Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-16
Senator Dubois Significant Speech
Upon the Tariff Bill.
THE PENDING MEASURE CRITICISED
But Action of Some Kind is Needed
at Once.
HIS BELIEF IN PROTECTION

has been heard in the Senate during the
tariff discussion was made by Senator Du-
bois this afternoon. 1t was a scorching
criticism of the democratic tariff bill. but
demanded speedy action, and the views
expressed are supposed to be concurred in
by a considerable number Of republicans
in the Senate. 1t appeared to foreshadow
a breaking up of any plan republicans may
have in view for a filibuster. Mr.. Dubois
said:
have no great desire to make a speech
upon the pending measure. II a genuine
effort had been made by the democratic
party to carry out the plain and unmistaka-
BILE pledges contained in the platform on
which it came into power. If its representa-
tives had framed and presented to us and
the country bill which was honestly and
sincerely tariff for revenue only meas
ore, If they had united bill which
meant and showed on it's face that ''pro-
lection was fraud" was unconstitutional
and was to be destroyed, a full. fair and in
teresting discussion could have been mad
as to the respective advantages to our en-
tire country of the policies of free trade
or protection, questions of economics
and principles.
From the utterances of the leaders of the
democratic party during the recent cam
paign, and particularly during the last
=
in their platform, the country was pre-
pared to see the issue fairly joined, as be-
tween tariff for revenue only or free trade,
and protection for the sake of protection to
American industries.
The Democrats Opportunity.
The democratic party had. and still has,
the opportunity to make the fight squarely,
pass bill which will present their system
to the people so that they may make
choice and settle this vexed tariff question
for years to come. 1t will be manly and
patriotic in them TO do this, and will gain
Tor them the credit and respect which al
ways accompanies honesty and sincerity.
L should be glad to discuss such bill
many senators who will sit silently in their
seats during this entire debate would be
pleased to contribute their thoughts in the
discussion of these great and opposing prin-
clples. AS We find ourselves now. however,
the discussion is dwarfed. We hardly know
what we are debating. At first We had the
Wilson bill, which was crude, inconsistent
and represented nothing but the desire to
reduce the revenues OF the government. We
then had the voorhees, bill, which was less
crude, equally inconsistent and represented
chiefly a desire to increase the revenues of
the government. We then had the commit
tee amendments to the Voorhees, bill, which
made Ii more symmetrical but left IL equal
ly inconsistent and illogical We now have
the German bill, which does not cure the
defects of the previous measures and repre-
sents the individual wishes and interests of
the constituents of the individual Senators
upon the democratic side All OF these
measures are protective, pure and simple
The protection" has been transferred
from some localities to others. 1t has been
modified, lessened in degree, in some in
stances; in others, instead of SPECIFIC pro-
lection, we have lad valorem' protection.
The principle of protection is as fully recog-
nized In the bill before us as In the McKin-
ley act. The marked difference in the two
10 fc 81
and unjust, and Is designed to favor in
dividuals and sections. while the other ex-
tended the principle of protection to every
portion of our country.
Inasmuch as the principle OF protection Is
fully recognized by the dominant party, and
they have completely abandoned the plat
form and pledges upon which they came in
to power there is nothing left for US TO
quarrel and contend about except the
various schedules. AS the dominant party
has now, and. 1t is TO he hoped, for the last
time. arranged these schedules, and as In
this last compromise they have protected
the industries in the states of the different
democratic Senators sufficiently to satisfy
the demands of those Senators, l take IL
the measure is now perfected, and will pass
or be defeated as Ii stands.
Wrong to His state,
feel that great wrong has been done the
state which have the honor to in part rep
resent, in the framing of this bill. OF all
lumber alone are put on the free list. This
is an invidious. unjust. illogical and indie
fensible distinction. 1t will cause great loss
to a young state, which has already suf-
fered much through lily advised legislation.
The inconsistency of the wool schedule Is
shown by the fact that while the raw ma
te-iai Is placed on the free list all the man.
ufactured products of wool are made duti-
able. In every other instance in this bill 1
think, where the manufactured article is
protected the raw material from which Ii is
made is also protected. Your bill will de-
stroy the wool industry In the far west
without corresponding benefit to any class
OF people / am fully aware that l cannot
stop you, for our section of country is not
the section in whose interest you are legis-
lating.
You were more consistent In regard to
lead ore, and 1 desire to return my thanks
for the consideration with which you have
treated this, the greatest product of my
state. While the protection OF three-quarters
of a cent per pound on lead ore. is hardly
SUFFICIENT to enable us to compete with Mex
leo, British Columbia and Spain. which is
evidenced by the fact that under the pres
ent duty of one and cne-half cents per
pound great quantities of lead ore were
shipped in from Mexico, still. as you re-
duced the duties on white lead pig lead
and the various manufactured products of
lead ore one-half In each instance thus
making no unjust discrimination against
lead ore. We have no particular cause for
contend that nobody will be benefited by
this reduction, and that many will be in
jured. but as you meted out to US the same
relative measure of protection that YOU
gave the white lead trust and the smelling
combine, We are thankful for the favor and
grateful for the consideration.
Our complaint. SO far as lead ore Is con-
cerhed, is against the manner and methods
used in the construction of the entire bill
AS you have presented a bill which Is de-
signed TO protect various Industries, the
lead schedule should not have been changed
No one will reap any benefit from the lower
duties. / trust the protection accorded lead
ore will keep our miners employed at good
wages and make profitable business for the
thousands of farmers, merchants mechanics
and other Industrious citizens whose pros
perity depends almost entirely upon the
continued operation of the lead-silver mines.
The government has been cheated and
robbed of at least one-hah of the duty II
should receive on lead ore through improper
sampling at ports of entry. By this rob-
berry of the government as much lead ore is
Struggled in free as pays duty. I shall
offer an amendment at the proper time to
prevent this smuggling. and will hope for
the support of the finance committee and
Senators on the other side of the chamber
/ will reserve any further remarks In ex-
PLANTATION until the lead schedule is reached
Protection Must BE Followed.
In discussing a bill like the one before us,
which Is not free trade or terin-for-rev-
enue-only measure but which Is confessedly
a hill for the r,roteofi0n of Anaricau ind