The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-17
VEST ON THE DlNGLEY BILL
Taunts Platt and Sherman on
Dropping the Measure
CAMPAIGN FIRES REkiNDLso
Bad Boy Chandler at His Old TICKS OF
Stirring Up Aliens Ire--Many
Vicious Volleys But Fun
For the Galleries.

and exciting debate that either uraueu
az Congress has heard in long time.
II brought forward the recognized leaders
nf the various parties and elements
including such conspicuous hgures as
Messrs. Sherman, Frye, Teller, Gornhah'
Vest. Aldrich, Plat, Mitchell, OF oregon
Chandler. Hale and Allen, III notable
statements on the leading questions Whlch
have engaged the attention or Congress
and the country of late.
Not only were the lines laid down on
tariff and finance but the debate partook
of all the pent up feeling resulting from
the recent national contest. Often 1t
was dramatic in its intensity and at
all times absorbingly interesting TO the
crowded galleries and intent body OF
Senators. Political differences came IN
for fair share of attention and the
names of Mr.. Mckinley and Mr.. Bryan
often were mentioned.
Throughout the debate the sentiment
had prevailed that the Dingley bill was
dead and to give this final and apparently
official sanction, Mr.. Platt, of the fI-
nance Committee, announced that no
effort would be made to urge that bill
to passage. Thereupon Mr.. Sherman
promptly arose and said that in view
of what had been said he acquiesced IN
the general sentiment that no further
efforts should be made on the DIngley
bill. This was regarded as the hnal
disposition of the bill.
The debate came Unexpectedly, when
Mr.. Vest called up the Allen resolution
for consideration of the Dingley bill IN
order to make some remarks on it, MIR.
Vest was in his usual caustlc vein and
his speech teemed with those graeefui
and catchy phrases for which he Is
noted. In the beginning he said ne ap-
preciated, he was talking of dead issue,
and he would not allude to 1t II many
well-meaning people were not urging on
Congress to act upon this measure. lie
regarded the Dingley bill as one OF the
most remarkable pieces OF legislation
ever presented. 1t was the result OF the
Presidents warning to Congress a year
ago, that the condition of the finances
was so dangerous that the usual holiday
recess might well be abandoned. The
recess was given up and the Dingley
bill resulted, notwithstanding the en-
phatic declarations of the executive that
no more revenue was wanted. The SEN
ator discussed the tin and wool schedules
quite deliberately, asserting that the price
of raw material had gone up since the
passage ofthe Wilson law.
1--WE were told" said he, that with the
election of Mckinley prosperity would
flood the land like sunshine. Mckinley
was elected, but has the prosperity come
viii the increased prosperity come with
your tariff bill, adding more taxes to the
burden of the people and heaping up
more money in the treasury? Will that
give the people the resources to buy either
foreign or domestic goods"
Mr.. Vest denounced that moss grown
lie," which told of the large per capita
circulation, rather than greater taxes, 70
bring the promised prosperity.
while / may be subjected to the
charge of being lunatic, an anarchist
an a repudiator," declared Mr.. Vest, Il
assert that the only relief for the people
is to give them more money. II we are
lunatics and anarchists because we ask
for the opening Of the minis to the free
coinage of silver then over six million
American freemen, who voted for VIM.
J. Bryan, are lunatics and may God help
the Republic. But it is a vile SANDER.
The men who supported that great leader,
VIM. j. Bryan, are as loyal and as in
telligent a body of men as any in this
country The gold standard at the root
of this evil, is the vilest monopoly ever
conceived in the mind of mortal man."
The Senator spoke OF the recent election
as a parody ON free institutions. He was
anxious to see what became OF the in
vestigation proposed by the Senator from
Nebraska (Allen.) He was inclined to
believe that the Senator from New
Hampshire (Chandler) was right when
he declared that he believed that the st.
Louis convention was honeycombed with
fraud, and that the delegates there had
been bargained for and bought. These
assertions had been repeated by the New
Hampshire Senator in a letter to Mr..
Lodge, Of Massachusetts,. There was
more in such charges, Mr.. Vest believed,
than mere activity in behalf Of Mr..
Reeds candidacy.
The discussion then diifted into tech
nical lines, concerning the wool schedule
prices at various times, etc. There was
a burst of laughter at one point when
Mr.. Aldrich referred to the position OF
Mr.. Vest and his great leader, Mr.. Cleve-
land.
My former leader" interposed Mr..
Vest with such vigor on the former"
as to make Senators and the galleries
roar
Mr.. Mitchell, Republican, Oregon,) also
came into the debate. 1t was con-
slant crossfre of questions, assertions
as to the wool prices and contradic-
tions. Mr.. Vest rema cked that he was
greatly surprised to hear Senators on
the other sile talk of mills being closed
now How could this be, since McKin-
ley was elected?
I'VE are living under Democratic
laws" intePiected Mr.. FRYE
Yes, but everybody assumes that the
elaction of Mr.. Mckinley means the re-
turn to Mckinley tariff rates. The Ding
ley bin is dead; it reposes in the tomb
of Capulets; and in its place bill reviv-
ing all the old rates is being matured."
Mr. Mills, (Texas,) spoke of the shoddy
and hair which was in general use as
wool, as result of wool protection. He
had supposed he wore wooden coat,
but he had drawn from it a number of
horse hairs put there to make it an ini-
tation Of wool.
Mr.. Gear, Republican, Iowa. caused