Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-26
SENATE REVISION or THE DING
LEY MEASURE DULY LAUNCHED.
Mr.. ALDRlCH EXPLAINS IT.
lie GOES INTO THE SUGAR sCHE-
DuIE FULLY AND FREELY.
MR. VEST SPEAKS FOR DEMOCRATS.
The Latter Anxious for business Re-
lief, and Arc Prepared to Give the
tunify 10 Bring "a About.

WASHINGTON. May 25.-Thc debate
on the tariff bill began IN the Senate to-
day with crowded galleries, a large at
tendance Of senator's. and the presence of
the tariff leaders OF the House. Minor
business claimed attention up to T.. NJ,
when Senator Aldrich, OF Rhode Island,
in charge Of the tariff bill. had the mea-
sure laid before 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 solid representa-
tion. there being but three or four vacant
seats. The Democrats also presented fun
ranks. and the scattered seats of the
Populists were occupied with but one ox-
cepuon. Mr.. Dingley, chairman Of the
Ways and Means Committee and author
Of the House bin. took a seat immediate
ly beside Mr. Aldrich, and listened atten-
lively. other Republican members of the
Ways and Means Committee and Repre-
sentative Simpson of the Populst con-
tlngont. occupied the rear lounges
Speaker Reed was not present
Mr.. Aidrich spoke for almost an hour
and a quarter adopting an easy, conver-
sational style. His speech was the OIL
cial uttcrance Of the Finance Committee,
and. I'm a sense Of the Republican side
Of the chamber Without making in
vidlous distinctions between the two bills,
AR. Aldrch cles rly stated, as the belief
of the Finance Committee, that the
House bill would not yield revenue ade-
Quate for the needs Of the government.
AIr. Vest. of Missouri. one of the Demo-
cratic members Of the Finance Commit
Tee. followed with a statement in opposi-
tl0u TO the bill.
Nr. Cannon. Of Utah, q silver Republi-
can. closed the debate for the day by
urging that the protection provided should
De so distributed as TO aid the farmer.
Early IN the day Mr. Mallory. the new
senator from Florida, was sworn in and
took his seat
BUSINESS SUSPENSE.
In opening his speech Sena. or AIdrich
said: 'Nr. President. the business OF
the entire country is in a state of sus-
pension awaiting the action of the SEN
ate upon the bill under consideration.
/ believe that the anxiety TO secure ac-
ton upon this important measure at the
earliest possible day is shared by every
member of the Senate ! can say for
senators sitting on this side of the cham
Der that no time viii be spent in the
academic discussion of the principle OF
protection.
1T Is my purpose 10 keep the bin con-
tnuously before the Senate. to the eX-
cusion Of an other legislative business.
until 10 is finally disposed Of ana IN
this I shall expect the hearty co-opera-
chamber. IN the discussion OF the bill
the majority Of the committee will con-
tent themselves with such brief eXp.ana-
tiOns as may be found necessary for the
various paragraphs. as they are reached.
"The majority of the Finance Com
mittee believes that II a thorough re-
vision Of our revenue laws. such as is con-
temp.ated by the House bill. Is necessary.
it should be carried out In a conserya-
tive spirit. and reasonable and mode
rate measure should be adopted. that
will insure q much greater degree OF
permanenco TO our tariff legislation.
Frequent revisions Of the tarin are pro
ductiye of long periods Of uncertainty
and arrested development. The radical
change in policy in 1904 proved disastrous
10 the business interests OF the country
no EXTREMES.
1T was i believe thoroughly under
stood thrOughout the country in the last
political campaign that If the Republi-
can party should be again intrusted w.th
power. no extreme tarin leslslatloh
would follow IL was believed tina. ID
the changed conditions of the country
"a return to the duties imposed by tfc
act Of 1880 would not be necessary, even
from n protective standpoint. 1t was
with these facts constantly in view that
The majority Of the Finance Committee
prepared the amendments which they
have submitted for your consideration
industrial conditions In this country,
with very few exceptions, do not de-
mand return TO the rates imposed Dy
the act Of 1880. The bitter contest when
is going on among the leading nations
OF the world for Industrial supremacy
has brought about Improvements in me-
thods and economies in production 10
an extent which was not thought possi-
bic a few years ago. These conditions
must be taken into account IN consider
ing the rates 20 be imposed.
"Without rclinquishns one particle OF
our devotion 20 the cause Of prOtectlon
we feel that we have rlgAt to ask thai
the cause shall not be burdened by the
imposltion Of duties which are unneces-
sary and excessive.
ESTIMATE OF REVENUE.
After giving IN detail the House esti-
mates of revenue. Mr.. Aldrich proceeded:
1T viii be apparent from a critical eX-
animation OF the provisions OF the House
bill. that the estimate Of SoJ.O0W) increase
Of revenue If the bin should become a
law by the first Of July. was excessive"
Mr. Aldrich then presented an array OF
figures showing total senate estimator
receipts for the fiscal year 1898 OF $ijJ,6n,-
O7C. or an estimated excess OF receipts over
expenditures for that year Of SZ,I.0o2S.
The speaker said the committee believed
A. 10 be the imperative duty of Congress
10 provide I'm the measure under conside-
ration for "A revenue which VIII certainly
meet the requirements Of the government
for the next fiscal year. The adoption OF
"a revenue bin which should fail in this
purpose. and which would create an ad-
ditional deficiency "a the immediate fu-
ture. and which would require a further
issue or bonds TO meet current eXpendi-
tures would certainly be fatal to the
homes Of future success OF any political
party responsible for such legislation.
In selecting the sources for additional
rovenuc. the committee decided 10 in
crease temporarily the tax on articles OF
voluntary use. rather than to assess addi-
tional duties which might prove inopera-
tive upon articles OF necessity, or upon
those which enter into our manufactured
products ,,,,.,
Mr.. Aldrich tco2 up the various sche-
d,,lee and explained the changes made
a,s explanatlon Of the sugar schedule
MAS full and complete
sThe annual consumption Of sugar in
tho United States" he said sis about |
O0OO0 tons, with value based on for
eign prices. approNimating &O'otlt1 II |
no nigh duties proposed In either The |