The record-union., 1897-03-28
Only Five More Pages of the Measure
Were Disposed OF.
Democrats Attacking the Bill at
Every Point, Trusts Being MADE
the Special Objects of Assault
NIGHT Sessions Will Probably Have
to be Held, i'm Order to Reach
Vote on Wednesday Next.


WASHINGTON, March 2i.-Ihe
progress of the House on the tariff Dill
to-day was even slower than yesterday
Only five more pages of the l6Z pages Oh
the bill We're disposed of, making 1ouf-
teen pages in all in the two of the nVe
dayS allowed for consideration under
the five-minute rule. At this rate only
thirty-one pages of the bill Will be dis
posed before the bill comes to flnal
vote Only five amendments were adopt
ed to-day, all of minor Importance, and
each an amendment of the Ways and
Means Committee. All the questions
involved in the tariff, with occasional
incursions into the realms of the imam
ciaI theories, furnished fruitful topics
for the members. Fully two hours was
spent in the discussion 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 opposltloh'
was absent almost all day, and Rich
ardson and McMilin of Tennessee bore
the brunt of the hard fighting Inc
Democratic policy, SO far as il has been
disclosed, seems to attack the Dill al
every point, making trusts the especlai
objects of assault. The Republicans
are trying to advance the consideration
bv refraining from debate, but they are
forced by the attacks of the opposition
TO defend their measure. If more prog
ress is not made night sessions may be
held next week.
Despite the admonition of Dingley
yesterday to the Republican members 10
be on hand promptly at 10 o'clock this
morning to prevent delays from the lack
of a quorum, there were only hfteen
members present when the House met
to-day.
Richardson Oem) of Tennessee
promptly blocked proceedings, but in
fifteen minutes a quorum appeared
The Ways and Means Commit tee CON
tinued to offer amendments, which were
mostly adopted without opposition. The
rate on acetate of white lead was in
creased from 31a to / cents per pound,
and in colors from > to cents.
In remarks on these increases Rich
ardson declared that the rates in twelve
out of fourteen schedules of the bill
were higher than those Of the Mckinley
law.
Dockery Oem) of Missouri asked
how that statement could be reconciled
with Dingley's statement that the rates
N this bill averaged between the rates
f the present law and the Act of 1880.
Richardson replied that a compare
aive statement did not support Dingley's
assertion Richardson then went
through the schedules one by one.
!, Of American npODlp
was visited on the Republicans for
enacting the Mckinley law" he con-
cluded. what will they do to you for the
enactment of this bill? In the language
Of the street boy, 1T viii be a plenty y
Dingley said that Richardson's re-
marks only illustrated what could DC
done by Juggling with percentages.
Except for the increase in the rates on
tobacco, sugar and silks, the rates 1T
this bill, he said, were lower than those
of the Mckinley law.
During a discussion concerning a
duty on hides Hopkins (R.) OF Illinois
said there was no demand for such a
duty.
Walker (R) of Massachusetts ex-
oIained that there were few hides I'M
ported except those used for sole leath-
er. also that a duty on hides would be
of little benefit to the farmers. IF a
duty on hides would increase their pro-
duction in this country" he said, ''the
Republicans would be unanimously in
favor Of such a duty"
With regard to trusts, Walker argued
that great combinations necessarily re-
duced the cost of production and cen
sequently the price to the people. Trusts
were the natural outcome of civiliza-
ton He predicted that eventually al
the railroads in the country would he
controlled by a single corporation.
There was a sharp exchange of per
.sonalities between Grow R) Of Penn
.sylvania and Vandiver CD of Missouri
The former was explaining how the
duty on tin plate had established that
industry in this country, and he and
Vandiver became involved in persona
controversy over the question Of ''WhC
paid the tax arising from an increased
tn-plate duty"
Simpson Pop) of Kansas, after re-
marking the conspicuous part played
by Grow during the stirring days of the
war, said that st was sad to see hin
now defending trusts and combines
whose purpose was to enslave the
American people" Simpson, referrine
to the question of free hides. said tha1
q duty on hides would be of more i'm
portance to the farmer than all the
duties in the agricultural schedule L
would mean an increase of 81 a piece
on every one of the ), ,522, 900 hides ta.
ken from the cattle slaughtered las
year.
Payne CR) of New York insisted tha
Simpson entirely misunderstood th,
question. The hides imported did no
come into competition with American
hides. The former were used almos
exclusively for sole leather.
The debate branched off to the iroI
schedule.
Wheeler Cd of Alabama and Co,
CD of Tennessee asserted that th'
Southern iron industry did not wan
any protection. IT was selling iron II
Pittsburg and the old iron centers, ant
was invading England without the ait
of protection.
Dalzell (R.) of Pennsylvania, reply
ing, said that convict labor was on