The times., 1897-03-23

l
There could be no return OF, prosperity,
Mr.. Bell continued, until the mines of the
silyer-producing States We're opened. 1t
was the development Of that country and
the growth of those states that was he
basis OF the pIosI Ierity OF the country from
| 1875 to 1890. 1t was the fight of the
| strong against the weak. Had the silver
been in the mountain of Pennsylvania and
iron in the Rocky Mountains, it would
have been the cry OF characterization of
iron resounding through tie land. Laugh
ter and applause)
At the conclusion of Mr.. Bells speech
the committee Iosc and the House took a
| recess until 8 O'Clock.
Mr.. Robinson opened the debate at the
| evening session. He said it was an ex-
| traordinary session in more than one
respect, and notably in the respect of the
deed of Republican legislation unparalleled
| in ancient and modern times. Democrats
| had come here to stay the tide OF eXtrava-
| gance, the first step toward which was
| demonstrated when House, which had
| not been in session more than two DAYS,
| proposed this bill, bristling with millions,
| and the majority voted to consider it at
once. Thus, the 14S Democrats, repre-
senting 25,000,000 of people, were dis
franchised. Ifnot why all this undue haste
for extravaganza. They say it is due to
the extravaganza of Cleveland But he
| had exercised only his right in what he
did. The speaker would not criticise or
apologize for the acts of that President.
During the last campaign did not Repub-
lican audiences hail his name with ap-
plause, and were they now ready to cover
his name with obioquyin the sunset of his
political career? tApplause.)
No matter what would be argued, the
speaker would charge the loss of revenue
to the Supreme Court of the United States
(applausel, not, indeed, to the appropria-
ton of pensions for the soldiers of the
Union. (ApplauseD 1t was idle to argue
that the Supreme Court, the creature of
the people, could not be criticised by the
people for its painfully close decision on
the income tax. He would not impugn
the motives of any man, but in this case
there was such d suspicion raised that there
was room for critisism. tApplause.)
again have the voters of this country
declared for higher taxes? 1t was not so
in 1892, certainly, and it is certain that
those who defended the Mckinley bill and
uuiS bill Iuust Be WEOilS III eltilti
He said that such u "halo of trusts
surrounded this particular proposed legis-
tion that 1T was difficult for those W ho
framed it to resist thE temptation. The
pages of the report on the bill are repete
with the arguments of lawyers and special
pleaders, but where are the arguments of
the farming class? The idea of the ma
jority appeared to be that il q mule were
heavily laden they should not take off the
burden lest the animal collapse, but to pile
ON more burdens. (Applause.l So exultant
are the Republicans that they are even
trying to prove to the country that the
trusts are it's blessing, and that the
monopolists are public benefactors. They
never hold that the blessings OF the recent
past have been due to the decreased price
OF goods controlled by capitalists, such as
the Standard Oil Company. when, as a
matter OF fact, they are due to the ap-
probation OF money. Applause.)
The trusts and their Interests had made
themselves the self-constituted guardians
of the farmers, who get'eut of the Govern
ment, generally, only a few seeds once or
twice year. Mr. Robinson made lot Of
fun of the gentlemen who came before the
committee. each with higher tariff idea,
such oil gold fish. talow. and onions. And
he made more fun of the things they put
on the free list for farmers such as acorns,
ashes, ice, balm of gilead. leeches, birds
eggs, dragons blood, gold-beaters, and
applause)
If this measure passes then the Ameri-
can citizen will see tariff tax on every