The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-26
AS the Rhode Island Senator Figures 1t Out, the
Total Per Annum Will Not Be Far From
Five Hundred Millions
Vest Opens Up the Fight
for the Opposition Side.
Inconsistencies and Absurdties of the Proposed Act
Clearly and Briefly Pointed Out.

WASHINGTON, May 25.. The debate
On the tariff bill began In the senate
today, with crowded galleries and a
large attendance Of senators and the
tariff leaders of the house. Minor busi-
ness claimed attention up to p. M,
when Senator Aldrich, Of Rhode Island,
in charge Of the tariff bill, had the
measure laid before the senate and
took the floor for the opening speech.
At that time every available seat in
the galleries was occupied. The Re
publican side Of the floor showed an
almost solid representation, there pe-
ing only three or four vacant seats.
The Democrats also presented 1ulI
ranks. and the scattered seats Of the
Populists were occupied with but one
exception. Mr.. Dingley, chairman OF
the ways and means committee and
author Of the house bill took seat i'm
mediately beside Mr.. Aldrich and lis
tened attentively. Other Republican
members Of the ways and means COM
mittee and Representative Simpson, of
the Populist contingent, occupied the
rear lounges. Speaker Reed was not
present.
Mr.. Aldrich spoke for almost an hour
and a quarter, adopting an easy CONVEX
sational style. His speech was the Of
fetal utterance of the finance commit
tee and in a sense of the Republican
side of the chamber. Without making
tnvidious distinctions between the two
bills. Mr. Aldrich clearly states, as the
belief Of the finance committee, that the
house bill would not yield revenue ade-
uuate for the needs Of the government.
Mr.. Vest (Mo.), one Of the Democratic
members of the finance committee fol-
lowed with a statement in opposition
to the bill. He spoke Of the futility OF
piling I'D taxes on an overburdened
people when there was a balance OF
1929, ,0O0, ,O00 in the treasury. He crltl-
cised the schedules in detail, declaring
that some Of them were designed to De
prohibitive He severely attacked the
increase in the lead duty, declaring 1t
was for the benefit Of the "cormorants
of monopoly and against the people.
Mr.. Cannon Utah), a silver Repupll-
can, closed the debate for the day py
urging that the projections should be
so distributed as to aid the farmers.
Early in the day Mallory, the new SEN
ator from Florida, was sworn In and
took his seat.
The galleries showed signs Of irr1ta-
ton at the delay in opening the tariff
debate and there was shuff1ing toward
the entrances pending the close OF
debate ON American ships. The discus
sion was cut off by the close of the
morning hour at 2 o'clock and Mr..
Aldrich promptly moved that the tariff
bill be taken up. The motion prevail
ed without opposition. Mr.. Aldrich
yielded for a formal written notice by
Mr.. Vest Oen., Mo-, member Of the
finance committee, stating that when
the paragraphs were reached relative
to beer, manufactured tobacco, snuff
and cigarettes, he would move to strike
out the provisions relating thereto.
Mr.. Quay Rep., Pa.) asked If the vote
on this motion to strike out could be
divided, as he might support some of
the propositions and oppose others. Mr..
Vest answered that the rules would per-
NIT separate votes. It was agreed at
the outset that the formal reading of
the bill be dispensed with, until it was
considered by paragraphs. and then,
that committee amendments would be
considered first, after which each para
graph would be open to general amend
ment. When Mr.. Aldrich began, the
galleries had again filled and nearly
every seat on the floor of the senate
was filed. He said: