The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-27
National House Has Been Given
Unanimous Consent
To Sit From 8 O'clock to 1890
Every Evening.
MANY WANT TO TALK.
Congressman LOngwOrth, Chic,
Defends Payne Bill.
Says 1t FuIfiIls Pledge of the
Chicago Platform.

Washington, March 27.-In order to
expedite discussion of the traiff bill
In the house, unanimous consent today
was given that the sessions hereafter
should begin at 10 o'clock instead of
II o'clock a. m, that recess should
be taken at o'clock and that resum
ing at o'clock the sessions should
continue until 1890 p. m, each day.
The request for unanimous consent
was made by Mr.. Payne, who said
forty or fifty members already had in
dicated their desire to speak.
Mr.. Clark of Missouri, the minority
leader, asked how long general debate
would continue He said he was much
embarrassed by his lack of informa-
ton. When his Democratic colleagues
asked for time in which to speak he
found it difficult to make allotments.
Mr.. Payne replied that he was suf-
fering under a similar embarrassment,
but did not supply the information de-
sired.
without any intimation having been
given as to when the general debate
on the measure would cease. the bill
was laid before the house. Mr.. Har-
rison of New York, the new Demo-
cratic member of the committee on
ways and means. at once took the
floor.
He was followed by Representative
Nicholas Longworth.
practical fulhllment of the pledge
made eight months ago to the
American people by the Republican
party, Representative Longworth
spoke in defense of its various pro-
visions. He reviewed the campaign
promises of the Democratic party and
said that the minority members of
the ways and means committee had
just as much opportunity to prepare
q bill as the majority.
Mr.. Longworth declared that the
Republican members of the COM
nittee do not claim that the Payne
bill is in all respects perfect
FuI6Ils a Pledge.
I'VE do claim for it, however" he
said that it represents bona fide
revision of thetariff, from top to bot
tom and that it is especially literal
compliance with the pledge of the
Republican platform and with the re-
peated declarations of the leader of
our party, the president of the United
States"
Mr.. Longworth declared that the
Payne bill is intended to produce more
revenue than the Dingley bill. He
said he thought that the Chicago plat
for mconveyed a promise, at least i'm
piled. that the tariff schedules should
be adjusted downward. "The Repub-
Gcan party always has favored and al
ways will favor the policy of protec-
ton" he added. but we do nit favor
rates so high as to shelter monopolies
and which amount, in effect, to prohi-
bition.''
Mr.. Longworth presented figures
tending to show that the average ID
valorem under the Payne bill is a re
duction in the ad valorem average of
the Dingley bill of 22O per cent.
He defended the expenditures of
the government. Mr.. Longworth said
that coal and iron ore have been
placed on the free list and the lum-
ber tariff cut in half in order to con-
form with the proposed conservation
of the natural resources. Mr.. Long
worth said the maximum and mini
mum provisions were destined to pre-
vent retalia tory measures on the part
of other nations. He said that the
Payne bill would produce a revenue
amply sufficient to meet the require
ments of the most progressive govern
ment in the world.
''It protects every American indus
try. north, south, east and west he
added. ''It guarantees to every man
who wants tot work steady employ
ment at steady wages, and wages i'm
mensely higher than those paid in any
other country under the sun. 1t is a
revision downward"