The herald., 1897-03-25
THE TRUSTS
WILL FATTEN
On the Tariff Bill Now
Pending
AN OCEAN OF TARIFF TALK
UNDIsTURBED BY A RIPPLE OF
INTEREST
Senate Takes the First Step Toward
Abrogation of the Civil
Service Laws
Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, March 24-The third
day of the tariff debate in the house was
almost as dull as the first. There were
two notable speeches, one by Grosvenor
of Ohio, and the other by McMillin OF
Tennessee, but the rest of the speeches
with the possible exception of Walkers,
hardly created ripple in the monoto-
nous sea of speechmaking.
Grosvenor and McMillin were dis
tinctively the orators of the day. The
other speakers at the day session were
Messre. Fox Of Mississippi, Sims OF
Tennessee, Williams of Mississippi, Ter.
ry of Arkansas, Sayers of Texas. DEM
ocrats; johnson of North Dakota and
Evans of Kentucky Republicans; Mad
dox Of Georgia, DEM, and Adams OF
Pennsylvania, Rep.
Fox Dem, Miss.) opened the tariff de-
bate in the house today with five
minute speech on the general theory OF
protection. Williams Dem., Miss) fol-
lowed, exposing the alleged inconsis-
tencies Of the Republican argument. He
said it was absurd to charge the present
depression to the invasion of the home
market by foreign goods, when the
treasury figures showed that last year
importations were less by $780, 00C
than in the last year Of the Mckinley
law itself-a year of restricted impor-
tations. He contended that the existing
depression and low prices were due to
al tfoo Ina Af dar
the gold standard. There were brief re
marks by Sims (Dem., Tenn.), and Ter
ry (Dem.. Ark.). Sayers Dem., Tex.)
addressed himself to the proposition that
If the anticipations of the majority were
realized and this bill increases the reve-
nues s11, ,000, 900 per annum, it would
breed reckless and profiigate extrava.
gance.
johnson (Rep.. N. d., member of the
ways and means committee, was recog-
nized for an hour. He directed his at
tention chiefly to the prospective bene-
fits which would follow the enactment OF
the agricultural schedule of the bill. He
was met by questions from Democrats
and Populists. The old controversy
whether the foreigner or consumer paid
the tax was fought over with great per-
tinacity, Johnson, of course, taking the
view that the foreigner substantially
paid it. When the Wilson bill was un-
der consideration Johnson said he pre-
dicted it's passage would be fatal to the
sheep industry. In reply to question
johnson declared that il the people OF
the south would pledge loyalty to the
doctrine of protection the Republican
party would be glad TO accord cotton the
same protection given wheat, corn, po-
tatoes and other agricultural products
Of the north.
McMillin (Dem., Tenn.) was given a
round of applause by his Democratic
colleagues as he took the floor He de-
clared the bill "the most unconscionable
effort at legislative robbery ever at
tempted on a people," and gave lope
list CT trusts which he said would fat
ten on this bill. He prefaced his re-
marks with some figures to prove that
there was sufficient surplus ($118, 900, 900
exclusive of the gold reserve) in the
treasury, to meet all estimated deficien-
cies for two years and that the alleged
necessity for this bill was a mere pre-
text. He prophesied repetition of the
disaster which overlook the congress
that enacted. the Mckinley law if this
bill was passed, and made the Republi-
can change of front on the sugar boun-
ties the text for some caustic remarks
Despite the appeals of the Louisiana
sugar growers, he declared the bounty
was established in $780,
THE cry of free breakfast table has
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 tsH necessary to
enable the sugar trust to exact its mil
lions from the people-half cent a
pound between raw and refined sugar
was imposed.
But. sir. you will search in vain fol
free which benefits the American people
All the demagogic cry of free breakfast
table has had to be abandoned The
Democratic party can at least boast
that it has accomplished something b,
preventing this pernicious principle from
being permanently ingrafted in ourAmer-
lean system of taxation by government
but what becomes of all those fervenl
utterances which rang through these
halls only seven years ago. proclaimine
the beauties of free sugar? What has
become of the laudation of free sugar BY
the cohorts of protection and the advo
Gates of bounty? 1 remember how the
melodious voice of the present chiel
magistrate proclaimed the boon oi
untaxed sugar 1 remember how ths
gentleman from Maine, who now In
creases the tax on sugar. proclaimed tha
the sugar tag was burden paid by thu
consumer. remember how the Wig,
orous and vehement gentleman from
New York (Payne) steod up and laudet
the Republican party for taking the tai
on sugar.