Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-03-23

| AcIhGQ lOF dQ I1OuIy anu was VI
lowed by Mr.. Wheeler Of Ala
bama, who was Called Upon at
the Last Moment Owing to Nc
Millin's Inability to Prepare Him
self.
Washington, d. c., March 22.-The
first day of the tariff debate in the
House was rather tame from both
spectacular and an oratorical stand
/ points. The galleries were well filled
all day and the members on the floor
/ listened conscientiously but there vas
an absence of that sharp cross-firing
which keeps the nerves on edges and
that brilliant eloquence which inspires
and holds the Imagination.
The opening of the debate was de-
layed over two hours by the full read
ing of the bill of 162 pages and this, to
begin with. had a somewhat depress-
ing influence
The Republican leaders insisted on
! this to avoid the possible charge in the
future should the consideration of the
bill not be completed under the five
minute rule, that the bill was never
read in full in the House, thing which
happened in the cases or the Mckinley
and Wilson bills. Only four speeches
were made at the day session. Mr..
Dingley. the chairman Of the ways and
means committee, in an hours speech
for the majority, and Mr.. Wheeler, of
Alabama. fired the broadside for the
opposition.
The Democratic plans had miscar-
ried. Mr.. Bailey, leader of the oppo-
sition. had decided to close the debate
and Mr.. McMillin, of Tennessee had
been selected to reply TO Mr.. Dingley'
but at the last moment it was learned
that Mr.. McA.illin had been unable to
prepare himself owing to the illness OF
his wife. The task, therefore, devolved
on Mr.. Wheeler. The latter was un-
prepared. but nevertheless, took the
floor for an hour.
Mr.. Bell. of Colorado, blazed the path
for the Populists. The only other speak
or at the dav session was Mr.. Hopkins
of Illinois. a member of the ways ana
means committee. Tomorrow 1t is
nrobable that some of the House ora
tors will be heard.
Mr. Dingley began by stating that
Congress having been convened in eX-
fra session. the facts that had led to
the issuance of the President message
were:
That the government revenues DUR
ing the past four years had been IN
| sufficient 10 meet expenditures TO the
evtent Of more than 100000 600, or an
average of S50,000O00 per annum; that
! this deficiency will continue TO grow un-
der existing conditions; that the de1l-
cheney has been met by borrowing that
/ is bv bond sales, and that this has pro-
mcted distrust. intensified and pro-
! longed the run on the treasury anu
weakened business confidence.
This deficiency Of revenue, said Mr.
| Dingley. has nearly all arisen from
| falling off of revenue from duties on I'M
ports-and not from a decline OF rev.
! enue from internal taxes.
! In revising the tariff, he said, the COM
mittee have endeavored to disregard
mere theories and have addressed them
/ selves to the framing of a practical
remedy. at least in part, for the ills
which have for so many months over
shadowed the country.
II is a condition and not a theory
which cOnfronts us. Our problem is to
provide adequate revenue from duties
on imports to carry on the government
and in imposing duties to secure this
result so to adjust them as to secure
! to our own people the production and
manufacture of such articles as we can
produce or make for ourselves, with
out natural disadvantage, and thus pro-
vide more abundant opportunity for our
labor. Mr.. Dingley then gave some
statistics relative to the importations
and tariff. discussed at some length the
advalorem and specific systems and
| then presented the estimates as TO the
probable revenue that would he raised
by the bill. with the supplemental state
ment that the second year the bill would
WELD s1OO, ,OOO. 600 increased revenue.
! In closing. Mr.. Dngley said:
1T must be obvious from any point of
view that prompt action by the two
houses of Congress is indispensable to
secure the revenue which the pending bill
is intended to yield.
The first applause came when Mr.. Ding
lev referred to the purpose Of the bill to
encourage the stricken industries of the
country" and was continued at intervals
throughout his speech.
| General Wheeler. Of Alabama, the old
| cavalry leader of the Confederacy, opened
for the opposition.
| Mr.. Wheeler began with the statement
| that the bill had been secretly prepared
bv the eleven Republican members of the
! committee on Ways and Means. and
framed almost I'm the language Of the
natitiors presented by protected interests.
! Since the star chamber measure came to
light on last Monday. he said. the con-
servative press of the country had de-
| nounced it in uumeasured terms.
| The bill increased the duty on many
articles far above the Mckinley rates,
and in some Instances exceeded the Nc
/ Kinley rates by from 80 to 100 per cent.
Nearly every paragraph was changed from
the ad valorem rates under the Wilson
hin to either tho specific or compound
rates. the effect Of which was TO increase
! enormously the duty upon cheaper articles
that are purcha-ei by those who work.
ord lessen the tariff upon the expensive