free list second to place on the Tree list bagglng
nr cotton and hOop iron when manufactured into cot
Ton iie, and machinery for the manufacture OF
cotton bagging Third. TO place on the free list The
farmers wool and abolish 50 much OF the duty on
cloth which is for the benefit Of the farmer. and 10
leave an average nd valOrem duty of 80 per cent 10
pro'e"t tho manufactured - - A., , ,
The only explanation that can be given OF such