The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-03-25
1.-THE TARIFF DEBATE OPENS.
MIR. DINGLEY, THE MAJORITY
LEADER, DEFENDS THE BILL
THAT BEARS HIS NAME.
iGEN. WHEELER FOR THE MINORITY
The Old Cavalry Leader Argued
Against the Bill, Chnracterizing
1t as n Star Chamber Measure.
The Senate Proceedings.

Washington, March 22-The first days
debate on the tariff bill was tame, from
both sensational or oratorical stand
point. The galleries were well filled all
day, and the members on the floor lis
tened conscientiously, but there was on
absence both of that sharp, cross-hrlng,
q which keeps the nerves on edge, and that
4 brilliant elouuence, which inspires and
holds the imagination.
The opening of the debate was delayed
a over two hours by the full reading of the
q bill of 1853 pages, and this, to begin with,
had a somewhat depressing influence. The
republican leaders insisted on this, TO
Kvoid the possible complaint in the future,
I. phould the consideration of the bill not be
& completed under the five-minute rule, that
ahe bill was never read in full in the
house, feature which happened IN the
cases of both the Mckinley and Wilson
bills.
x Only four speeches were made at TO.
days session, Mr.. Dingley. chairman of
the ways and means committee, opening
, in an hours speech for the majority, and
Mr.. Wheeler Of Alabama fired the, first
broadside for the opposition. The demo-
Gratis had miscarried. MIR. Bailey, the
leader of the opposition. had decided to
close the debate, and Mr.. McMillin OF
\ Tennessee had been selected to respond
10 Mr.. Dingley, but at the last moment 1t
was learned that Mr.. Mcliillin had been
unable to prepare himself, owing to i'll
ness of his wife. The task therefore, de-
yolyed on Mr.. Wheeler. The latter was
unprepared, but nevertheless took the floor
for an hour. Mr.. Bell of Colorado, bazed
the path for the populists.i The only other
speaker at today's session was MIR. Hop
kins of Illinois, a member of the ways
and means committee.
Tomorrow it is probable that some OF
the house orators will be heard.
House Proceedings.
Washington, March 22.-What will go
down in history as the tariff debate OF
1897, began in the house at lO O'CLOCK
this morning. Despite the early hour OF
assembling, there was q large attendance
on the floor, and the galleries showed
evidence of the great interest manifested
In the proceedings.
Mr.. Dingley and Mr.. Bailey. the OPP
posing leaders, were early in their places.
By the terms of the rule under when
the house was to operate during the con-
sideration of the bill, the house imme-
diately resolved itself into the committee
of the whole, and the speaker conferred
upon Mr.. Sherman (rep) of New York,
the distinguished honor of presiding over
the committee. Those who expected the
debate to begin Immediately were disap-
pointed. The leaders decided not to dis
pense with the reading of the bill, but to
have it read in full at the outset in Or
der to disarm the criticism passed on pre-
yious bills, that they were put. through
without having even been read in the
house. The spectators in the galleries and
the members on the floor waited while
\ the clerk droned through the 1853 pages
of the bill The reading of the bill con-
ttvo hnurs that If
was 1920 before the leader of the ma
jority, Mr.. Dingley, was recognized to
open the debate. :,
Mr.. Dingley's voice is not strong and
he usually has some difficulty in making
himself heard, but today he spoke with
great deliberatiOn and his tones were
clear and ringing. Mr.. Dingley began by
stating that congress, having been con
yened in extra session, the facts that
had led to the issuing, of the president S
message were: That the government rev.
enues during the past four years have
been insufficient to meet expenditures to
the extent of more than S200.000.000 or
an average of $50,0O0.000 per annum;
that this deficiency will continue to grow
under existing condtions that the def
cheney has been met by borrowing; that
is by bond sales, and that this has pro-
noted distress, intensified and prolonged
the run on the treasury and weakened
business confidence.
This deficiency of revenue, said Mr..
Dingley, has nearly all arisen from fall
ing off of revenue from duties on imports,
and not from decline of revenue from
internal taxes.
In revising the tariff. he said, the COM
mittee had endeavored to discard mere
theories and have addressed themselves
to the framing of practical remedy, at
chasing power of the masses restored,