The Washington times., 1909-03-29
OLLIE JAMES TAKES
FLING AT TARIFF BILL

Representative Ollie James, Dem,
Ky.), opened the second week Of gen
eral discussion on the Payne bin when
the House met today at 10 o'clock.
The Kentuckian, who is one of Champ
Clarks ablest lieutenants, undertook
particular discussion of the reasonable
profit as applied in the making of a
tariff. Re injected considerable humor
into the debate by declaring in mock
alarm that ne noticed fossils were on
the free list.
Beading from the dictionary. he told
the House that a fossil was person
who was in sympathy with former
times-a man cut of date. Then he de-
clared that the Republican idea in al
lowing fossils free was to hll up the
franks OF protectiOpists-
Instead of making infant industries
stand on their own feet" he said. you
propose to make them stand OF every
body else's feet. II viii be dangerous
10 the Republican party to play both
ends against the middle with the farm
er and the laboring man. So far as the
farmer goes, the tariff is not only de-
lrsion and a snare, but a consummate
fraud"
Oyster Shells as Food
James said he was interested in some
OF the remarkable things in the bill
cutch, for instance. He found, he said
upon looking the matter up, that this
was oyster shells. Then he suggested
that those who will be beggared by the
Payne bill might be expected by the
Republican party to cultivate taste for
this as food-it being free.
RE landed Carnegie and expressed
himself as disappointed with President
TAFT because he had so far not com
mitted himself as TO what "a reason
able profit meant. He poked fun at
Longworth, who, he said, was evidently
TaftS voice on the floor lust as he was
Roosevelts; In the latter case the rea-
con being that he was a member Of the
family.
Hits at Trusts.
James took hot shots at the Lumber
trust, the Sugar trust, and the TObac-
co trust OF the sugar combine he de-
clared that the bill gave them / cent
per pound on sugar above the cost Of
labor and all that might legitimately
be called profit.
The Tobacco trust. ne characterized
Hs a heartless monopoly fOstered by
dhe Republican party. When all is
done and the bill passed" he said, the
trusts can say we have looked the
Payne bin over, and, thank God, there
is loot enough in il for US all "
James declared tnat he would offer
an amendment to the Dill providing for
ali income tax. He quoted extensively
from a speech by PTeSident-then Sec
retary of War-Taft, expressing his ia
vor of the proposition. James declared
that he believed that since the decision
holding that tax unconstitutional, thir-
teen years ago, that the Supreme Court
had changed. and that, with Taft, he
believed they would now hold such
law constitutional
Cushman Adds Laurels.
Representative Cushmar (Rep., Wash
ington) added further undying laurels
10 his crown as the House humorist in
his discussion Of the tariff. THE mi
nority side" said Cushman, walls over
the high cost OF living, but neglects TO
speak of higher wages. II there is ever
a Democratic leader VINO conSratulates
the country on high wages I'd be glad
81 he would wire me collect During
the Democratic rule, the horizon was
one glad landscape Of patches and
ragged clothes The American pOsterIOr
was either decorated with a patch OF
d puncture.'
WeIsse (Dem.. Wis., had quite con-
trOVsTSy with Cushman over his figures
of labor employment The Wisconsin
Congressman read from Bradstreets re-
port that there were 20 per cent OF the
labOriHS people idle. CUshman denied
II vigorously, and read some OF the
Signs for help wanted that he had seen
during the panic on tie streets Of
Spokane
Il contend he said. that the wage
list and not the price list is the truest
scale OF American prosperity"
Charged the Liver
Throughout his speech Cushman wan
dered into anecdote and reminiscence.
He told OF a laborer Of his acquaintance
whom he saw recently purchase two
thick pOrteThOuse steaks a one dollar
per steak. and tender a ten-dollar gold
piece in payment.
And this same man. he said, dur
ing Democratic control l saw purchase
ten cents worth Of liver and have il
charged. There are "a thousand years OF
progress from ten cents worth of liver
charged 10 two dollars worth Of por-
taThOuse paid for"
Cushman declared be was a high pro-
tectiOnist- He said the admission OF
free coal meant death blow 70 his
State and a thrust at the 24OO0 people
concerned in that Industry there.