The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-03-26
TARIFF TALK IN House
The Views of Numerous Mem.
bers Are Given.
PRINCIPAL SPEAKERS OF THE DAY

Fox of Mississippi Opens the Debate and Is
Followed by williams of the Same State
-McMillin of Tennessee Greeted with a
Round of Applause when He Rises TO
Address the House Speech of Grosvenor
of Ohio.
Washington, March 24.-Fox. Demo-
crat of Mississippi opened the tariff
debate in the house Wednesday with a
five-minute speech, with the general
theory of protection. Williams, Demo-
crat of Mississippi, devoted his atten-
ton to exposing the alleged incon-
sistencies in 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 the importations were less by
$160, 100000 than in the last year of the
Mckinley law, Itself a year of restrict
ed importations. He contended that the
existing era of depression and low
prices was due to the appreciating val
ue of money under the gold standard.
After some brief remarks by Sims.
y,
Democrat of Arkansas. Sayers, Demo-
crat of Texas. addressed himself to
the proposition that If the anticipations
of the majority were realized and this
bill increased the revenues $113 1000, 900
per annum, 1t would breed the most
reckless and profligate extravaganza.
johnson Speaks for an Hour.
Johnson, Republican of New Hamp-
sire, member of the ways and means
committee, was then recognized for an
l!our. He directed his attention chiefly
to a eulogy of the prospective benefits
which would follow the enactment Of
the agricultural schedule Of the bill. He
was met by fusilade of questions from
the Democrats and Populists. The old
controversy as to whether the foreigner
or the consumer paid the tax was
fought over with great pertinacity. Mr..
Johnson, of course, taking the view
that the foreigner substantially paid it
and his adversaries that 1t was paid by
the consumer. When the Wilson hi
was under consideration Johnson said
he predicted that it's passage would be
fatal to the sheep industry.
In reply to a question Johnson de-
clared IL the people of the south would
pledge their loyalty to the doctrine of
protection the Republican party would
be glad to accord to cotton the same
protection given to wheat corn, pota-
toes and other agricultural products Of
the north. McMillin, Democrat of Ten
nessee, who followed Johnson, was
given a round of applause by his Dem
ocratic colleagues as he took the floor.
Remarks by Grosvenor.
When McMillin concluded Grosvenor
of Ohio arose.
He reviewed the business conditions
from 1890 TO 1896, pointing out the swift
and certain downward course that had
followed the passage of the Wilson bill.
He said:
What then is the great necessity of
this hour? Two deadly evils are upon
us; unemployed labor and a bankrupt
treasury. With these conditions there
can be no business confidence in this
country. Men may cry but there will
be no commercial peace without assur-
ance of commercial solvency." Refer
ring to the proposition that prosperity
had not Immediately followed the cleo
ton of Mckinley, he declared that pun
ishment followed violation of economy
as well as physical law and the health
full reaction would come with repent
ance, which would only follow the
works meet for repentance" in this
case the Dingley bill. Grosvenor said
that pressure for the passage of the
Dingley bill was being brought upon
congress from every section land as ur-
gently from the tobacco and cotton belt
of the south as from anywhere.