The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-27
During the Debate There Was
an Arrangement of Dem
ocratic Management.
MATERIAL INCREASE IN TARIFF
One Important Step to Check the
Chronic Deficit in the National
Treasury.

WASHINGTON. D. c., Dec. 26-The
promised debate on the revenue measure
prepared by the Committee on Ways and
Means attracted to the House to-day an
attendance which filled the galleries to
their utmost and filed the seats with many
more than quorum of members.
Immediately after the reading OF the
journal Dingley (R.) of Maine reported
from the committee bill ''to temporarily
increase the revenue to meet the expenses
of the Government and provide against a
deficiency" together with statement of
the reasons why the bill should be passed.
Crisp (D.) of Georgia explained that the
minority of the committee had no oppor-
tunity TO prepare their views in opposition
to the bill.
Henderson (R.) of Iowa offered a resolu-
ton from the Committee on Rules provid-
ing for vote on the revenue bill, just re-
ported, at o'clock this afternoon. He
stated that he supposed the gentlemen
understood that another bill from the
Committee on WAYS and Means would be
reported tomorrow. The bill to be dis
cussed to-day, he said, was in no sense a
general revision of the tariff, but one to
provide revenue needed at once. The
President had aroused public sentiment by
sending two messages to Congress, and the
money centers were desirous that some
thing should be done to allay the excite
ment caused by the feverish declarations
from the White House. The House differed
from the President probably as to what
was necessary to be done to relieve the
country and the financial situation, but
the bill under discussion contained what
the House, or a majority thereof, believed
TO be necessary.
Crisp Cd of Georgia said members of
the House should not blindly follow the
dictates of the rule, but vote upon it as
they deem to be best for the interests of
the country. The bill reported was gen.
eral revision OF the tariff, whatever might
be said to the contrary, for it affected every
schedule in the bill. The rule brought in
deprived the House of the right to con-
slider the bill in committee of the whole,
as well as of the right to discuss it under
the general rules of debate under the five-
minute rule, and also of offers to amend
it. Every Republican member was ex-
pected to vote blindly for the bill without
knowing anything about it or its probable
effects upon the people represented by
them.
DalzeIl (R.) of Pennsylvania a member
of the Committee on Rules, said there,was
no man within the sound of his voice who
did not know that ever since March 4, 1893,
the revenues of the Government had piled
up steadily increasing deficiency. The
President and the Secretary of the Treas
ury had been alarmed and the former
turning to party in Congress not his own,
had asked it to act speedily for the relief
of the public, even going so far as to re-
uuire it to forego the sual holiday recess.
1t was not he asserted, a general tariff re-
vision, but an emergency revenue measure.
Did Mr. Crisp not remember that the pres
ent tariff bill with more than 600 amend
ments, none Of which were considered in
committee, was driven through the House
in two hours by the terms of a rule pre-
pared by the gentleman himself? Zap
plause1. It was, he said. what the Repub-
Iican party always did, to rise above party
prejudice or passion and in response to
the Presidents appeal to give the country
the relief he had asked. [Applausel.
McMillin CD of Tennessee followed.
He said he would give the answer to Dal-
zeIrs question, which that gentleman had
failed to do. 1t was to pass general tariff
bill affecting every one of the 1000 articles
on the dutiable list, except sugar. The
Republicans were in power again ana pro-
ceeding as they had previously done. go
ahead. gentlemen" McMillin said, "the
same power which deprived you of place
and authority will do it again. ZAP
plause.]
Turner Cd of Georgia pleaded for time
in which a respectful discussion of the
momentous issues involved could be had.
Henderson (R.) of Iowa, concluding the
argument for the adoption of the rule, said
this was business proposition for the Ie-
lief of a business people. When the
Rayard resolution was under discussion in
the House the other day, Henderson said
the Republicans were taunted by Crisp
with fear TO take the responsibility.
.sWe'n show him to-day" he shouted,
"whether we are afraid to take the response
bility. [Applause.l Whether Republi-
can or a Democratic President sits In the
executive chair; whether we are threat
ened with ballots or bullets; whether we
are confronted with a deficiency or sur
plus, Republicans are always ready to as
sumo all rightful and necessary response
billty. When the Democratic ass falls into
a pit of it's own making, with the burden
of National responsibility upon its back,
the Republicans will work on Sunday to
get il out and set the country on its feet
again." Laughter.
"The gentleman from Georgla" LCrlspl,
said Henderson, "had said this was a Dill
to tax the people. Ny Godl" he ex-
claimed, 1.-The House of Representatives,
hasn't the power to vote to pay back the
people the millions of which they have
been deprived since the Democratic party
came into power on the 4th OF March,
1893.
Linney lR.l of North Carolina asked