The herald., 1897-03-28
SLOWER'N
MOLASSES
Congealed by January
Billiards
FIVE DAYS OF DULL DEBATE
GIVEN TO FOURTEEN PAGES OF
TARIFF BILL
Five Measly Little Amendments the
Net Result of Yesterdays Labors.
Night Sessions Proposed
A ssociated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON. March 27.-The prog
ress of the house on the tariff bill today
was even slower than yesterday. Only
six more pages of the 162 pages OF the
bill were disposed of, making fourteen
pages in all In two of the five days al
lowed for consideration under the nvs-
minute rule. At this rate only thirty-one
pages of the bill will be disposed Oh be-
fore the bill comes to final vote. only
five amendments were adopted today, all
of minor Importance, and each an amend
ment of the ways and means commit
tee. All the questions involved In the
tariff. with occasional incursions into
the realms of the financial theories, fur-
nished fruitful topics for the members
Fully two hours were spent In the dis
cussion of whether the foreigner or the
consumer paid the tax. This question
bids fair to consume much more time
before the debate closes. Bailey, the
leader of the opposition, was absent al
most all day and Richardson and Nc
Millin of Tennessee bore the brunt OF
the hard fighting The Democratic pol
icy, so far as it has been disclosed, seems
to attack the bill at every point, max
ing trusts the especial objects of as
sault.
The Republicans are trying to advance
consideration by refraining from debate.
but they are forced by the attacks of the
opposition to defend their measure. If
more progress is not made night ses-
sions may be held next week.
Despite the admonition of Chairman
Dingley yesterday to the Republican
members to be on hand propmtly at III
o'clock this morning to prevent delays
from lack of quorum. there were only
fifteen members present when the house
Richardson Dem., Tenn.) promptly
blocked the proceedings, but In fifteen
| minutes a quorum appeared.
The ways and means committee con-
tinued to offer amendments, which were
mostly adopted without opposition. The
rate on acetate of lead was increased
from 3k to cents per pound; In colors
from 3 to 4 cents. In his remarks on
these increases, Richardson declared the
rates In twelve out of fourteen sched-
| ules Of the bill were higher than those
of the Mckinley law.
Dockery (Dem.. Mo- asked how that
statement could be reconciled with Ding
ley's statement that the rates of this
bill averaged between the rates of the
present law and the act of 1890.
Richardson replied that the compar-
ative statement did not support Dingley's
assertion.
Richardson went through the sched-
ules one by one. IF the wrath Of the
American people was visited on the
Republicans for enacting the Mckinley
law" he concluded what will they do
to you for the enactment of this bill?
In the language of the street boy, Twill
be plenty"
Dingley said Richardson's remarks
only illustrated what could be done by
Juggling with percentages" Except for
the increase in the rates on tobacco, su-
gar and silks, the rates of this bill, he
said, were lower than those Of the Nc
Kinley law.
During a discussion concerning a
duty on hides, Hopkins of Illinois. Re-
publican said there was a demand for
such a duty.
Walker Of Massachusetts, Republican,
explained that there were few hides i'm
ported, except those used for sole leath-
err; also that a duty on hides would be
Of little benefit to the farmers II the
duty on hides would increase their pro-
duction in this country, he said, the Re-
publican side would be unanimously In
favor Of such a duty
With regard to trusts. Walker ar
gued that great combinations neces-
sarily reduced the cost of production and
consequently the price to the people.
Trusts were the natural outcome Of civ
iMzation. He predicted that eventually
all the railroads in the country would
be governed by single corporation.
There was a sharp exchange of per-
sonalities between Grow of Pennsylva-
mia. Republican, and Vandiver Of Mis-
souri,, Democrat. The former was ex-
planning how the duty on tin plate has
established that industry in this coun-
try. and he and vandiver became in
volved In q personal controversy over the
question of who paid the tax arising
from an increased tin plate duty"
Simpson of Kansas. Populist, after re-
marking the conspicuous part played by
Grow during the stirring days Of the
war. said that ut was sad to see him
now defending trusts and combines.
whose purpose was to enslave the Amer
ican people"
Simpson, referring to the question Of
free hides. said that duty on hides
would be of more Importance to the
farmer than al the other duties in the
agricultural Schedule. It would mean
an increase of 81 apiece on every one Of
the b.422, 900 hides taken from the cattle
slaughtered last year.
Payne Of New York. Republican, in
sisted that Simpson entirely misunder-
stood the question. The hides imported