New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-26
TARIFF BATTLE ON AGAIN.
DEBATE ON THE BILL AT LAST BEGUN
IN THE SENATE.
MR.. ALDRIcHs ELABORATE EXPLANATION o.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
HEARD WITH GREAT INrEREsr-MR-
VEST OPENS THE FIGHT FOR
THE DEMOCRATS.

VEST OPENS THE FIGHT FOR
THE DEMOCRATS.
(BY TELEGRAPH THE rRIBUyE.l
Washington, May 25.-Another stage OF the
long struggle to carry into effect the recon.
mendations of the Message which over two
months ago summoned the two houses OF Con.
gress to meet in extraordinary session was
reached this afternoon when the long-deferred
debate on the amended Dingley bill was formal
ly opened In the Senate Set speeches were made
by Mr.. Aldrich, who since Mr. Sherman's re-
tirement from the Senate has become the un-
disputed leader Of the Republican side On all
questions of fiscal and revenue legislation and
by Mr.. Vest, who In the contest over the amend
ed Dingley schedules hts been put forward to
represent the Democratic and portion OF the
Silverite and Populist opposition.
LITTLE PARTISAN FEELING SHOWN.
Nothing in the opening speeches to-day sus.
gested the con litions Of difficulty and dan
ger under which the supporters OF the new tarin
measure enter upon their fight to force its
passage through E secretly reluctant and indif-
ferent II not an openly hostile Senate. Little
partisan feeling was disclosed In the 1rst
passage -at-arms between the leaders In debate.
The tone Of the two speeches was pitched with
extreme moderation. as II It were the settled
purpose OF the two spokesmen to hide beneath
the placid surface Of expert discussion those
radical partisan antagonsms which before the
present contest is over are sure to fame up IN
all their natural and disturbing violence. II II
doubtful indeed, II any political debate Of equal
Importance has ever opened In a more temperate
mood or excited mder or more languid parti-
san spirit than that begun in the Senate this
Afternoon over the revised schedules Of the Ding
ley bill.
Beyond question the protracted Congressional
fights of 1890 and 1894 have worn of the keen
edge OF interest in the issue Of protective against
non-protective tariffs. To the Republican mind
the policy Of protection, no longer seriously men
aced from any quarter. seems no longer to need
strenuous public defence; while the Democratic
organization which has abandoned the policy OF
free trade for the more novel and catching doc
trine OF free silver coinage welcomes a renewal
Of party warfare on the old lines Of 1S92 ana
1894 with neither confidence nor enthusiasm
How far the Democratic attitude has shifted
since 1894 can easily be measured In the pro-
gramme adopted at Saturdays caucus, which
fixes as the main point OF attack on the new
schedules the increased tax levied on beer, tea
and tobacco, three articles especially fitted TO
bear taxation under the economic theories which
| Mr. Cleveland and his followers embodied In the
Democratic platforms Of 1888 and 1892.
MR.. ALDRICHS POWERFUL ARGUMENT.
| But, for whatever reasons. the afternoons de-
| bate lacked notably the fire and eagerness OF
| former tariff discussions, the feeling on botn
| sides Of the chamber being one OF unusual
| Quietude. Tariff speeches are not. as rule,
| inspiring to an audience highly interesting
| to newspaper reader AS a model. however
Of lucid statement and careful. temperate ex-
position. Mr.. Aldrich's opening remarks to-day
are we'll worth reproduction, and they Will be
found In full below Though dealing with an
intricate subject and developing his argument
with all the elaboration Of an expert Mr.. AL
drichs style to-day, as 1t always is. clear
direct and convincing. Probably not dozen
Of his auditors followed him entirely in his alb
struse ANALYSIS of the sugar schedule adopted
by the Finance Committee or in his comparison
| Of it's effects with those OF the original Dingley
| bill of the Wilson law Yet the candor and
completeness with which the Finance Commit
| tees presented impressed all listeners.
| while the speakers estimates Of the amounts OF
| revenue to be raised under the Senate bill and
| his explanations in detail Of the changes made
| in the various schedules, as well as his expoSi-
ton Of the general policy Of the Senate revisers
| met with the keenest and most unrelaxng atten-
| tion on both sides of the aisle which divides
| the Senate politically
Especial interest. Of course, was attached to
| what the speaker had to say about the sugar
schedule. and about the wool and oollen duties.
| as well as TO his announcement that complete
| scheme for reciprocal trade relations with for.
| eign countries would be drafted an amend
| ment to the present bill and that the Admins.
| tration would be urged to modify by negotiation
| the present reciprocity treaty with Hawaii
Mr.. Vest contented himself with assallin8
| the proposed increase Of revenues as unneces.
sary and attacking the new beer and tobacco
duties as inexpedient and oppressive. Mr.. Can
non, Of Utah. spoke briefly after Mr. Vest had
finished his remarks rejecting the views and
purposes Of at least portion of the silverits
and Populist forces in the Senate, to whom tarf
legislation appeals solely means OF securing
undue benefits for their own constituencies.
SENATOR ALDRICHS SPEECH.