The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-25
THIRD DAY OF HOUSE TARIFF
TALK AS DULL AS THE
FIRST. 7
TWO NOTABLE . ADDRESSES.
ONLY M'MILI1IN AND GROSVENOR
ROSE ABOVE THE DAYS DEAD
LEVEL.
RiddIed With Pointed HumOr
and Singing Sarcasms.

WASHINGTON. March 24.-The
house was almost as dull as the first.
There were two notable speeches, one
by Mr.. Grosvenor, Of Ohio. and the
other by Mr.. McMillin, of Tennessee.
The rest of the speeches, with the pos
sible exception of that of Mr. Walker.
Of Massachusetts, hardly created a
ripple on the monotonous sea Of speech
making. Mr.. Grosvenor and Mr.. Me
Millin were distinctively the orators of
the day. The other speakers were
Messrs. Fox (Miss.); Sims CTenn9; Will
liams (Miss.); Terry (Ark.); Savers
CTex0; Johnson IN. Do; Evans Ky9;
Maddox (Ga). and Adams Pa9.
Mr.. Fox Dem, Miss) opened the de-
bate today with fiVe-minute speech,
on the general theory of protection MIR.
Williams Dem, Miss.) devoted his at
tention to exposing alleged inconsis-
tencies in the Republican argument He
contended that the existing era Of de-
preston and low prices was due to the
approaching value Of money under the
gold standard. After brief remarks by
Mr.. Sims Dem, Tenn.) and Mr.. Terry
Dem, Ark, Mr.. Savers Dem. Tex }
addressed himself to the proposition
that if this bill increased the revenues
by S113 100000 per annum. it wuold
breed the most reckless and profiigate
extravaganza.
Mr. Johnson Rep.. n. ID. a member
of the ways and means committee, was
then recognized for an hour. He was
met by a fussilade Of questions from
the Democrats and Populists, and the
controversy as to whether the foreign
er or the consumer paid the tax, was
fought over with great pertinacity, Mir.
Johnson, of course, taking the view
that the foreigner substantially paid
1t and his adversaries that it was paid
by the consumer. Mr.. McMillin Oem.
TENN, who followed Mr.. Johnson, was
heartily applauded by his Democratic
colleagues as he took the floor
M'MILLIN'S SPEECH.
He prefaced his remarks with figures
to prove there was a sufficient surplus.
$ll80OO 600, exclusive of the gold re-
serve, in the treasury to meet all esti-
mated deficiencies for two years, and
that the alleged necessity for this bill
" as mere preteXt. He prOphesied dis
aster. which overlook the congress tina:
enacted the Mckinley law. if this bill
were passed; and made the Republican
change of front on the question Of SUI
gar bounties a text for some caust1c
remarks.
He discussed in detail the metal
schedule, arguing as we We're becoming
heavy shippers of pig iron, viii n
could be produced in the Southern
states as easily as any place in the
world, the duty of 81 per ton should
have been reduced. He declared the
agricultural schedule was a humbug.
and enumerated a long list of trusts
which he said would fatten on this
bill Continuing he said
The gentleman from Maine tells US they
have taken lumber. salt wool bagging, co.,
ton ties and hooks from the free list and
put a tax upon them. Why does he not tell
US the reason for retaining free salt for his
Maine fisheries and imposing a duty on salt
used elsewhere? Why does he not explain
the reason for increasing duties on lnoleum
OF same grades TO between 100 and 200 per
cent When II IS in trust, when one large
concern IN his own state has not lost a day's
work in many years? We make two-thirds
OF all the cotton that is produced in the
world; two-th-rds of all we make is shipped
abroad; bagging that surrounds it and ties
that bind t are a total loss, being consumed
N the United States. Makers OF bagging in
this country organized a gigantic trust To ron
the farmer. Ties can be made as cheaply
here as anywhere In the world. Why did he
not give Us the same reason for thus ham
perlHg agriculture and shifting the tiiler Of
the soil?
Mr.. Chairman. this bill carries not only
higher rates of duty than the present limit
and higher rates than the Mckinley bill but
higher than any law ever passed by an Amer
lean congress.
The claim that there is an increased burden
on Injuries is not sustained by facts Are
ShaWls and knit goods Injuries? Are wool
mats and oYercoatS luXurses2 Are knives and
forks in this urbane age Injuries? And I beg
with due Difference to ask whether in the
state Of Maine clean shirt has become such
rarity that Il is classed with the Inquiries >
l ask when, among Americans. sugar that
sWeetens tea and coffee became Iuxuries
when trace chains became 1uxuries to The
farmer? Not only is the bal itself higher,
but the different schedules average above
those of the Mckinley bill
RECIPROCITY CLAUSE.
The reciprocity clause Isl remarkable for
the fact that it puts into the hands of the
president absolute power to impose taxes
ana remit taxes at pleasure. He can i'm
pose them this month. remit them next. He
can 90 so without convening congress or
consulting it, if convened. The taxing power
is thereby surrendered by congress and II
is the constitutional repository 10 an execu-
tive VINO was never clothed bv such noUer
by any statute framed by those who adopted
the constitution. The reciprocity clause is
an effort TO cOunteract the III effects of NAL
Ieglslaton' which this same bill proposes TO
enact II reports be trlIe il is more than
Likely that some such safety valve will be
needed. for already France Canada and 9TH
er governments are preparing to resist this
assault on commerce
The Democratic party stands and has ever
stood for low taxes. We are here to proclaim
and sustain this principle OF our party Only
nve years ago the Democratic party voted for
Tree lumber IN the house. not one of the party
voting against il, as I remember. 1t voted to
put wool on the free list by a majority OF 1874
10 90, no Democrat voting against it 1t is
not here to advocate taxed wool and free
cotton hagging; not here to demand taxed
cotton ties and free grain bags; not here to
demand free lumber and advocate restoration
Of duty on WOO not here as party to ask
a tax on 5000 bales of long cotton imported
to this country, but at the same time TO adyo-
cate removal Of duty upon everything else
No; ii is here to proclaim the ancient doc
trine Of taxing things al as low rates as is
consistent with raising of revenue necessary
to support government and taxing nothing
except for purposes Of revenue Tariff for
revenue only was its doctrine in the past and
Is today.
I beg the gentlemen on the other side to
remember that the victory obtained last fall
was obtained by such an expenditure Of
money, such an exertion OF bulldozing and
force and such a prostitution Of election as
was never before Witnessed in this land
They must not take such verdict as the es-
tablished and irrevoeable will of the Ameri-
IN A 1HnHuH - -