Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-05-10
THE TARIFF DEBATE.

levy duties on goods in bond on the
date when the bill goes into effect, was
agreed to:
amendment in the tariff bill, which IS
the words "or withdrawn for consump-
tion," the purpose being to include
goods so Withdrawn from bonded ware
houses in the provisions applying in
the bill to goods imported. This pre-
cipitated running discussion, in which
Messrs. Jones, Chandler, Vest, Hale,
Harris and Mills took part.
Mr.. Aldrich began by referring to
his assertion in the Senate ten days ago
that over three hundred amendments
would be brought in. He knew then
that his statement was true. Yet it
had been met with the most tumultuons
denials from every one in authority on
the other side. His statement, as the
amendments showed, he had been too
conservative. He had understood the
radical character and the number of
changes made. Those amendments
deliberately abandoned every principle
ever advocated by tariti-reformer.
They made increases from ten TO three
hundred per cent. and with 2 grand
sweep changed the duties from ad
valorem to specific. He read extracts
from the speeches Of Senators Voorhees,
and Mills made at the opening and
closing OF the general debate denounc-
ing in the most severe terms the system
of specifc duties. To swallow that bill
as now modified would mean sur
render of the principles Of q lifetime.
After this he said he did not think there
was q single Senator on the other side
who would have the temerity to avow
his allegiance TO the Chicago platform.
They could Go nothing now but remain
silent. Not one of them could vote for
it without stultifying himself in view OF
his party platform.
Mr.. Mills arose, laboring under some
excitement. He wanted to repel the
idea that he was in any way responsible
for what MIR. Aldrich had termed the
democratic surrender. 4 few days ago,
he began, he had described his own po-
sition as between the devil and the
deep sea. the Mckinley bill being the
devil, Since that time change has
come over the situation. He was near
or the devil and had not rs much sea
room as before. Laughter. He now
found that the bill before the Senate, as
modified by the amendments intro
duced, had 10 resemblance to the Will
son bill. 1t ought, he said, to bear the
name of 1Ir. German or Mr.. Brice. No
nan, he declared impulsively. could
torture him into an admission that this
bill was 8 response to democratic
. edges. He had said that taxation
SHOULD be levied upon value that it
vas the only just system that taxation
should not be imposed as under the spe-
cifc system Of the Mckinley bill SO
that the goods of the rich would escape
with the same tax as was levied upon
the cheaper articles of the poor. There
ne had stood and there he would con-
tnue to stand. He rose to say that he
did not intend to vote for single one
OF the amendments carrying change
to specific duties. 1t was humiliating
enough to have to indorse the system
of robbery contained in the Mckinley
bill without bowling down in mortiiica-
ton to accept the very badges of pro
lection. The first amendment made
the surrender. 1t was continued
throughout the bill until it was now q
question between the Mckinley bill
and democratic system of protection,
with very little margin in ia
vor of the democratic measure.
But I'll vote for it" said he emphat-
ically. "I'll vote for it fit only con-
tains five.cent reduction oftaxation."
The democratic party in 1892, he con-
tinued, had declared protection fraud:
had declared for tariff for revenue
only. There is where he stood and he
would not go a step backward. He
would have reduced the duties below
the point set in the Wilson bill if he
had the power. He would have given
still more raw materials to relieve those
who were coming to Washington to tell
OF the distress produced by protection.
He would vote for the Senate BILL but
he did not intend to help make it as
bad as it could possibly be.
II want to file this caveat,n he con-
Guided, "to let the democrats Of the
country understand where | stand.
would like 10 see those who have de-
manded these changes, who have forced
the democrats of the Senate to surren-
der their platform, to stand out in the
glare of the daylight and to take the
responsibility A wave Of applause
swept over the galleries when the Texas
Senator took his seat, which was quickly
checked by Vice President Stevenson.
All eyes were turned upon Mr.. Cor
man, whom Mr. Mills had specified by
name as mainly responsible for the
CONCESSIONS" but the Maryland Sen
ator did not move a muscle. Mr.. Brice
was not in the chamber at the time
The pending amendment was then
agreed to.
Mr.. Lodge offered his amendment to
impose double duties in the bill against
Great Britain until that country should
agree to an international ratio for the
coinage of silver. This amendment, he
said, was offered SIS something practi
cable in the line of bimetalism.
The silver discussion brought Senator
Stewart to his feet with q long free-sil-
Yer speech. Senator PETER followed
him.
Senator Mcpherson held that the
provision of the amendment would be
in contravention of international cour-
tesy and was Q system of coercion.
England, he said, had no use for silver
coinage.
Mr.. Teller said he did not believe
that this was the way to deal with the
silver question. Every one knew that
as long as Mr.. Cleveland remained in
the White House there was no hone Of