The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-23
THE DEBATE OPENS
Dlngley States rha Tariff Con-
rentions of Republicans.
ANSWERED BY. Wheeler
BtiLI., OF COLORADO, SPEAKS
FOR THE POPULISTS.
AVERAGE DUTY PER CENT MORE

Now 54 Per Cent, Which Wheeler Said
Was Made Secretly by Republicans
in the Language Proposed bv
Protected industries.
Washington. March 22.-The first day
of the tariff debate in the House was
rather tame from both a spectacular
and an cratorical standpoint. The gal
leries were well filled all day and the
members on the floor listened conscien-
tiousIy, but there was an absence of both
that sharp cross-firing which keeps the
nerves on edge and that brilliant elo-
Quence which inspires and holds the inn
agination. The opening of the debate
was delayed over two hours by the full
reading of the bill (162 pages, and this, to
begin WITH had a somewhat depressing
influence. The Republican leaders insist
ed 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 of both the Nc
Kinley and Wilson bills. Only four
speeches were made at the day session.
Mr.. Dingley, the chairman of the Ways
and Means committee, opened in an
hours speech for the majority and Mr..
Wheeler, of Alabama, fired the broadside
for the opposition. Mr.. Dingley, while
a forceful4 speaker and clear, cOnvinc-
ing reasoner, has few Of the graces of
oratory. He was given careful hear
ing, however, and frequently aroused the
Republicans to APPLAUSE.
MMII.LIN COULD NOT OPEN.
The Democratic plans miscarried. Mr..
Bailey, of Texas, leader of the opposition
had decided to close the debate, and
Mr. McMillin, of Tennessee, had ben Sc
lected to reply to Mr.. Dingley, 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, therefore, devolved on Mr..
Wheeler. The latter was unprepared
but nevertheless took the floor for an
hour.
Mr.. Bell, of Colorado, blazed the path
for the Populists. The only other speak
er at the day session was Mr.. Hopkins,
of Illinois, member of the Ways and
Means committee. When the House re-
solved itself into Committee of the Whole,
Speaker Reed conferred upon Mr.. Sher-
man (Rep., n. ", the honor of presid-
ing over the committee. Tomorrow it
is probable that some of the House
orators will be heard
DINGLEY STATES THE CASE.
Mr.. Dingley began by stating that Con
gress having been convened in extra
hn hot aH lal 10 hn
issuance Of the Presidents message We're:
That the governments revenues during
the past four years had been insufficient
to meet the expenses, to the extent Of
moer than $500, 900, or an average of
$4,000, 900 per annum; that the de6cien-
cy 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 weakened bus
mess confidence. This deficiency of rev.
enue, said Mr.. Dingley, has nearly all
risen from a falling off of revenue on
imports-and not from decline of reve-
nue. from internal taxes. In revising the
tariff, he said, the committee have en-
deavored to discard mere theories and
have addressed themselves to the franz
ing of a practical remedy, at least in
part, for the bills which have for so
many months overshadowed the country
AVERAGE DUTY "a PER CENT.
Speaking of the sugar schedule, Mr..
Dingley said it would increase the reve-
nue. and encourage sugar production in
this country. He explained the sugar
schedule in the following statement:
'sThe duty on sugar proposed, is specific
according to polariscopic test of the de-
gree of saccharine matter, commencing
at one cent per pound for sugar polarizing
not more than rs degrees, and increasing
the duty three one hundredths of one cent
for each additional degree. This would
make the duty on raw sugar Of the same
polariscopic test as refined sugar 600
degrees) one and three-fourths cents.
To this is added one-eighth OF one cent
for such sugar above No. 16 Dutch
standard in color (refned sugar., making
the duty one cent and eighty-seven and
half hundredths. This eighth, with what
ever may be added by the counteryailing
duty ON all sugar, imported from export
bounty paying countries, is the protection,
which, it is believed, will maintain the
refining industry here, notwithstanding
the present differential of one-eighth and
40 per cent all around duty
will be the only differential between
raw and refined sugar, because if the re-
timer uses sugar of less saccharine
strength than 100 as he must, it re-
quires propOrtionately more of such su-
gar to make pound of refined sugar.
Deduct sugar and the average duty
would be 54 per cent; deduct sugar, to-
bacco and spirits and the average duty
would be 49.e5 per cent and deduct SUI
gar, tobacco, spirits and wool and the
average duty would be only Al per cent.
Mr.. Dingley briefly touched upon some
schedules which had not been materially
changed from the present law. These
included iron and steel and cotton.
He then presented the estimates as to
the probable revenue that would be