Omaha daily bee., 1897-03-28
JUGGLING WITH FIGURES
House Of Representatives Indulges in that
n. '5 Kind of Business.
DISCUSSION ON TARIFF BILL RATES
Dingley Calls Attention to the Mis-
statements of Democratic Orators
by DistortinE Fisurcs-Stnnds
by Former Statements.

WASHINGTON, March 27.-Dcspitc the
| admonitions of Mr.. Dingley, just before the
house adjourned yesterday, to the republican
members to be promptly at hand this morn
ing to prevent possible delays from the lack
of quorum, there were only fifty-one men,
bers present when the house met today. Mr..
Richardson, democrat of Tennessee, promptly
| blocked proceedings, but the members
streamed in rapidly, and in fifteen minutes
| a quorum had appeared.
The ways and means committee continued
to offer amendments from time to time, and
these were mostly adopted without opposi-
ton. The rates on acetate Of white lead
were increased from 3la cents to cents per
pound; in colors from 21a to 8 cents.
In the course of some remarks on these
increases Mr.. Richardson declai ed that the
rateS in twelve out of the fourteen schedules
of the bill were higher than those Of the Nc
Kinley law. Mr. Dockery democrat of Mis-
souri, asked how that statement could be
reconciled with Mr.. Dingeys statement that
the rates in this bill were midway between
those OF the present law and the act OF 1890.
Mr.. Richardson replied that the comparative
statement did not support Mr. Dingley's
assertion.
Mr.. Richardson went through the schedules
one by one. ''If the wrath of the American
people was visited on the republicans for
enacting the Mckinley law" he concluded,
what they will do to you for the enactment
of this bill, in the language of the street
boy, will be a plenty Democratic
laughter)
JUGGLING WITH PRICES.
Mr.. Dngley in reply said Mr. Richardson's s
remarks only illustrated what could be done
by juggling with price tags. Except for the
rates on tobacco, sugar and silks, the rates
in this bill, he said were lower than those
of the Mckinley law.
During a discussion concerning a duty on
hides Mr.. Hopkins, republican of Illinois.
said there was no demand for such duty.
Mr.. Walker, republican of Massachusetts,,
explained that there were few hides i'm
ported except those used for sole leather, so
that duty on hides would be of little
benefit to the farmers, If duty on hides
would increase their production in this coun-
try he said, the republican side would be
unanimously in favor of such duty.
With regard to trusts, Mr.. Walker argued
that great combinations necessarily reduced
the cost OF production and consequently the
price to the people. Trusts were the natural
outcome OF higher civilization. He pre-
dicted that eventually all the railroads in
the country would be controlled by single
corporation.
There was sharp exchange Of personalities
between Mr.. Grow, republican of Pennsyl-
Vanla, ana MT. NdHulVeT, ueHOcTaI OF MIS-
souri,. The former was explaining how the
duty on tin plate had established that in
dustry in this country and he and Mr.
Vandiver became involved in a personal con-
troversy over the question of who paid the
tax?" arising from the increased tin plate
duty.
Mr. Simpson, populist OF Kansas, after
remarking on the conspicuous part played
by Mr. Grow during the stirring days OF
the war, said: at was sad to see him now
the defender OF trusts and combines whose
purpose was to enslave the American people,"
Mr.. Simpson, referring to the question Of
free hides said that duty on hides would be
of more Importance to the farmer than all
the other duties In the agricultural schedule.
It would mean an increase OF 81 apiece on
every one OF the 4,522, 900 hides taken from
cattle slaughtered last year
Mr.. Payne, republican of New York, in
sisted that Mr.. Simpson entirely misunder-
stood the question. The hides imported did
not come in competition with American
hides. The former were used almost ex-
clusively for sole leather
TAKE UP IRON SCHEDULE.
The debate branched off to the iron sched-
uls. Mr.. Wheeler. democrat OF Louisiana,