The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-01-09
FIRST GUN FIRED.
Wilson Opens the Bembardment on
the Protective System.
THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS AT LAST
CAPTURED A QUORUM.


ting the Present Business Depression
to CycIe-The Tariff Had Nothing to
Do With 1t But Wicked Republicans
Tried to Make 1t Appear rSo-Delinquent
Democrats Forgiven.
Washington, January s.-After many
days of unavailing attempts to do SO, the
Democrats today, with the assistance of
the sergeant-at-arms succeeded in TAX
ing up the ta1iff bill, and Prof. Wilson
opened the debate on his measure. 1t
was 3.15 when he commenced his re-
marks, the first reading of the bill and
the time limit of one hour being dis
pensed with, on motion of Mr.. Reed.
We are here, said Mr. Wilson, with the
commission of the American people to
put into law that general reform they
themselves, in their constitutional
methods of expression, have ordered at
the polls. He did not feel called upon to
take up for examination the details and
schedules of The bill now before the
House. The majority of the mem bers.of
the ways and means committee did not
profess, in dealing with a system grown
QD GHhUy JOuho ~ EAOsASs w
legislation. at enc stroke, to free it of its
injustice. He would not inquire into the
causes that brought about the present
prostration of industry in this country.
There seemed some recurring cycle in
modern times ABOUT such depressions. 1t
had been eagerly seized upon by the
enemies of tariff reform to kindle hostili-
Gy against thai great and beneficent
movement. If there was ever a time
ho Ir,r r1an0 TOW ohnnId ba
lightened it waswhen men were strugs
Cling for the yer. necessaries of life and
when trade was in the paralysis of a
commercial crisis. (Applause.) All
through the country the enemies of tariff
reform were seeking to prejudice its
success by an appeal to those whose
power of reasoning is, for the time being,
blunted by personal suffering and per-
sonal distress Protection, when expelled
from our revenue laws, can never come
back into them blythe conscious and in
telligent assent of the people. Prior to
1889, the Democratic Secretary of the
Treasury, MIR. ..Fairchild estimated the
surplus revenue atS1, 104, 900, 600. The
first report of his successor, Secretary
Window, showed surplus revenue of
S105, 900, O00 Mr.. Farchild turned over
to Mr.. Window an available cash balance
of over S1S5, 600, 900. How was that got
purchase of over SOS, 0o0,0 in bonds not
yet due, some at a premium of from five
to eight and others at premium of from
25 to 30 per cent. Secretary Window in
the first nine months OF 1891 purchased
$50, ,0o0,0n0 more bonds, paying ten
millions in premiums anG anticipating
interest by the payment Df $4,000, 600.
The surplus was also dlsipated by the
51st Congress picking out new methods
and new projects That Congress gave
back as a gratuity to certain states a
direct tax by which fourteen million of
dollars were paid to the states. Under the
pretext of a free breakfast for the
American workman, raw sugar was un-
taxed in order thatIheavier taxes might
be put upon his cups and saucers, his
knives and forks, his1furn5lure, his tools
and the other food Chair came upon his
table. Taking these renitted taxes,
taking the increased expenditures, it was
not hard to see why the treasury today
was empty. The greatest d,ain was from
the dependent pension bill of June, 1890.
Prof. Wilson declared that this bill never
would have passed if there had not been
an overdewing treasury which 1t was
decided to empty, and il there had not
been devised along with it a new scheme
of taxation under which those other pro-
tected pensioners would get the biggest
pull and the largest part of the taxes
levied to pay pensions (Applause.)
Today the starving people were paying
heavier taxes than ever bfore.
Mr.. Wilson referred to the fact that
there had been call for the wooden
man ufacturers Of the country to meet
in New York to protest against the bill
which leaves them forty per cent tax on
their products. He sad the English
landlords who, when famine was Staying
tens of thousands in Irsland protested
against relieving food from taxation
were prototypes of the men who will
meet in New York the day after tomor
row. Mr.. Wilson stated tie committee on
ways and means had endeavored to meet
the duty entrusted to Them as far as
they could by releasing from taxation
those great interests on which the
Industrial prosperity AMI well being of
the American people aremost dependent.
The bill proposed to plsce on the free
elemental matters, wod, iron ore, coal
and lumber. He waned to see this
battle go on until not ajax payer should
pay single dollar thai should not go
straight and undininIhed into the tax
payers treasury"
On motion of Mr.. MGMillin, the com
mittee of the whole rose and the sergeant
alarms submitted q nport in regard to
the arrest of members. Mr.. Catching S
moved, as the object If the resolution
was accomplished, that all the gentle
men named in the report of the sergeant
alarms be excused. This was agreed to
without objection aid 5he House took a
recess. Mr.. Wilson will conlude his
speech tomorrow.