The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-23
TARIFF DEBATE in THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Newland Argues From the Stand
point of the Snverites.

point of the Snverites.
There were less than fifty members on
the floor when the house entered upon the
second day of the tariff debate at 10
o'clock. There were only few strangers
in the galleries. AS the day advanced the
members poured in and the galleries be-
came crowded. Before the debate was re-
sumed today, Mr.. Wilson Dem, :. c. }
was sworn in. Mr.. Gibson (Rep., Tenn.
was the first speaker He devoted him.
self TO general argument in favor of pro-
lection. Mr.. Dockery (Dem., Mo. who
followed said it was not "A matter of sur
prise TO him that the discussion of the
bill thus far had been tame and uninter-
esting The truth is, he said, the people
of the country want more money and less
taxes. Democratic applause. This bill does
not represent the issue OF the late cam
paign. The people would prefer to see
$ll3 600, 600 more money put into circula-
tion than TO see that amount absorbed by
the treasury. Mr.. Dockery said it did not
lie in the mouths of the Republicans To
criticise the bond issue of the last admin
istration. Mr.. Cleveland was criticised
on this side of the house, said he. Will you
endorse his policy in the last Congressy
"Do you suppose we would have en-
dorsed the bond issues II the tariff law
had been raising sufficient revenues asked
Mr.. Ray, (Rep. y. Y.)
Mr. Ray attempted to pursue the subject
Mr.. Dockery declined to yield further
Continuing, Mr.. Dockery ridiculed the
idea of the present tariff law and said il
was the monster which had destroyed our
industries.
From Silverite Point OF View.
Mr. Newland discussed the tariff bill
from the standpoint of the silver men
who united with the Democrats and Pop
nj Sts A
sition TO the Republicans Their alliance,
he said still continued and was likely TO
amalgamate the allied forces into one
strong party,.with silver Has the supreme
and dominant issue all other questions
being subordinate to il, and the largest
tolerance being exercised as to the diffcr-
ence of opinion of other questions which
had hitherto divided the various elements
constituting the silver forces Much de-
pended in the future upon the tolerance,
the wisdom and the conservatism of
action of the allied parties, and he pro-
posed TO address himself to the question
as TO what line of party action would best
promote the cause of bimetall ism, which,
he said, all regarded as the only radical
cure for existing conditions.
Though, he continued, 1t is sometimes
difficult TO determine the exact issues
settled by campaign, there can DO no
question that as TO the tariff, the popular
verdict at the last election was in favor of
protection. The Democratic party declared
silver To be the dominant issue and nearly
snatchcd victory from the most desperate
conditions. The Republican victory
would have been complete had not the
Democrats presented other unnecessary
issues which handicapped Bryan's can
didacy, furnished prctext FOR mis-reprc-
scntation and abuse and really divided
the friends of silver. As it was, however,
he said, the people had declared in favor
of protection and had given the Republi-
can party a contract for prosperity and
that party should i'm his Judgment be al
lowed TO carry out any reasonable tariff
policy without obstruct ions, and with
expedition.
Will Not Give Relief.
Tariff legislation alone, he asserted,
would not give relief. Introducing, rs
| wo do, surplus of wheat, cotton and
| other farm products, the price of surplus
| is fixed in Liverpool and the Liverpool
| price fixed also the domestic price. In
| Liverpool markets these products comdSin
| competition with the products of India,
| Russia and Argentina and other countries,
| none Of which are upon gold basis.
| These countries are willing tn accept the
| old silver price for their products. The
| old silver price means today one half OF
| the old gold price, so we have the price Of
| our farm products cut I'm two by the COM
| petition OF THESE countries. heStOrc bns
| old gold price of silver 81 % per ounce,
| and we Immediately restore the old gold
| prices of our farm products and this
! means, nc said protection To the Ameri'
| can farms and plantations, just as tho
tariff law means protection Co the factory.
We have, he continued, an industrial
system i'm this country which makes it the
object of attack from all other countries
Our wages are much higher than i'm any
other country and the unit of all values
hero Is the daily wage. A general reduc
ton in wages would bring about re
adjustment OF values that would be de
structivo TO the property owners, pro
ducers and debtors. We need then, h,
said, tariff law To protect us against th'
products Of cheaper labor elsewhere. The
protective measure that will protect M
against the existing agricultural cOmpcti
tiOn and the threatening manufacturing
competition Of silver countries must b
the legislation that will restore the ole
! relative value of silver and gold. Sucl
| law would be cquiyalent to tariff %
100 per cent upon the products of silvc
| countries for IL would increase TO that cx
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