The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-28
Fighting ut Every Stage n Neasur.
That Promises 10 Better Wages ana
Wipe out Revenue Deficits.
SLOW PROGRESS In HOUSE
ONLY FIVE PAGES OF THE TARIrtr
BILL CONSIDERED YESTERDAY.
Much TiEie spent by the Minority in
Trying tn Make Republicans Appear
as Defenders of Trusts.

WASHINGTON, March 27.-The progress
OF the House on the tariff bill was even
slower to-day than yesterday. Only five
more pages Of the 1872 pages of the bill were
disposed of, making fourteen pages in all
IN the two of the five days allowed for con-
sideration under the fve-minute rule. At
this rate only thirty-One pages of the bin
viii be disposed of before the bill comes to
a final vote. Only five amendments were
adopted to-day. all Of minor Importance
and each an amendment of the ways and
means committee All the questions in
volved in the tariff. with occasional incur
siOns into the realm of financial theories.
furnished fruitful topics for the members.
Fully two hours were spent in the discus
sion OF whether the foreigner or the con-
sumner paid the tax This question bids fair
10 consume much more time before the de-
bate closes. Mr.. Bailey. the leader of the
opposition, was absent almost all day, and
Mr.. Richardson and nr. McMillin, of Ten
nessee. bore the brunt of the hard fighting.
The Democratic policy, so far as has been
disclosed. seems to be to attack the bill at
every point. making trusts the especial OBJ
Jects of assault. The Republicans are try
ing to advance consideration of the bill by
refraining from debate, but they are forced
by the attacks of the opposition TO defend
IHch AACdSuAt- II AlOEe pToBTeSS Is not
made night sessions may be held next
week.
MEMBERS SLOW IN ASSEMBLING.
Despite the admonition of Mr.. Dingley
Just before the House adjourned yester-
day to the Republican members to be on
hand promptly at 10 o'clock this morning
10 prevent possible delays from the lack
OF a quorum there were only ffty-one mem
bers present when the House met. Mr..
Richardson Dem. Tenn promptly blocked
proceedings. but the members streamed in
rapidly and in fifteen minutes a quorum
had appeared
The ways and means committee continued
TO oner amendments from time TO time
and these were mostly adopted without OPP
position. The rates on acetate of white
lead were increased from S1a TO 4 cents per
pound: IN cOlors from Pc TO 3 cents.
In the course of some remarks on these
increases Mr.. Richardson declared that the
rates in twelve out OF the fourteen sched-
ules of the bill were higher than those of
Mr.. Dockery Dem. MOI asked how that
statement could be recOnciled with Mr..
Dingley's statement that the rates in this
bin averaged between the rates of the
present law and the act OF 1890.
Mr.. Richardson replied that the COMPARE
tive statement did not support Mr. Ding,
through the schedules one by one. IF the
wrath Of the American people were visited
on the Republicans Tor endctlnE the Nc
Kinley law he concluded. what they VIII
do TO you for the enactment OF this bill in
the language OF the street boy. Will be a
plenty Democratic laughter.)
Mr.. Dingley. in reply. said that Mr.. Rich
ardson's remarks only Illustrated what
could be done by Juggling with the per
centages. Except for the increases in the
rates on tobacco. sugar and silks. the rates
I'm this bill: he said. were lower than those
of the Mckinley law.
During a discussion concerning a duty on
hides. Mr.. Hopkins rep. I'D said there
Mr.. Walker (Rep., Mass.) explained that
there were few hides exported. except those
hides would be of little benefit to the farm
ers. If a duty on hides would increase their
Republican side would be unanimously in
favor of such a duty. With regard TO
trusts. Mr.. Walker argued that great com.
binations necessarily reduced the cost of
production and consequently the price to
the people. Trusts were the natural out
maj eventuaIiy ali the railroads in the
country would be controlled by a single
There was a sharp exchange of person.
aIties between Mr.. Grow (Rep., Pa and
Mr.. Vandiver Dem, Mo- The former
had established that industry in this coun-
try and he and Mr.. Vandiver became in
o 1esfih1 of who paid the tax arising from
an increased tin-plate duty.
TACKLES GROW.
Mr.. Simpson CPop., Kan.) after remark
ing on the conspicuous part prayed Dy MT.
Grow during the stirring days of the war.
said that 1T is sad to see him now the
defender of trusts and combines whose pur-
pose was to enslave the American people"
Mr.. Simpson. referring TO the question of
free hides. said that "A duty on hides would
be of more Importance TO the farmer than
all the other duties in the agricultural
schedule. 1t would mean an increase of 81
apiece on every one CT the 5.422.OO hides
taken from the cattle and slaughtered last
Mr.. PAYNE Rep. n. W insisted that Mr..
Simpson entirely misunderstood the ques-
ton. The hides imported did not come into
former were used almost exclusively for
sole leather.
The debate branched off to the iron sched-
ule. Mr.. Wheeler CDem-, Ala.) and MI COX
Dem, Tenn.) asserted that the SoulheIh
iron industry did not want any protection.
II was selling iron i'm Pittsburg and the
old iron centerS and was invading England
without the aid of protection.
Mr. Dalzell CRep-, Pa). replying, Said
that convict labor was one OF the main
elements in the cheap production OF iron
IN Tennessee.
Mr.. Underwood Dem. Ala) said it was
absurd 10 claim that the reason why the
Southern pig manufacturers were able TO
low prices paid 10 labor in the south. lie
said the report of the labor commissioner
showed that the average labor cost OF q
ton OF mig iron in the North was SL4I ana
I'm the South S1.52. 1t was true that the
wages paid per day i'm the South were prob
ably lower. as negro labor was employed'
but the labor cost was higher. In the roll
ing mills of the South the workmen re-
ceived the wages fixed by the AmaIgamated
Association of Steel Workers. the same
v-a0a maid in the North. The fact that