Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-05-26

Washington, May 25.-The debate on
the tariff bill began in the Senate TO-
day with crowded galleries and a large
attendance of Senators and tariff lead
ers OF the House. Minor business
claimed attention up to p. m., when
Senator Aldrich. of Rhode Island, in
charge of the tariff bill, had the meas
ure laid before the Senate, and took
the floor for the opening speech. AT
that time every available seat in the
galleries was occupied. The RepublI-
can side of the floor showed an almost
solid representation, there being but
three or four vacant seats. The DEM
ocrats also presented full ranks, and
the scattered seats of the Popullsts
were occupied with but an exception.
Mr.. Dingley, chairman of the Ways
and Means Committee, and author OF
the House bill, took a seat Immediately
beside Mr.. Aldrich and listened atten-
lively.
Other Republican members of the
committee and Representative Simp-
son, of the Populist contingent, occu-
pied the rear lounges. Speaker Reed
was not present.
Mr.. Aldrich spoke for almost an
hour and a quarter, adopting an easy
conversational style. His speech was
the official utterance of the Finance
Committee and in a sense Of the Re-
publican side of the chamber. With
out making invidious distinctions be-
tween the two bills. Mr.. Aldrich clear
" stated as the belief of the Finance
Committee that the House bill would
not yield revenue adequate for the
needs of the government.
(The gist of Mr.. Aldrich's remarks
will be fond on page p
Mr.. Vest, of Missouri, one OF the
Democrats of the Finance Committee
followed with a statement in opposition
TO the bill. He spoke of the futility OF
niIing ND taxes on an overburdened
people when there was a balance OF
s129 OOC 600 in the treasury. He critI-
cised the schedules in detail, declar-
ing that some of them were designed
to be prohibitive. He severely attacked
the increase in the lead duty, declar-
ing it was for the benefits of the cor
morants" of monopoly and against the
people.
Mr.. Cannon Utah), a silver Republic
can. closed the debate for the day by
urging that the protection should he
20 distributed as to aid the farmers
Mr. Vest spoke as follows in part;
.Wa know" he said, the desperate
condition of the country, the ruined
homes. the blasted hearts. II proS-
peritv can come from any source, even
from our adversaries, we Will Dless lne
moment do not believe the lIhpo7
sition of higher tariff duties VIII ulspel
the clouds hanging above us. bringing
hack the sunshine and Illuminating the
whole country
III had been said" Mr.. Vest pro-
ceeded. that adversely came Win tHe
advent of the Democratic party anu
nrosDeritv with the Republican party
Rut adversitv did not come with the
advent of the Democratic party. MI
Vest said he would summon as wit
neee no less an authority than Mr:
William Mckinley. The Senator read
from a report made by MI MCKINNEY
ON April /, 1890, setting forth the dls-
tress which the farmers OF the country
were suffering. co.on
"How was it expected the Senator
asked. that by increasing the burden
of tariff taxes the farmers would De
be1ned IN buy more goods? All agreed
that there must be sufficient revenue
n meet the requirements of the gov
ernmnt. that the government creulC
shall be sustained and her nag non
ored. But every dollar collected by
the government beyond its needs Is d
crime.
why was it that the Republican
nartv was about to abandon ITS record
and urge a tariff not for protection,
but for the amount of revenue 1t VIII
nroduce Why does it it abandon It's
record and propose tax on tea There
is st This time an available balance in
Tho treasury of 1929, $50 $50. Deduct
inc the gold reserve of one hundred
millions. the available balance Is
500 $40 $50. This vSgt amount OF ldle
money was now accumulated in the
treasury And vet the Senate was told
that il must impose on our suffering
people additional taxes. When Presi-
dent Harrison turned over the govern
ment to President Cleveland the treas
nv balance stood at S24.12S,0S7 To-
dav there is $105, 100000 more than
when Mr.. Harrison turned over gov
ernment affairs TO Mr.. Cleveland. How
can This obvious fact be avoided?'
Mr. Dinglev admitted it, Mr.. Vest std,
and tried TO explain it on the ground that
subsidiary coin and certain deficits were
irolu5sd in the present treasury balance.
r,,,+ with these about $4,000. .00O out. there
remained about S92OoO,OOO available for the
uses of the government To overcome TINS
Mr.. Dingley says We ought to increase the
gold reserve to N50,OOOO0o Even if there
w. deficit of sixty-tive millions this
vsar-vbich Mr.. Vest did not admit-yet
mere was ample funds in the treasury TO
meet that deficit Why. then, should we
hurry 10 nut more taxes on the people,
when every dollar unnecessarily boarded
bv the government is crime against the
people. Mr.. Vest said it was most unfor-