Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 March 1892 — TARIFF BATTLE BEGUN. [ARTICLE]

TARIFF BATTLE BEGUN.

VI’MILLIN LEADS THE ATTACK ON THE M’KINLEY LAW. Die Tennessee Congrestmsnt Speaking on the Free Wool Hill, Denounces Class Taxation as Robbery—Mr. Dingley Answers on Behalf of the Minority. Talking Tariff'. The annual battle over the tariff befan In the House of Representatives vith the speeches of Representatives ifcMlllin and Dingley for and against ;he free-wool bill. No session of Congress Is complete without its tariff itruggle, but the struggle which began lie other day was regarded as of unuslal importance, coming as it does on the ive of a Presidential election in which I will be the main issue. The opening speeches, according to a N ashington dispatch, were in no sense Iramatic. Mr. McMillin made his speech I rom notes but often laid them aside to >arry the questions which were fired at lim from every quarter. He had a bowl >f bouillon before him of which he frejuently partook to strengthen his voice. Hr. Burrows sat in his seat immediately n front, nervously tearing paper to bits ind thereby irritating Mr. McMillin. The galleries were well crowded long >efore the hour of the opening and the mblic interest manifested in the debate vas greater than on any previous day of he session.

To Representative Blount of Georgia, i clear-headed parliamentarian of tweny years congressional experience, was iwarded the honor by the Speaker and he Committee on Ways and Means of (residing over the committee of the vhole, and when he wearied now and hen of his arduous labors Representa‘ave Kilgore, the giant statesman of Texas, was called on to assume the ;uvel. In the days of long political vrangling that are to follow in the ommittee of the whole Speaker Grisp vill find the respite that he has so much lesired. At the opening of the lebate he occupied a seat in the jalleries and was as interested an mdilor as any of the other 2,000 visitors vlio bent eagerly forward to catch every vord of the partisan orations of the day. The well-crowded newspaper galleries attested the public interest that is being 'elt in the discussion of the issues now >efore the House, and the little group hat gathered in the diplomatic gallery ihowed that this interest in the revenue question and the attempted modification >f existing tariff laws is share d by some >f the nations across the waters. But he crowning indication of the importin ce of the discussion was in the deep • ttention which the members themselves r ave to the two speakers who repre.ented the two great parties on the question for solution. Mr. McMillin devoted his attention to i review of the McKinley law and its (fleet upon commerce, the industries and he wage-workers of the country, and dr. Dingley sought to defend and justify that law, and insisted that the high(st commercial wisdom justified its per>etuity. « Senator Carlisle, under whose leaderihip as Speaker of past Democratic louses the tariff debate in this latter lalf of the century was revived, found he occasion one of such charm that ho est that seat in the upper body to which le has been called by the Blue Grass State and was an attehtlve listener to he eloquent arguments of Representaive McMillin. No less vigilant was the attention vith which ex-Speaker Reed noted every irgument, not only of his friend but of ds political opponent as well, and now md then there was a twinkle in his eyo is he doubtless meditated on and stored iway in his memory a response to be nade to the democratic arguments when lis day should come. Both the speakers vere frequently applauded by their )arty colleagues, and as each man relumed his seat he was the recipient of varm congratulations and a bouquet of nammoth proportions. The tariff battle will probably be kept ip for the remainder of the session with nterruption from time to time for other msiness. As is known, the illness of Hr. Springer prevented his opening the lebate. Mr. Mills was absent on aciount of sickness. Mr. Springer was re ry anxious to speak on the free-wool Jill, and ever since his severe illness las expressed the hope that his reiovery would be speedy enough “to idmit of his closing the debate. This, it is evident, will be imlossible, for if he recovers, as he physicians are now quite hopeul he may, he will have to leave lor a health resort as s on as he is able » stand a journey. It is expected that vote will be taken on the wool bill toon. After (hat all the time not absoutely necessary for other matters will >e devoted to the consideration of other ariff trills. A very large number of nembers have already asked for time 'or speeches on the subject.