Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-18
WIT OF JOHNSTON
TICKLES SENATE
Alabama Senator Assails Tariff
Revision in Speech Astounding
With Humor and Caustic Crit
icism as Colleagues Laugh.

5 WASHINGTON, May ia speech by
Senator Johnston, OF Alabama. abound
Ing with huulor and caustic criticism, d.
rected toward the pending tarin BILL
caused much amusement in the senate
today.
Senator Johnston began his remarks by
humOrOusly analyzing the free list car
ried by the measure.
s'Having waded through 192 pages OF
this biIl.-. he SAID. Il struck the free LIST
and the thirteenth item that appeared in
this privileged class was 'Apatite.' A lit
tie further on 1 found that teeth. natural,
or manufactured. were let in free, L
suppose to wait upon apatite and do its
perfect work l thought these were the
cruelest things in the whole bill; that af-
ter putting a duty OF 5 per cent pound
on hams and bacon and about 50 per cent
on every article necessary TO sustain life.
the trainers OF the bin should turn loose
free appetites and free teeth.
APATITE VS.. APPETITE.
"Distrusting the apparent error in spell
ing' the word. finally consulted the die
tionary AMI found that the word 'apatite'
was not the good. old-fashioned craving
for something TO eat, which seems to be
constantly increasing under Republican
administration. but was a vitreous, sea-
green, brown. blue-black. white, etc.
Transparent to opaque. calcium chloro-
phosphate or iOuphOsphate. usually crys-
tallizing in hexagOnal prisms; used form
erly as q gem and called moroxite;' and
that this word was derived from the
Greek 'apate.' which meant deceit This
Is a good word to put in this bill. I was
greatly relieved. / knew how the people
must crave for this deceitful gem and
how little use they had for a good. old
fashioned English appetite. They will not
have the least use for either natural or
artificial teeth IL this exOrbitant protec-
tive tariff continues TO increase and the
trusts 10 multiply.
whether or not" he said, there has
been a compliance with the platform OF
the Republican party, or the recOmmen-
dalton Of the president. or the expecta-
tons OF the country. / viii undertake 10
say that OF the fourteen schedules OF the
bill containing some thousands Of articles.
that in nine of these the duties have been
raised two remain the same as in the
Dlngley act. and in three only is there
m apparent reduction"
ANSWERS ALDRICH
Referring 10 Mr.. AldTich's- statement
that administrative features Of the bill
would prevent undervaluatiOns practiced
under existing law. ''variOusly estimated
at from ten 10 twenty-five per cent Of the
revenue collection" Mr.. Johnston de-
c1ared that this was an admission that
the duties would be increased to that ex-
tent.
''Republicans are amusing themselves
said Mr.. Johnston. by charging that
Democrats are leaning TO protection. be-
cause they desire 10 see the products OF
their states treated fairly. When we find
ourselves confronted with a bill framed
IN protective lines we want 10 see il made
equal and fair in it's operation upon all
sections OF the country.
We do not want a protective tariff for
one. section and free trade for another;
that would not only. compel the people of
one section 10 pay their share Of the bur
dens OF government. but at the same time
compel them TO pay tribute to another
section SO far as I have observed not a
single Democrat has advocated protection
for a single article and in no case so far
As I have observed has a proposal been
made 10 impose a revenue duty greater
than 20 De cent. whilst the average rate
under this bill is nearly IS per cent.
ONLY THREE REDUCTIONS.
Reductions have been made in this bill
IN only three schedules and IL is notice
able that two OF these include articles
largely produced in the south and in the
other the reduction is less than one per
cent Protection has enough sins TO an
swer for without adding 10 them unfair
discrimination
GORE STARTS DEBATE.
As soon as a quorum was announced in
the senate today. Mr.. Gore, the blind SEN
ator from Oklahoma. precipitated a live
- debate by asking immediate considera-
ton OF a resolution instructing the COM
mittee on finance TO obtain by investiga-
ton the import prices of various articles
OF general and ordinary consumption and
also the wholesale and retail prices of
such articles when used in this country.
The object Of the resolution Is to deter
mine whether the retailers Of the country
are rracticing extOrtiOn. In moving the
resolution be referred to the committee
on finance. Nr. Hale said il conferred no
new authority upon that committee and
could only embarrass II.
Senator Gore declared that the retail
dealers had been held up before the coun-
try as practicing extortion and he wanted
10 have the facts TO determine whether
that was true
IF the retail men are robbers" he said
They should be held up TO the wrath
and execration OF their countrymen."
Mr. Gore said he had Investigated and
found that the pitchers referred to by
Senator Scott as selling wholesale at 20
cents a dozen, retailed at fifteen and
sometimes ten cents each instead Of %