The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-23

ley, but at the last moment it was
learned that Mr. McMillin had been
unable to prepare himself owing to the
illness Of his wife. The task, there
fore, devolved on Mr. Wheeler. The lat
ter was unprepared, but, nevertheless,
took the floor for an hour. Mr. Bell,
of Colorado, blazed the path for the
Populists. The only other speaker at
the days session was Mr. Hopkins, of
Illinois, a member of the ways and
means committee. Tomorrow it is
probable that some of the house or
ators will be heard
The reading of the bill was cOmplet-
ed at 1890, and the leader of the ma
jority, Mr.. Dingley, was recognized to
open the debate Mr. Dingley's voice
is not very strong, and he usually has
some difficulty in making himself
heard, but today he spoke with great
deliberatiOn, and his tones were clear
and ringing.
OPENED BY DINGLEY.
Mr.. Dingley began by stating that congress,
having been convened in extra session. the
facts that had led to the issuance of the
presidents message were that the government
revenues during the past four years had been
insufficient to meet expenditures, to the eX-
tent of more than $500 000, 000 or an average
of $50 100000 per annum; that this deficiency
will continue to grow under existing cOndi-
tions; that the deficiency has been met by
borrowing; that is, by bond sales, and that
this has promoted distrust, intensified and
prolonged the run on the treasury and weak
ened business confidence.
This deficiency OF revenue, said Mr.. Ding
ley, has nearly all arisen from a falling off Of
revenue from duties on imports and not from
a decline of revenue from internal taxes.
In revising the tariff he said, the COM
have pnQpaVOre1 discard
theories and have addressed themselves to
the framing OF a practical remedy, at least
in part, for the ills which have for so many
months Overshadowed the country. 1t is a
condition and not a theory which cOnfrOnts
US, and the 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 to
secure to our own people the production and
manufacture of such articles as we can pro-
duce or make for ourselves without natural
disadvantages, and thus provide more abund-
ant opportunities for cur labor. No economic
policy will prove a success, unless ii shall in
some manner contribute to opening up en-
plOyment to the masses OF our people, at good
wages. When this is accomplished, and thus
the purchasing power Of the masses restored
then-and not until then-will prices cease 10
feel the depressing effect of under-cOnsump
ton, and the prosperity of our people rise to
the standard of 1892.
THE past four years have been eniighten-
ing, especially to candid investigators Of
:
a kindergarten large scale. The tuition
has come high, but no people ever learned
so much in so brief a time Hereafter theories
preached in however captivating language will
nave to give way to the teachings of ex-
perience. 1t has been the favOrite assump-
ton of theories that revenue and protection
in the same tariff scale are impractical. But
we have had in the past seven years in the
contrasted working of the protective wool
and woo,ens schedule of the tariff of 1894, a
most striking demonstration otherwise"
41,Ta Vt-tf.
relative to the importation and tariffs on
woolens and said that by placing wool in the
free list, the treasury lost 81 600, COO revenue
and the farmers 100000, 900 per year, and that
this country had not been able to increase its
exports of manufactured wool. 1t had been
claimed, he went on, that the price of clothing
had been reduced, but this only in APP
pearance, because people had been deprived
of work and wages, and found it harder to buy
clothing than before. The schedule would
aid the wool growers increase manufactures
and ultimately increase the revenue.
Speaking of the sugar schedule, Mr.. Ding
ley said it would increase the revenue and
encourage sugar production in this country.
He explained the sugar schedule in the fol
lowing statement:
SUGAR SCHEDULE.
1.-The duty on sugar proposed is specific &C
cording to poiaroscopic test of the degree OF
saccharine matter commencing at 1 per cent
per pound for sugar pOlarizinf not more than
Is degrees and increasing the duty 3-199ths OF
l cent for each additional degree. This would
make the duty raw sugar QC0 degrees) ia
cents. To this is added one-eighth of l cent
for sugar above No. 16 Dutch standard in col
or (refined sugar., making the duty / cent and
T15-1G0ths. This with whatever may be add
ed by the countervailing duty on all sugar
imported from export bounty paying countries,
is enough protection, which it is believed
will maintain the refining industry here, not
withstanding the present differential of one
eighth and 40 per cent all round duty, is
double that proposed. This will be the only
al Net IpyaT
because if the refiner uses sugar of less sac
charine strength than 100, as he must it re-
make pound Of refined sugar
Continuing, Mr.. Dingley said that the in
crease on fax and hemp made both in the
interest Of revenue, and because there was a
great promise of home production. AS to the
other increase of duties in the bill to Nc
Kinley rates, Mr.. Dingley said:
For the most part otherwise, the increase
of duties in the pending bill TO the figures of
the tariff of 1890 have been in the schedules
of paragraphs covering luxuries like tobacco
liquors. silks, laces, etc., which being articles
of voluntary consumption, are always regard
ed as objects which will bear the highest du-
ties. The exceptions are, the earthenware and
glass schedule and the agriculture schedule
on which the duties have been placed the
same as in the act of 1880. because no other
rate seemed to be protective" :
Mr.. Dingley them brify touched upon some
schedules which had not been materially
changed from the! present law. These in
cluded iron and steel and cotton.
I'm all other schedules continued Mr.
Dingley. 1.-THE rates proposed in the pending
bill are between the rates of the tariff of
$780, and the present law
There have been transferred from the free
list of the tariff of 1894 to the dutiable list
of the proposed bill not only WOOL but salt
burlaps bags, cotton bagging and cotton
ties. which never should have been made
non-dutiable but also argols, crude opium
asphaltum, chicle, paintings and statuary
except when imported for free exhibition by
an established institution; straw ornaments,
etc. which under existing conditions ought
to contribute something towards the much
needed additional revenue. So far posi-