The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-24
ON THE TARIFF.
Debate in the House Was
Unusually Lively.
Old Question, "WhO Pays
the Duties" Discussed.
Mr.. Gr0svenor of Ohio Makes q
Splendid Argument for Bill.

Miss. }, opened the third day of the tariff
debate in the House with fifteen minute
speech against the general theory of pro.
lection.
Mr.. Williams (Dem., Miss. devoted his
attention TO exposing the alleged incon-
sistencies in the Republican argument.
He said il was absurd TO charge the pres
ent depression TO the invasion Of the home
market.
After some brief remarks by Mr. Sims
(Dem., Tenn.,) and Mr.. Terry (Dem.,
Ark. MIR. Sayers (Dem., Texas), adj
dressed himself to the proposition that If
realized and this bill increased the reven-
ues sll3, 000, 600 per annum it woud breed
the most reckless and protligate extrava-
gance.
Mr.. johnson (Rep., n. ID. }, n member
of the ways and means committee, was
then recognized for an hour. He directed
his attention chiefly to an eulogy of the
the enactment of the agricultural schedule
of the bill. He was met by IA fusilade of
questions from the Democrats and Popu-
lists. The old controversy as TO whether
the foreigners or the consumer paid the
tax was fought over with great pertinac-
ity, Mr.. Johnson taking the view that
the foreigner substantially paid 1t and
his adversaries that it was paid by the
consumer.
When the Wilson bill was under consd.
Grafton Mr.. johnson said he predicted
that its passage woud be more fatal TO the
sheep industry than the ravages of dogs,
wolves, scab and foot-rot for twenty
years, and he challenged any one to search
the Scriptures and find a prophecy which
had been more truly fulfilled than that.
Mr.. Mcmillan Dem., Tenn, who fol-
lowed Mr.. johnson, was given round
of applause by his Democratic colleagues
as he took the floor. He prefaced his re-
marks with some figures to prove that
there was sufficient surplus, Sis 600, 600
exclusive of the gold reserve in the treas
ury, to meet all estimated deficiencies for
two years and that the alleged necessity
for this bill was mere pretext. He pro-
phecied a repetition of the disaster which
overlook the Congress that enacted the
Mckinley law If this bill were passed and
made the Republican change of front on
tho question of sugar bountics the text
for some caustic remarks
Mr.. Grosvenor's Speech.
Mr.. Grosvenor began by referring to
the necessity of speedy action in the
matter Of tariff legislation. Going over
the ground relating, as he expressed II, to
the bankruptcy of the treasury, the
enormous expenditures in excess OF the
receipts of the government and the unde-
STABILITY of borrowing money in time of
peace, TO carry on the government he
drew parallel between the condition OF
the country on the first of November,
1892, which he declared to be one of un-
paralleled prosperity, and on the 1st of
November, 1896 when enterprise was mt
n standstill, doubt, fear, uncertainty,
everywhere, he declare that "this great
calamity had come upon the country sub
stantially by reason of the single act of
m a. rpnpnl
Mckinley law. 1t was the Mckinley law
misrepresented and misunderstood that
aided our overthrow in 1892 but 1t was
the Mckinley law. with the blessing we
received from 1t during its short life that
became the talismanic word that swept
Mckinley into nomination and carried
the country in 1895.
1--WE are here. " he declared, "to execute
the peoples demand. The demand of the
intelligent for a protective tariff system
comes not from partisan utterances, but
from the men-the men, of all parties and
from every section of the country, The
fruit grower of California robbed and
ruined by the Wilson bill cries loudly to
Republicans for assistance and from Ala
bama and Georgia, and conspicuously
from Louisiana comes the earnest demand
for the passage Of this bill.
Two Deadly Evils.
"what then Is the great necessity of
this hourf Two deadly evils are upon
us: Unemployed labor and a bankrupt
treasury-there can be no business conf
dence in this country when the treasury
of the United States Is without funds to
meet It's current obligations.
MIR Grosvenor paid some attention TO
the statements that although Mckinley
was elected, prosperity has net yet
como. " Gentlemen" he asserted, "must
bear in mind that violation of laws al
ways merits and always receives punish
ment. The country that would turn its
back upon the prosperity of 1892 and de-
scond into the Blunder of 1894, must
expect punishment.
There was no better doctrine in all the
range OF human thought than the blessing
To follow repentance which comes only
when Works meet for repentance have
been done There stands upon the
statue book of today law that was put
there by blindness of Bourbon Democracy.
While IL stands there the curse will re-
main. Tho curse Is lightcncd, however
by the prospect that Works meet for re-
pentancc, will I've accomplished and so
from Maine TO California, there comes the
cheering sound Of improved conditions
but while this Is being done, while the
shouts Of anticipated emancipation are
coming to us from oil sources while
money Is plenty and becoming active
while contracts for production, which
will insure the employment Of enormous
quantities Of idle labor, are coming To us
the Democratic party on this floor with
its allies all alike arc standing holding
on TO the coat tail of the world and leaning
back, impeding the progress Of that pros
pcrity, they shout n whoa 10 the NOV
ing mass OF American people. You have
not eHly-breught this curse upon the
country, but you are trying TO hold IL
there.
Continuing, Mr. Grosvcnor said in part
IL has been the purpose of the ways and
here that would bring first an abundance
Of money into the treasury, and second,
the employment of the labor Of the
country. We want To- go back To- 1892.
We want To sec what we have not seen
Gontinttod On, Daoo a