St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-16
HARRIS IN DEFENSE.
SENATOR TALKS TARIFF To
TENNESSEEANS.
New Bill Makes Greater Reduc-
Bill-Words for Bimetallism.

TRENTON, Tenn, Sept. Ex-senator
Isham q. Harris opened the campaign
in Tennessee here today in speech be-
fore one of the largest audiences that
ever assembled in the state. The whole
town put OH holiday attire, and eXcur-
sion trains brought great crowds from
points in West Tennessee. Senator
Harris was in his happiest mood, and
was frequently interrupted by cheers.
Mr.. Harris said that while the new
tariff bill was not entirely satisfactory
to himself or to large majority of
Democratic senators, he cOu Id assert
with absolute confidence that it is the
best tariff bill for the consumer and the
taxpayer that has been passed by or
offered in congress in the last forty
years. He did not hesitate to denounce
as unjust. unfounded and absolutely
false the statements that the senate was
controlled by the sugar trust. He did
not believe that single Democratic
senator was so controlled.
The bill as it passed the senate effect.
ed reduction of three -eighths of a
cent pound on sugar that the refner
or the sugar trust enjoyed under the
Mckinley act, and the Louisiana sugar
planter claims that from 65 10 6S per
cent of his product is refined sugar.
Upon the sugar question the act of 1894
is vastly better for the taxpayer than
the Mckinley act, as the 4 per cent ad
valorem tax is very much less than the
bounty of 2 cents pound and an eighth
OF cent pound on refined sugar, Just
a fourth of the protection that the Nc
Kinley act gave to the refiner or the
sugar trust.
Senator Harris said: 1.-THE plain and
practical question presented to the DEM
ocratic members of the senate finance
committee was: Shall we perpetuate
the Mckinley tariff act with all of its
monstrosities and wrongs. or make
concessions, the result to be bill that
would still
Make a Great Reduction
upon the rates of the Mckinley act
and a reduction upon the rates of what
are known rs the Morrison bill and the
Mills bill, both of which bills have been
lauded and approved by the Demo-
cratic party in national convention and
otherwise?
The average ad valorem rates of duty
on dutiable goods was. under the Nc.
Kinley- act, 1888 per cent; under the
Wilson bill as it passed the house, 81. so
per cent; under the bill as reported
from the senate committee, 34.15 per
cent; as it passed the senate under the
Mills bill, 1928 per cent.
From this 1t will be seen that the bill
as it passed the house reduced the rates
of taxation below the Mckinley act
14.06 per cent: as reported by the senate
committee, 1884 per cent; as it passed
the senate, 1919.
The average ad valOrem rate of duty
under the Mills bill was 1928 per cent,
which was $50 per cent higher than the
average rate imposed by this act as it
finally passed the senate and became a
law, and the Mills bill was universally
applauded and approved by Democrats.
Speaking of the currency question, Sen
ator Harris said
81 should be glad to have an interna.
tional agreement. but l am satisfied that
no such agreement is possible or prob
able at this time. 1t is therefore inevi-
table that we must by our own legisla-
ton provide for the coinage of both
metals and the maintenance of parity.
Let US formulate and establish our own
home policy and maintain it. We are
able to do it, and it is our duty to
establish and maintain a bimetallic
standard in our country.
When we owe other countries, we
will find means of payment; if not in
cotton, wheat or other of our products,
we may possibly make terms with Shy
locks for gold enough to pay.
The senator concluded with an argu-
ment in favor of a repeal of the tax on
state banks.