Morning journal and courier., 1894-01-18
rINE ONLY wnnE PRESENT.

Congressman Sperfy spoke TO IN
Empty House WIN the ExcepIion
OF ghe Galleries when He Delivered
his Argument ON tho Wilson Bill.
WisHiNGfoS, D. O., Jan. 17.ADebsts on
the tariff bill was resumed In the house
this morning on Chairman Wilson's pro-
posed amendment to postpone the taking
effect of the paragraph putting wool on
the free list until August 1, 1894, which
was pending at the close Of yesterday 3 SEES
sion. The discussion took much wider
range than that covered by the amendment
and drifted into debate on the trade be-
tween nations and the effect of favorable
or unfavorable balances.
Mr.. Dlngley Of Maine led the debate on
the republican side and replied to the crit.
icisms of his speech of last Thursdsy made
on Saturday by Mr.. Cochran of New York.
Mr.. Dinsley oontended that An adverse Dal-
ance of trade meant reduction in the de-
mand for the products of homo produo-
ton and the depression OF business In all
industries.
Mr.. Cochran, who has taken his place in
the front rank of the tariff reformers, re-
piled to Mr.. Dingley In his usual vigorous
style, and Mr.. Reed took . hand In the
fght ON the republican side.
The substitute offered by Mr.. johnson
providing that the free wool clause should
take effect Immediately after the passage
of the bull was sgreed to by-ysas liz,
nays 102.
After the disposition of the pending
amendment the rest of the day was devoted
to the consideration of amendments offer
ed by Chairman Wilson.
Three seats were occupied on the repub
lican side and six on the democratic side
when Mr.. Sperry, dem, of Connecticut,
arose at the evening session to deliver his
argument on the Wilson bill. He had,
however. large audience In the Rallerir 9.
He said in part:
The only excuse for q tariff tax IL to
provide revenue. In the preparation of
the pending bill the committee seem to
have left ell revenue consideration out of
the problem. In the face of deficit of
possibly So, 000. 600 for the current fiscal
year the ways and means committee present
q revenue bill which carries upon its face q
deficit of nearly SO, 000. 900. The only
source of revenue which the committee
disclose to ne Is an internal revenue bill
WhiOA taC SoAuAlb0o AoP0 uay PSO0uSo
possibly $50, 900 900, still leaving an an
nusl deficit in the treasury Of at least
$50, 000, 900 and possibly 500. 600, 600.
The problem before us now is not how
shall we decrease the revenue, but how
shall We increase 1t. Ninety.fve million
dollars added to the fixed annual charges
of the government during the last three
years necessitates additional taxation.
A tariff reform like the bill bsfore us
which necessitates an annual increase in
the public debt in time of peace could
hardly be expected to continue very long,
nor could the party responsible for 1t rea-
sonably expect q vote of confidence by the
people. The sentiment in the agricultural
states as whole is in favor.of Q lew tariff
or possibly free trade, If an Income tax
could be laid. The prevailing sentiment
In the industrial states is in favor of q
tariff which shall produce . revenue and
carry full measure of protection.
While 1t Is true the consumer pays tax
1t Is also true that the manufacturing states
are the consumers. It IL not true the sgri-
cultural states under our tariff system are
paying tribute to the manufacturing
states. The contribution Is from the man
to the agricultural states.
Mr.. Tolbert replied to q remark by Mr..
Sparry that southern state like South
Carolina was small consumer of dutiabls
goods, and that her people had little or no
interest in the tariff questions.