New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-25
HOUSE LEADERS SPEAK.
THIRD DAY OF GENERAL DEBATE ON
THE TARIFF BILL.
TIE PRINCIPAL. aRGy MENTs FOR THE MEASURE
MADE BY MEssRs. GRosvENoR. EVANS.
JOHNSON AND WALKER. AND By Mr.
MMrIIIN AGAINST IT.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE1

MMtLIIN AGAINST II.
my TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington. March 24-"General debate
which outlasts two days on any subject IN the
House of Representatives seldom or never proves
a good drawing card so far as the attendance OF
members Ia concerned. and casual Nlsltors os
we'll as seasoned habitues Of the galleries. vote
a general debate the tariff the worst pore Oh
all The debate on the Dingley Tariff bill has
now lasted three days and yet 1t is by no means
lifeless or uninterestng. Several of the speeches.
to-day commanded the attention OF large ana at
tentive audiences, which evinced their interest
by frequent applause.
The opponents Of the bill labor under evident
disadvantages. They are seriously handicapped
when they take retrospective view OF the SUD
feet of tariff legislation. for the monuments OF
their own misdoings confront them on ever!
hand and when they offer prophecies their oHers
are not accepted regarded. BESIDES 'hey are
divided among themselves one factioh con-
tends that the chief cornerstone Of tarih re-
form-"untaxed raw materials-must be aug
out and cast away in order TO save the ed,fce
from destruction and another faction CONTENDS
that If the cornerstone be removed the whole
structure will fall The opponents OF the Dill
also complainant the complaint is by no means
wholly unreasonable or unjust-that sufficient
time has not been allowed to formulate their
objections and prepare their arguments against
the provisions of the pending bill or course
they might not have been better prepared week
hence than they are to-day, and judging by most
Of the speeches thus far delivered oa that side,
that probably would have been the case.
Mr. McMiln. who delivered the longest and
perhaps the most violent speech against the
~ a. Of ic hpcf q
his wife had prevented him from making such
preparation as seemed TO him necessary. But
the speech took well among the Democrats who
listened to It, and literally applauded by
them. One could imagine that it would have ex
cited wild enthusiasm in a Tennessee audience
composed OF McMillin's constituents, and have
been regarded by them logical and unan-
swerable. As q contribution 10 the tariff debate
In the House of Representatives. however ii
could not be considered exceedingly weighty
valuable.
The speeches of Messrs. johnson. OF North Da-
kota, Grosvenor and Evans. all Of whom are
members of the Ways and Means Committee,
were both forcible and cogent and each dealt
with various phases of the subject in n mastery
fashion. Mr.. Walker also delivered a strong,
businesslike speech in favor of the bill Mr..
Savers. of Texas, is a member Of the Committee
on Appropriations. and his speech against the
bill was naturally an exposition Of the danger
which turks in redundant rcvenues-that of too
liberal appropriations and expenditures.
THE DEBATE IN DETAIL.
The first extended speech Of the day was that Of
Mr.. Johnson (Rep, n d. member of the Com
mittee on Ways and Means. in support of the bill
lie addressed himself in beginning 10 the financial
Of bo
100000 year to pay the ordinary expenditures of
the Government. and unless some great calamity
befel the country which should destroy its
capacities and Its powers no Congress would ever
assemble in these halls that would be other than
a billion-dollar Congress II was agreed on all
hands that most OF this money should be raised by
a tariff. But what kind Of a tariff should be
levied made the difference between the parties. 1t
sharply defined difference and upon the
adoption Of the other-protective or rev.
enue--he believed depended the prosperity or de-
preston Of the business interests of the country
Mr.. Johnson proceeded then to argue as to the
benefits resulting from the operation of pro-
tective tariff-the rule being. he said that such a
tariff operated 10 reduce the price of the article
protected.
Mr.. McRae dem. Ark.)-Is that the reason why
you put duty Of % cents bushel on wheat?
daughter and applause by Demacrats)
Mr. Barlow pop. Cal)-You say that in a Demo-
cratic tariff the consumer pays the tax. Who
pays 1t in your tariff?
Mr. Johnson-In the matter of the great staples
of production. agricultural and mechanical the
foreigner pays the tax. In other articles the for
eigner pays part and the uupatriotic foolish DUR
chasers who willing TO pay two or three prices
for foreign goods pay the Republican ap-
pause)
This bill. Mr.. Johnson said in conclusion. was as
patriotic the fag: broad as the country
Applause)
Mr.. McMillln Dem. Tenn. the senior Demo-
cratic member of the Committee on WAYS and
Means. opposed the bill In a speech Of more than
an hours length He asserted that there was no
necessity for imposing additional taxes this
time: that with even ordinary economy there would
still be large surplus in the Treasury when Con-
gress should assemble in December. In conclu-
sion he said Il beg the gentlemen on the other
side to remember that their victory obtained last
fall obtained by such expenditure Of money
such an exertion OF bulldOzing and force and such
a prostitution Of elections was never before wit
messed in this land. They must not take such n
verdict the established and rrevocabe will OF
the American people. l beg them remember
that purchased verdict cannot stand. 1t is true
that Benedict Arnold sold himself to infamy. but
he did not thereby sell down the Revolution. 1t is
true that Judas sold his Saviour to the cross but
he did thereby sell down the plan Of salvation.
The Democratic party has suffered defeat before.
and by stern adherence to never falling principle
IT has regained power and readmnistored Govern
ment Let US now and here resolve anew that the
principles OF jefferson, of Jackson and OF Polk
shall be the principles Of the Democratic party
now they have been in the past. and
the day succeeds the night 1t Will return to power
and restore the Government to the constitutional
mornings from which II has been wrested by such
mal-legislation as that which is being forced upon
to-day"
MR.. GROSVENOES ARGUMENT.
Mr. Grosvenor Rep. ohio began by referring to
the necessity Of speedy action In the matter OF
tariff legislation. Speaking Of the condition Of the
country in November, 1896. he declared that never
In the history Of the United States was there
much terror. foreboding and doubt in the minds OF
men that date. This great calamity had
come upon the country substantially by reason of
the single act OF Democratic Congress-the repeal