Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-01
PASSED, POS TO l22.
The Ding|ey Tariff Bill Is
Passed by the House.
Also Voted, 200 to 40, that II Shall
Go Into Effect, Today.
Solid Republican Support-Fke Democrats
Vote Yea-Ditto Speaker Reed.

Washington, March 31.-With Thurs.
day morning. the duties imposed by
the Dingley tariff bill will be in force
and the Wilson law will be a thing OF
the past, II the last amendment at
tached to the bill before its passage in
the House, today, fixing tomorrow as
the day on which it's provisions shall
go into effect, should be in the bill
when 1t Is finally enacted and should
be held to be legal by the courts.
The Republican victory, today, was
complete. They presented an un-
broken front to the opposition. Five
Democrats braved the party whip and
gave the approval of their votes. They
are interested particularly in the SUI
gar schedule. One Populist, Mr.. How
ard Of Alabama. voted for the bill.
Twenty-one other members Of what is
denominating the opposition con-
sisting Of Populists, Fusionists, and
Silverites, declined to record them
selves either for or against the bill.
The vote OF the inal passage Of the
bill stood: Ayes. 205: nays. 1922; pres
ent and not voting. 81. a majority Of SO.
Speaker Rec added to the dramatic
nature of the 10 days struggle in the
House by directing the clerk to call
his name at the end Of the roll call, and
recording his vote for the bill.
The events leading up to the final
vote were replete with excitement and
incident not devoid of humor. After
the amendment fixing tomorrow as the
| day on which the bill should go into
effect a been adopted against the
| protests of the Democrats. the last
hour were taken up with short
| speeches.
The Democrats had yielded the ques-
ton Of h long debate over the Gros-
venor amendment in the House, that
enough progress might be made with
the bill to allow the House to reach
the sugar schedule. but only two more
pages were read, leaving 140 uncon-
sidered in committee of the whole.
The motion to recommit with instruc-
tions to amend the bill so as to suspend
| the duties on articles controlled by
trusts, upon which they based their
| principal hope of breaking through the
Republican ranks. failed of its purpose.
An arrangement was made in the
House. this afternoon. by which Is min
utes on a side should be allowed for de-
batting. G~rosvenor's amendment fixing the
date OIL which the tarif bill was to go
in effect. Bailey stated that the opposi-
ton was extremely anxious to reach two
schedules in the bill and did not want
to consume more time on this amend
ment.
Following is the text of the amend
ment:
Section 27.-That all articles mentioned
in the several schedules OF this act which
shall be imported into the United States
between April 1, 1897. and the date Of the
passage of this act. and which were not
be shipped for import into the United
States by any citizen thereof prior to
April l. 1897. shall bear the same duties to
be charged upon similar articles in this
act, and such duties are hereby made a
lien upon such articles wherever and in
whatsoever hands found, except in the
hands of persons holding them for con-
sumption and have no purpose to sell or
part with the same or any part or pro-
duct of the same. and except also in the
hands of persons shown to have obtained
such articles without notice of the pro-
visions of the act. and any person, not
a final consumer or holder, without no.
tice having obtained an interest in or
possession of my such article or articles
so subject to duty except q common car
rier or warehouse, shall be liable for the
payment of such duties thereon and the
same may be reserved with interest. but
without party In action or suit by the
United States against such person or per-
sons in any district or circuit court
thereof.
And all persons liable under this act
for such duty or any part thereof in re-
spect of shipment, cargo or lot of
any article or articles may be Joined In
the same action for recovery without re-
gard to the mutually or nature of inter-
est or defences, and such joint or several
judgments or DEGREES may be rendered
therein, including the enforcement of any
such lien as Justice and equity may re-
ullira In every SIlCh case the DrOcpSS of
the court in the district where the action
or suit is brought and where one defend
ant resides and is served shah run to and
of the districts. 1t Is hereby made the
duty of the secretary Of the treasury to
prescribe and enforce suitable regulations
ton, including the retention in the bonded
warehouses of, the United States or any
other place when such goods are depos-
tied of samples of such goods until re-
quired for evidence on any such trial.
On opening, GrOsvenor remarked upon
the attempt, of Democrats to make poll
teal capital out of ostentation opposi-
ton to trusts. AS to the pending propo-
sition to make this tariff bill go into eff
feet. April l, no matter what the date of
its final enactment, he said. two questions
were involved, Its expediency and Its wis
DOM.
Grosvenor's strongest point was made
in connection with the present tariff law
w wnsc not tG iina ine enacted aa. 6 cd A until s 4 da ,Ssi later Da.
~, hht[AA y ~ So i
Although this was unintentional, the SUI
preme court had held that it wa retro
spective. The income tax, although 1t
had been held unconstitutional mot on
that point however) levied on every dol
lar held OF the first of the preceding
January. Whiskey in bond. manufact-
ured under the S-cent tax, under the
operation of that bill paid 20 cents addi-
tional.
Richardson commended that the supreme
decision in the case involving the
Wilson law, in which the opinion of the
court was delivered by Chief
Justice Fuller. decided exactly contrary
to the contention of GrOsvenor. Goods
imported between August l and August
Is. 1894, 1t was decided. should pay the
and not the Wilson rates. He
asked whether it was proposed to refund
part Of the duty where the Dingley bill
rates.
Grosvenor replied that this was SO full
Of reductions that this would make little
difference. although in such cases duties
be refunded.
Green, Pop. Of Nebraska. said that 1t
merely a common sense statement
that two laws could not be in effect at the
anne time. This amendment Is an at
tempt to repeal the Wilson law before the
law" he said. The supreme
court has decided in the case quoted that
this could not be DONE"