The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-26
Tariff Debate Begun on tn7
Senate Bill.
THE GALLERIES CROWDED
CASE FOR THE AMENDED BILL
STATED.
peveNuE AND PROrEC TON
Academic Discussion to BE Oiscoun
tenanced--Vest Against the Bili'-
States Democratic Ground
Of Opposition.

of Opposition.
Washington, ID. c., May 2o.-Ihe de-
hate on the tariff bill began i'll the Senate
TODAY with crowded galleries, a large at
tendance of Senators and the tariff lead
ers of the House.
Minor business Claimed attention up
to . n. m. when Senator Aldrich. OF
Rhode Island, in charge of the tariff bill,
had the measure laid .efore the Senate
and took the floor for the opening speech
At that time every available seat in the
galleries was occupied. The Republican
side of the floor showed an almost soEd
representation, there being but three o.
four vacant seats. The Democrats also
presented full ranks, and the scattered
seats of the Populists were occupied with
but one exception Mr.. Dingley. char
man of the Ways and Means committee.
and author of the House bill. took seat
Immediately beside Mr.. -Aldrich and
listened attentively Other Republican
members of the Ways and Means COM
mittee ard Representative Simpson, of
the Populist contingent. occupied the
rear lounges. Speaker Reed was not pres
ent
Mr.. Aldrich spoke for almost an hour
and a quarter, adopting an easy. conver-
sational style. His speech was the official
utterance of the Finance committee and
i'm q sense of the Republican side of the
chamber Without making invidlous dis
tinctions between the two bills. Mr.. Al
drich clearly stated, aG the belief Of the
Finance committee, that the House bill
would not yielu revenue adequate for the
needs of the government.
Mr.. Vest, one of the Democratic men,
bers of the Finance committee followed
with statement in opposition to the bill.
Mr.. Cannon of Utah. a Silver Repub-
lican. closed the debate for the day By
urging that protection should he 50 dis
tributed as to AID the farmer.
Early in the day Mr. Mallory, the rev
Senator frem Florida, was sworn in and
took his seat.
In opening his speech Senator Aldrieh
said:
"Mr. President, the business OF the en-
tire country is in a state of suspension
awaiting the action OF the Senate upon
the bill under consideration. ! believe that
the anxiety to secure action upon this inn
portant measure at the earliest possible
day is shared by every member of the
Senate. ! can say for Senator's sitting on
this side Of the chamber that no time will
be spent in academic discussion OF The
principles OF protection.
1T is my purpose to keep this bill con-
tinuously before the Senate. TO the eN-
clusion of all other legislative business.
until it is finally disposed of, and in this
shall expect the hearty cooperation OF
Senators on both sides of the chamber. In
the discussion Of the bill. the members Of
the majority Of the committee will con
tent themselves with such brief expla-
nations as may be found necessary of the
various paragraphs as they are reached
''rhe majority of the Finance commit
tee believes that if n thorough revision
of our revenue laws, such as is con-
templated by the House bill, is necessary
it should be carried out in conservative
spirit, and that such Il moderate and
reasonable measure should be adopted as
will insure much greater degree Of per-
manence to our tariff legisla ton Frequent
revisions of the tariff are productive Of
long periods of uncertainty ard arrested
DEVELOPMENT. The radical change i'll pol
icy in 1884 proved disastrous TO the busi-
ness interests Of the country.
1T was, | believe, thoroughly UNDER
stood throughout the country III The last
political campaign that Il the Republican
party should be again irhrusted with
power. no extreme tariff Legislation wonld
follow. It was believed that III the
changed conditions Of the country Il re-
turn to the duties imposed by the act Of
1886 would not be necessary, even from i
protective standpoint. Il was With these
facts constantly in view t4qat the maicr.fT
of the Finance committee prepared tlP
amendments which they have submitted
for your consideration
Industrial conditions IA tins country,
with very few exceptions, do not demand
IL return to the rates imposed by the act
of 1880. The bitter contest which Is go
ing on among the leading nations OF the
world for industrial supremacy has
brought about improved arts III meth
DDS and economies in production to an
extent which was not thought possible
few years ago. These conditions must be
taken INTO consideration in considering
the rates to be imposed.
Without relinquishing one particle OF
our devotion to the cause of protection,
we feel that we have a right to ask that.
the cause shall not be burdened by the
imposition of duties which are unnecas
sary and excessive
After giving in detail the House esti
mates Of revenue Mr. Aldrich nro-
ceeded:
''It will be apparent from critical ex
animation of the provision of the House
bill that the estimate Of $600000O0 in (
crease of revenue, if the bill should be-
come a law by the first Of July was ex-
cessive.''
Mr.. Aldrich then presented an array
of figures, showing total Senate estimated