Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-03-25
TWO NOTABLE SPEECHES IN THE
HOUSE YESTERDAY.
BY GRosVENoR AND M'MILLIN.
REST OF THE SPEECHES MARKED
ONLY BY THEIR DIZZINESS.
Mr.. McMiiIin Tells of fhc Great Sur
plus Now In the Treasury and
Declares No More Revenue
Is Needed - Congress
xionaI DoinES.

Washington, March 2i--The third day of
the tariff debate in the house was almost
as dull as the first. There were two Iiot:;-
bic speeches, one by Mr.. Grosvenor, of
Ollic. and the other by Mr.. McMillin. of
Tennessee, but the rest of the speeches.
with the possible exception OF that of aIr.
Walker. of Massachusetts, hardly created
ripple on the mOnotonous sea Of speech
making. Mr.. Grosvenor and Mr.. McMillin
were distinctively the orators of the day.
The other speakers at the day session were
Messrs. Fox. Democrat. of Mississippi:
Sims, Democrat. of Tennessee: Williams.
Democrat. of Mississippi: Terry. Democrat.
OF Arkansas: Sayers. Democrat. OF Texas:
johnson. Republican. of North Dakota;
Evans. Republican. OF Kentucky: Maddox.
Democrat. OF Georgia, and Adams. Repub-
lcaI. of Pennsylvania. ra'..a
Mr.. Williams devoted his attention TO ex-
posing the alleged Inconsistencies in the
Republican argument. lie said: IL was alb
surd TO charge the present depression to The
invasion OF the home market by foreign
goods, when the treasury figures showed
that last yenr the importations were less
by $3.50. .0eo 000 than In the last year of the
Mckinley law, Itself a year of restricted
impOrtauons. He contended that the exist
ing era of depression and low prices was
due to the apprectatihg value OF money
under the gold standard 4t -
Mr.. Sayers addressed himself TO the prop
os:tiOn that, if the anticipatioDs of the MIL
joriiy were realized and this bill Increased
the revenues Si3,Ooo.eo9 per annum it
would lead 10 the most reckless and proili-
gate extravaganza. g.
Mr.. johnson, member of The ways and
means committee. directed his attention
chiefly to eulogy OF the prospective bcne-
fits which would follow the enactment of
the agricultural schedule of the bill. He
was met by a fusilIade of questions from
troyersy TO whether the foreigner or the
consumer paid the tax wls fought over
with greatt t,r per5tnagIy t5 MT Johnson OF
substantially paid it. and his adyersaries
that 1t WAS paid by the consumer.
erotion. Mr.. Johnson said he predicted that
its passage would be futal TO the sheep in
dustry. In reply to question. Mr.. John
would pledge their loyalty TO The doctrine
of protection the Republican party would
tection given to wheat, corn. potatoes and
other agricultural products CT the Norh.
who followed Mr.. johnson. was given a
round of applause by his Democratic col
leagues as he took the floor.
Mr.. McMilIin prefaced his remarks with
some figures to prove that there a
sufficient surplus, Sis 100000. exclusive of
the gold reserve. in the treasury, TO meet
all estimated deficiencies for two years.
and that the alleged necessity for this bill
was a mere pretext. He prophesied repe
titl0n OF the 0iSdSter which overlook the
congress that enacted the Mckinley law if
this bill were passed. and made the Repub-
lican change of front on the question of
sugar bounties the text for some caustic
marks. Despite the appeals of the Louis
tnna sugar growers, he declared. the boun-
ty was established in 1890 The cry of a
free breakfast table had gone forth" said
he. "and although everything on the break
fast table except coffee was taxed, the
promise made that sugar should be put on
The free list was kept And only the tax
necessary TO enable the sugar trust to ex-
act its millions from the people-half
cent a pound between raw and refined su-
gar-was imposed.
But, sir. you will search in vain for free
sugar in this bill, or anything else which
benefits the American people. All the DEM
agogic cry of free breakfast table has had
to be abandoned. The Democratic party
can at least boast that it has accomplished
something by preventing this pernicious
principle from being permanently ingraft-
ed on our American system of taxation"
In conclusion he said: II beg the gentle
men on the other side 70 remember that the
victory obtained last fall was obtained by
such an expenditure of money, such an ex-
ertion OF bulldoZing and force, and such a
prostitution of elections as was never be-
fore witnessed in this land. They must not
take such a verdict as the established and
irrevocable will of the American people. I
beg them to remember that a purchased
verdict cannot stand. The Democratic par
ty has suffered defeat before and by stern
adherence to never failing principle 1t has
regained power and readministered gov
ernment. Let US now and here resolve
anew tIdI lne principles Oh JeUerSOn. jack
son and of Polk shall be the principles of
the Democratic party now. as they have
been in the past and as sure as the night
succeeds the day 1t will return to power
and restore the government to the consti-
tutional moorings from which il has been
wrested by such mal-legislation as that
which is being forced upon US to-day
MIR. McMillin's speech was very well re-
ceived by his Democratic colleagues who
spplauded him frequently.
Mr.. Dingley challenged Mr.. McMiIlin's
statement that the pending measure gave
TO the refiner of sugar. a differentiai OF
more than one-eighth of cent per pound
Mr.. McMiliin gave an elaborate calcula-
tion I'm support of his statements but Mr.
Dingley repudiated the calculations, con-
tending that they were based on the sup
position that 100 pounds of raw sugar test
ing 30 degrees polariscope. would produce
100 pounds of refined sugar.
Mr.. McMillin spoke about an hour and n
half and when he concluded was warmly
congratulated.
Mr.. Grosvenor. Republican of O.. was
then recognized. The Republicans gave
him cordial reception.
Mr.. Grosvenor reviewed the business con-
ditions from 1890 TO. 1896 pointing out the
swift and certain downward course that
followed the passage of the Wilson bill
Said he: What. then, is the great neces-
Eity of this hour? Two deadly evils are
upon us: unemployed labor and bankrupt
treasury. With these conditions. there can
be no business confidence in this country.