Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-15
TARIFF TALK ON TAP.
Senator Aldrich Prepared to Demon
strate the Efficiency of
THE FAMOUS M'KINLEY BILL.
Carlisle May Be Pitted Against Him for
the Democrats, and
CONGRESS- CAN'T ADJOURN so EARLY

WASHINGTON, July 14-Early next
week an important political move will be
made in the United States Senate. The
tariff and the relations of the Republican
party to it will be placed on record through
the medium of an exhaustive speech by
Senator Aldrich, of Rhode Island, the
| ablest tariff expert in Con-
gress. His speech is to be made
the Republican issue of the campaign, so
far as the tariff is concerned, and is being
prepared with great care. 1t will be an
elaborate presentation of the Republican
protective policy, and pronounced and de-
tailed defense of the Mckinley bill
For some time past Senator Aldrich has
been engaged in getting together the mate
rial for his speech, and is at present devot-
ing all of his time to its preparation. This
important contribution to the political
literature of the campaign will, 1t is under
stood, be accompanied by the long-deferred
report of the investigation made
at intervals during the past year or so by
the Finance Committee of the Senate as to
the effect of the Mckinley bill upon the
wages of laboring men in this country. Mr..
Aldrich, as Chairman of the subcommittee
that prosecuted the investigation, has in
his possession mass of valuable testimony
from manufacturers, importers and laborers.
which was gathered by the committee at
various cities.
The Mckinley Bill to Be vindicated.
1t has been repeatedly claimed by Demo-
cratic orators and free trade newspapers
that the report OF this committee has been
and would be withheld until after the cam
Al s,.s .
| supports the charge that the Mckinley
bill has had directly opposite
effect from that intended by its
authors and advocates, and that it
has actually caused q decrease
in wages and an increase in the price of
general commodities It is understood that
Mr.. Aldrich's speech will attempt to prove
the absolute inaccuracy of the charge, and
to demonstrate that, on the contrary, the
Mckinley bill has been as beneficial to the
laborers and masses of people in the United
States as its most enthusiastic friends
claimed for it, both before and after it be-
came law.
In the interesting and somewhat spirited
debate on the tariff that took place in the
Senate June 49, between Senators Hale and
Vest, the latter taunted the Republicans
with being afraid to have free and
open tariff discussion, and referred
rather Significantly to the fact
that the report of the Senate Finance
Committee had never seen the light of day.
He laid down, in his Enthusiastically Wig
orous style, certain anti-protection PROPOSE
tions which he endpavored to use as bait
for dragging Senator Hale or some of his
colleagues into general tariff discussion,
but the Maine Senator would not allow him.
self to be caught
Significant Statement by the Senator.
He stated at the time, however, that be-
fore the session closed the propositions of
Senator Vest would be answered and refuted
seriatim, and that the tariff attitude of the
Republican party would be thoroughly and
freely made known and an opportunity
given to the Democrats for full and fair
discussion if they cared to have it.
Senator Aldrich's speech is the speech to
which Senator Hale referred, and the
Rhode Island Senator is the Republican
champion who, it was indicated, would
throw down the gauntlet to his Democratic
and free trade opponents.
There is no man in public life more quail
ifed to enter into thorough and protracted
ator Aldrich. For 20 years he has made the
tariff subject the study OF his life,
and has been industrious and inces-
SAINT in his pursuit of knowledge on
that subject He is generally referred
to as an expert on the tariff question be-
cause he has studied it in all its ramifca-
tions, and has more detailed information
| with regard to the operations of the vari-
Gus tariff laws than any man in Congress.
Carlisle to Answer AIdrich.
Mr.. Aldrich is not an orator, but he is
very strong as a tariff debater, and the
Democrats will find it hard to find the man
to stand up against him. Tits possible that
Senator Carlisle will be that man, and the
speeches of these two Senators will make up
the tariff issue upon which the Democrats
and Republicans will 60 before the country.
The fact that Mr.. Aldrich, has decided to
bring the tariff question again before the
Senate is not generally known, and it is
tariff debate will follow or whether both
sides will be willing to rest after each has
had an opportunity to state its position to
the country.
1t is now the desire of the leaders of both
parties in the Senate and House to pass the
appropriation bills and such routine legis-
lation as comes up in the intervals, and
then adjourn. Since the disposal of the sill
yer bill, yesterday, it has been the general
opinion that final adjournment could easily
be brought about within ten days. This
opinion is undoubtedly correct, and the
early adjournment programme may be car
ried out unless the speech of the Rhode
Island Senator should bring on a pro-
tracted debate. When Mr. Aldrich, as
Chairman of the Committee on Rules,
brought in resolution, recently, providing
for final adjournment within the next tort
night, he publicly stated that he did not
think it would be possible for all business
to be disposed of by that date. In making
this statement he probably had in view
the speech which he will deliver some time
within the next few days.