The Topeka state journal., 1897-03-27
JUGGLING
: FIGURES.
Each Side in the Tariff Debate
is Trying
To Prove Its Case by Manipula-
ting the Same Figures.
WALKERS PROPHESY.
He Predicts That All the Rail
roads Eventually
Will Be Controlled by a Single
Corporation.

Washington. March 27-Despite the
admonition of Mr.. Dingley just before
the house adjourned yesterday to the
Republican members to be on hand
promptly at 10 o'clock this morning to
prevent possible delays for the lack of
a quorum, there were only 81 members
present when the house met today.
Mr.. Richardson Oem. Tenn) prompt
ly blocked proceedings, but the mem
bers streamed in rapidly. and in Is
minutes a quorum had appeared. The
to offer amendments from time to time
and these were mostly adopted without
opposition. The rates on acetate of
white lead was increased from 312 to
cents per pound; in colors from 21z to 3
cents.
In the course of some remarks on
these increases, Mr.. Richardson declar-
ed that the rates in II out of IA sched-
ules of the bill were higher than those
of the Mckinley law.
Mr.. DOckery Oem. MOI asked how
the statement could be reconciled with
Mr.. Dingley'S statement that the rates
in this bill averaged between the rates
1890.
Mr.. Richardson replied that the COM
parative statement did not support Mr..
Dingley's assertion Mr.. Richardson
IF the wrath of the American people
were visited on the Republicans for en-
acting the Mckinley law, he continued,
what will they do to you for the en-
actment of this bill? In the language
of the street boy, will be a plenty"
Mr.. Dingley in reply said that Mr..
Richardson's remarks only illustrated
what could be done by juggling with
percentages.
Except for the increase in the rate
of tobacco, sugar and silks, the rates in
this bill, he said, were lower than those
of the Mckinley law.
During a discussion concerning a
duty on hides, Mr.. Hopkins (Rep. IIl.)
said there was no demand for such
duty.
Mr.. Walker CRep. Mass) explained
that there were few hides imported ex-
cept those used for sole leather, so that
duty on hides would be of little bene-
fit to the farmers. If a duty on hides
would increase their production in this
country, he said, the Republican side
would be unanimously in favor of such
a duty.
With regard to trusts Mr.. Walker ar
gued that great combinations neces-
Sarily reduced the cost of production
and consequently the prce to the peO-
pie Trusts We're the natural outcome
OFF higher civilization. He predicted that
eventually all the railroads in the coun-
try would be controlled by single cor
pOratiOn.
There was a sharp exchange of per-
sOnalitieS between Mr.. Grow (Etep. Pa-)
and Mr. Vandiver Oem. Mo- The for
mer was explaining how the duty on tin
plate had established that industry in
this country. and he and Mr.. Nandiver
became involved in a personal contro-
Versy over the question of who paid the
tax arising from an increased tin plate
duty.
Mr.. Simpson Pop Kan) after remark
ing on the conspicuous part played by
Mr.. Grow during the stirring days of
the war, said that lit was sad to see
him now the defender of trusts and
combines whose purpose was to en-
slave the American people"
Mr. Simpson referring to the question
of free hides, said that a duty on hides
would be of mora Importance to the
farmer than all the other duties in the
agricultural schedule. 1t would mean
an increase of 81 a piece on every one
of the 5,422. coo hides taken from the
cattle slaughtered last year.
Mr.. Payne (Rep. n. " insisted that
Mr.. Simpson entirely misunderstood the
questido. The hides imported did not
come into competition with American
hides. The former were used almost
exclusively for sole leather