The Van Buren press., 1897-04-03
TARIFF DEBATE.
Hen. Benton McMilIin Rakes the
Dingley Bill Fore and Aft In
the House.
From the Washington Post


Representative McMillin was greeted
with applause as he took the floor short
ly before o. clock. He prophesied a
repetition of the disaster which over
took the congress that enacted the Nc
Kinley law If this bill were passed. and
made the Republican change of front on
the question Of sugar bounties the text
for some caustic remarks. Despite the
appeals OF the Louisiana sugar growers.
he declared, the bounty was estab-
lished In 1890.
THE cry of a free breakfast table
had gone forth, said he, land
although everything on the breakfast
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 exact it's millions from the
American people-half cent a pound
between raw and refined sugar-was
imposed.
II But, sir, you will search In vain for
free sugar in this bill, or anything else
free which benefits the American
people. All the demagogic cry of a
free breakfast table has had TO be
abandoned. The Democratic party can
at least boast that 1t has accomplished
something by preventing this pernicious
principle from being permanently in
grated ON our American system of
taxation and government.
Mr.. McMiIlin had the clerk read
extracts from the speeches of Mr..
Payne and Mr.. Dingley at that time
which differed greatly from their
arguments today. The reading pro
voked much laughter on the Democratic
side.
CALLS 1T LEGISLATIVE ROBBERY.
After careful and painstaking ex-
animation Of this bill, - continued Mr..
McMillin, II do not hesitate to declare
it the most unconscious effort at legisla-
tive robbery ever attempted upon a
people. Neither the great fire of
Chicago nor Boston, nor the fearful
food that now devastates the Southland,
could begin to compare with it as a
calamity.
MIR. Chairman, this bill carries not
only higher rates of duty than the
present law, and higher rates than the
Mckinley bill. but higher than any law
passed by an American congress or
1.-The claim that the increased burden
Is on luxuries is not sustained by the
facts. Are coarse shawls and knit
goods luxuriesf Are wool hats and
overcoats luxuriesH Are knives and
forks in this urbane age luxuries1 And
beg, with all Difference, to ask
whether in the state of Maine a clean
shirt has become such rarity that 1t is
classed with the luxuriesi | ask him
when, among Americans, the sugar
that sweetens tea and coffee became a
luxury-when trace chains became a
luxury to the farmer? Sir, not only Is
the bill itself higher, but the different
schedules average above those of the
Mckinley bill.
THE reciprocity clause is remarkable
for the fact that 1t gives into the hands
of the president absolutely the power to
impose taxes and remit taxes at
pleasure. He can impose them this
month-remit them the next. He can
do so without converting congress or
consulting 1t If convened. The taxing
power is thereby surrendered by
congress constitutional repository
to an executive who was never clothed
with such power by any statute framed
by those who adopted the constitution.
THE Democratic party stands, and
has ever stood, for low taxes. A tariff
for revenue only was its doctrine in the
past and is today.
REPUBLICAN VICTORY NOT A SAFE
VERDICT.
II beg the gentlemen on the other
side, said Mr. McMillin, In conclu-
sion, Ito remember that their victory
obtained last fall was obtained by such
an expenditure Of money, such an
exertion of bulldozing and force, and
such prostitution of elections as was
never before witnessed In this land.
They must not take such verdict as
the established and irrevocable will of
the American people. l beg them to
remember that purchased verdict can :
not stand. The Democratic party has
suffered defeat before, and by stern
adherence to never failing principles it
has regained power and readministered
government. Let us now and here
resolve anew that the principles of
jefferson, of jackson, and of Pope shall
be the principles of the Democratic
party now, as they have been in the
past, and as sure rs the day succeeds
the night it will return to power and
restore the government to the constitu-
tional moorings from which 1t has been
wrested by such NAL Legislation as that
which is being forced upon us today.