The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-07-23

pay on the principle OF the public debt
which had been increased by the late
administration. In conclusion. Mr..
Dingley received round after round OF
applause from his republican colleagues
by predicting as a result of the enact
ment OF this bill a rise Of prices and
a restoration of prosperity.
Mr. Wheeler, democrat, OF Alabama,
opened the debate for the democrats.
criticising the bill as the most vicious
and burdensome ever imposed on the
American people.
Mr.. Swanson. democrat. OF Virginia.
a membe Of the Ways and CON-
mittee. to whom Mr.. Wheeler yielded
a portion of his time. devoted his at
tention to assailing the schedule
agreed upon by the conferees.
One of the greatest demonstrations
of the debate occurred when Mr.. Lam
ham, democrat, of Texas. paid a tri-
butte to William j. Bryan. The demo-
Gratis cheered for several minutes and
many OF the spectators Joined in the
demonstration.
The bill was further debated by sew
erai members and at s o'clock a re-
cess was taken until s o'clock p. m.
AT 8 o'clock when the night session
begun the galleries were crowded,
many ladies being present.
Mr.. Dingley stated at the outset that
he hoped to secure a vote by 10 o'clock.
Mr.. Bailey aid 10 o'clock was too ear
ly. but he thought the vote could be
taken by II o'clock. He would not,
however, make a definite agreement on
the vote.
Thereupon Mr.. Dingley gave notice
that he would move the previous ques-
ton not later thar II o'clock.
In the galleries were many distin-
guished personages Of both sexes In
the executive gallery sat Secretary of
the Navy Long and on the floor at the
side of Mr.. Hit, of Illinois, sat At
torney General McKenna, who was a
member of the ways and means COM
mittee in 1890 when the Mckinley law
"a passed. Altogether it was a bril-
ian setting for the close Of a
able struggle. The republicans still
pursued the tactics they had adopted
during the day session. None of them
claimed the floor and the minority were
compelled to put forward their speak
ers.. These continued their assaults on
the republican breast works, but not a
shot was fired in return. Therefore,
after Mr.. Mcdowell, Of Ohio, and Mr..
Berry, Of Kentucky, both democrats,
had made brief speeches Mr.. Bailey,
the democratic leader, who a been
reserving his speech for the close, took
the floor. He made a carefully pre-
pared argument, dealing more with the
general principles involved than with
details. Time n again during the
progress of his remarks, the democrats,
were aroused by his %eloquence to a
high pitch Of enthusiasm. Mr.. Bailey
said in part:
"The pretense that the bill under
consideration is designed primarily to
increase the public revenues is a false
one upon it's face, because if that had
been the object it could have been &C
complished without disturbing all the
business interests of the country by a
general revision of the tariff duties. A
slight change in the existing law
would have suficed. While there is no
reasonable doubt as to what the repub-
lican leaders of the house expected and
intended to do. their purpose has been,
at least partially, defeated by the
amendment of the senate. / do not
mean to imply that the dominant party
in the senate is entitled to I'M credit
for playing at cross purposes with the
their friends in the house, for the sem
ate appear to have amended the house
bill, not so much because they were op-
posed to the object which the house had
in view, as because they seemed to
think that the houses zeal had out
run it's judgment, and that, instead of
yielding a surplus which would enable
the present administration to collect
and retire the greenbacks, its Dill
would have resulted in a deficiency.
Have the industries of the United
States suffered under the present law
from foreign competition? 1t is only
necessary for us to examine the treas
ury reports to find u answer. AS re-
markable as it may appear after all
hat our republican friends have
said, the treasury reports show
that instead Of foreign competition in
creasing under the present law it has
actually decreased as compared with
the Mckinley law.
another more practical, but less
potent, reason why the republican
party cannot undertake in earnest to
suppress these hurtful combinations of
capital is that it's vaSt and complicated
scheme of taxation for private purposes
is maintained by the active and fnan-
cial support of those who have per-
sonal and business connections with
these trusts; and as you rely upon the
votes they influence and the campaign
subscriptions of trusts, it is unreason-
able to ppo that you will deny
them a participation in the profits OF a
system which they have helped to fas-
ten upon the country. We have suf-
fcient and abundant proof of this fact
in the pending bill which gives to the
sugar trust a pure gratuity which ex-
perts estimate at not less than $4,000
600 annually.
L am not willing to charge in this
high place that the republican party
has sold it's intellect and conscience to
the sugar trust and I prefer to believe
tina it has been driven by the logic Of
it's position to the assistance Of a
monopoly which has grown so bold un-
der it's special privileges that it scan
dalizes congress and defies the power
of the courts. But, sir, the republican
party must confess that it has sold
itself to the sugar trust or it must adj
NIT that protection cannot deny its
benefits to the monopoly"
Mr.. Bailey reviewed the sugar sched-
ule at length and scored the
trust, adding:
My deliberate judgment is that the
sugar trust possesses its power over
you. not because it buys your indi-
vidual votes, but because it is a part
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