The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-12
NOT QUITE SAFE.
Breckenridge Talks of the
Late War.
SHARKS OF PROTECTION.
SIurs That Will Probably Bring
Unpleasant Returns.
SOME FIGURES THAT DID LIE.
Springer Had Met Reed Before and
So He Very MeekIy Accepted
Reproof.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.--In the House
to-day after routine business the tariff de-
bate was resumed. Breckenridge of Ken
tucky took the floor and in the course OF
his speech likened the advocates Of protec-
tion to sharks. Walker of Massachusetts
Insisted on knowing to whom he applied
such an epithet, aud Breckinridge an
swered: 81 refer TO those who, during the
peril and distress of the great Civil War
took advantage OF labor in the name of
patriotism. and later, in time of pro-
found peace, increased those exactions,
until in the Fifty-frst Congress they wrote
a new law that enriched themselves. |
refer to those who admitted new States to
retain power. TO those who purchased bal
lOt-bOxes and took the seat of William r.
Morrison in this House by bribery" Dem
ocratic applause.
Richards followed with a short speech
in support of the Wilson bill, after which
Dingley, who spoke in the place of Gear.
one of the Republican members OF the
Ways and Means Committee who is una
yoidably absent in connection with the
Senatorial fight in his State. took the
floor. Dingley said the pending tariff bill
purports to be bill TO provide revenue. 1t
log III lcCls DIIA W dOOiloH III
short, the proposed tariff was not q bill for
revenue only, but for deficiency only.
The excuse given for such a surrender
of needed revenue" he said. sis the al
legged necessity for reducing the taxation
of the masses. l find e surrender of about
$50, 600, 600 in duties on articles of luxury
or voluntary use, consumed mainly by
the well to do who are willing TO pay for
it. Then about $4,000, 900 in revenue was
surrendered by the reduction of the duty
on tin plate l cent per pound. Lumber
and many agricultural products were
placed on the free list, and Canada will
pocket the duties which we surrender"
Springer, who was chairman of the
Ways and Means Committee of the last
Congress followed. He spoke only on the
tariff question and tried to show that
labOrers and agrculturists had not been
benefited by protection. He quoted
census Office statistics on the amount of
mortgage indebtedness.
New York has larger per capita mort
gagged Indebtedness than Nebraska" in
terrupted Reed.
''Yes. sir" replied Springer.
THAT shows" said Reed, what those
figures are worth as showing the condi-
ton Of agriculture" Laughter
Springer commended the free list of the
Wilson bill, but said that If he had been
framing the bill he would have made some
material notifications. He spoke of the
Mills bill and said it was measure which,
in comparison with the pending bill,
seemed like the work Of statesmen. In
concluding Springer predicted that with
free raw materials this country would be-
come the greatest manufacturing country
in the world as, 1t was now the greatest
agricultural country.
Harter declared that IL by law the
prices Of goods we're reduced for the bene-
fit of the many it mattered nOtshow much
it injured the few, but when the law put
prices wrong it was manifest because it
benefited the few at the expense OF the
many.
Brosius closed the debate for the after
noon in opposition to the bill, and a recess
until night was taken.
AT the night session Mcguire and Cock
rell spoke in support of the Wilson bill.
Mcguire said the bill had many faults, yet
it was an honest effort in the right direc-
ton, and would therefore have his sup
port. Cockrell's speech was devoted to
constitutional argument against protec-
ton, and at the usual hour the House ad-
journed.