, 1897-03-23
NOW UNDER DISCUSSION,
THE DINGLEY TARIFF ACT is
FORMALLY PRESENTED IN
CONGRESS.

CONGRESS.
Mr. Dingley Makes an Able and Care
fully Prepared Argument in Favor
of the Measur-We Have Been 10
a Kindergarten During Past -Four
Years and Have Been Educated.
Washington, March 22.-What will go
down to history as the tariff debate OF
1897 began in the house at 10 O'Clock
this morning. Despite the early hour OF
assembling, there was Il large attend
ance on the floor, and the galleries
showed evidence of the great interest
manifested in the proceedings. Mr..
Dingley and Mr.. Bailey, the opposing
leaders, were early in their places. By
he terms of the rule under which the
house was to operate during the consid-
Grafton Of the bill, the house immediate
ly resolved itself into committee OF the
whole, and the speaker conferred upon
MIR. Sherman, republican, OF New York,
over the committee. Those who expect
ed the debate TO begin Immediately were
disappointed. The leaders decided not
to dispense with the reading OF the bill,
but TO have it read in full at the out
set in order to disarm the criticism
passed on previous bills that they were
read in the house. The spectators in the
galleries and the members or the floor
waited while the clerk drOned through
the 1853 pages of the bill.
The reading of the bill consumed a
little over two hours, so it was 1890
before the leader OF the majority, Mr..
Dingley, was recognized 10 open the
debate. Mr.. Dingley's voice is not very
strong. and he usually has some diff
Guilty in making himself heard, but TO-
day ne spoke with great deliberation
and his tones were clear and ringing.
Mr.. Dingley began by stating that
congress having been convened in eX-
ira session. the facts that led TO the is
suance OF the presidents message were:
That the governments revenue during
the past four years had been Insufficient
20 meet the expenditures 10 the extent
Of more than 5000, 000, 900. Or an average
Of $50, 900 900 per annum; that this de,
ficiency will continue to grow under ex,
tsting conditions; that the deficiency has
been me- by borrowing; that is, by bond
sales, and that this has promoted dis,
trust. intensified and prolonged the run
on the treasury and weakened business
confidence. This deficiency OF reve-
nue." said Mr.. Dingley. has nearly all
arisen from a falling off in revenue from
internal taxes"
In revising the tariff, the commit
tee" he said, has endeavored to discard
mere theories and have addressed them
selves to the framing of u practical rem
edy. at least in part. for the ills which
nave for so many months overshadOwed
the country.
1T is Il condition and moi a theory
which confronts us. Our problem is to
provide adequate revenue from duties
On imports to carry on the government,
and in imposing duties to secure this
result so as to adjust them to secure to
our own people the production and man.
ufacture Of such articles as we can pro-
duce or make for ourselves without nat
ural disadvantage. and thus provide
more abundant opportunities for our la
Dor. No economic policy will prove a
success unless it shall in some manner
contribute to our opening up employ
ment to the masses of our people at good
wages. When this Is accomplished, and
thus the purchasing power Of the masses
restored. then, and not until then, will
prices cease to feel the depressing effect
OF underconsumption and the prosperity
Of our people rise to the standard OF
1892.
The past four. years have beer en-
tightening, especially to candid investi-
gators Of economic problems. We have
been attending a kindergarten on a large
scale. The tuition has come high, but
no people ever learned so much in SO
brief a time. Hereafter theories, preach
ed in however captivating language, will
have to give way 10 the teachings of ex-
perience.
ut has been the favorite assumption
OF some theorists that revenue and pro-
lection in he same tariff schedule are
impossible. But We have had in the
past seven years in the contrasted work
ing Of the protective wool and wooden
schedule tariff Of 1894 u most striking
demonstration otherwise"
Mr.. Dingley then gave some statistics
relative to the importations and tariff
on woolens, and said that by placing
wool or the free list the treasury lost
$21 .000, 900 revenue and the farmers
$50. 600, 900 per year. and that this conn-
try had not been able to increase its
exports Of manufactured wool. II had
been claimed. he went on. that The price
Of clothing had been reduced, but this
was only in appearance. because people
had been deprived Of work and wages
and found 1t harder to buy clothing than
before. The e schedule would aid
The wool grower, increase manufactures
and ultimately increase the revenue.