Evening star., 1894-01-10
PARTY INCOMPETENCE.
Mr. Dalzells Speech in Opposition to the
Tariff Bill.
He Alleges That the Adminfstration A
Incompetent to Deal With a Single
Important Question.

Representative Dalxell OF PENNSYLVANIA. a
member Of the ways and means committee
continued the discussion in opposition to
the BILL He said the election of the demo-
cratic candidates and Congress in 1892 re-
suited In crisis among the most appall-
ing In our economic history. All our in
dustries suffered immediate collapses:
trade. foreign and domestic, became para
lyzed: the ghost Of distrust staIked threat
eningly In all the avenues OF commerce
and fear fell on all men. rich and poor
alike As a people We walk today in the
valley of desolation. The doubts engen-
dered by democratic accession to power
have been justified and aggravated by ex
perience Of democratic rule. In the few
months that the dominant party has held
the reins Of government 1t has proved itself
conspicuously incompetent to deal with a
single important question presented by the
responsibilities OF civil administration.
I'm this deplorable condition of things.
clouds and darkness all around us. what
do those who rule our destinies propose
by way Of relief? A tariff bill that is
enacted predict posterity will pronounce
the most Infamous legislative crime of our
history. Instead Of relief II brings aggra-
walton. To the manufacturer whose idle
capital Is bringing him no return, whose
plant by disuse Is depreciating and whose
income has been sadly narrowed or en-
tirely cut on, ii offers the deceptive lure of
free raw materials and the ignis fatuus of
the worlds markets, while II strips him
of the ability to compete in any market and
be just to his employees. To the farmers IT
offers instead OF protection an enlarged
competition from abroad in the products
of his farm; instead Of a vast and grow
ing home market q market abroad in which
his Increased surplus cannot but degrade
prices"
Unwise at This Time.
Mr.. Dalzell asserted that even were the
Wilson bill wise in its provisions it's enact
ment at this time would be unwise and he
recited the material BENEFITS which had oc-
Cured under the Mckinley bill and the
condition Of business and labor at the close
of the last administration as proof. Upon
what ground, then, can II be asked for or
justified? In answer TO this question Mr.
Dalzell said the majority claim that the bill
Is response to the peoples demand that
the doctrines of the Chicago platform
then, he said. presented themselves for ar
gument: First. Is protection unconstitu-
tional? Second, does this bill propose q
tariff for the purpose Of revenue only?
As to the first question. Mr.. Dalzell stated
these propositions In support Of the consti-
tutionality of protection:
l. The American Union was founded
originally to secure protection.
2. 1t was an original right In each one
of the individual states as inherent in these
states as Is the right Of self-defense in the
individual.
3. Without any intention to abrogate
such right 1t was ceded to the general gov
ernment when the Union was formed.
4. 1t is expressly included In the taxing
clause OF the Constitution.
\ s. 1t II just as expressly included In the
power to regulate commerce.
O. Contemporaneous construction of the
Constitution by its makers proves its ex-
istence.
Z: A century and more Of its exercise
adds to its proof
s. The opinions Of all our statesmen.
with scarcely an exception, from the begin
ming till now, affirm II.
D. And SO do the decisions OF our highest
tribunal. the Supreme Court OF the United
States.
Recurring to the second question. Mr.
Dalzell asserted that the bill is not for reve-
nue. only, but is bastard protection bill.
1t violates every principle laid down by
Secretary Walker as constituting a tariff
for revenue only.
As to Ad valOrem Duties.
Next MI Dalzell discussed the substitu-
tion Of ad valorem for specific duties-than
which. he declared. all experience demon
strated nothing could be more indefensible.
Il know Of no statesman in American
history. Of any party or political creed.
who has advocated ad valorem duties with
the exception Of Robert ]. Walker, and
Robert ]. Walker. as an authority. is buried
In the grave Of the unfortunate tariff of
1S46 Ad valorem duties have been coa-
demned as impracticable by Hamilton.
Gallatin. Crawford and Van Buren; by
Benton, Buchanan and Webster, Meredith
and Daniel Manning and by the unanimous
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