The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-03-23
XLIId CONGRESS..SECOND SESSION.
SENATE.

tariff bill came up r.
Mr. Window asked unanimous consent that
the tariff bill be temporarily laid aside for the
purpose of passing this BIZ He stated that pc.
titions signed by 10000 soldiers were presented
in favor of the bill, and if not passed immedi-
ately it would be too late for the soldiers to get
hOmesteads this spring.
Mr. Sherman objected.
Mr.. Window to lay aside the tariff bill.
MI Sherman called for the yeas and nays
The motion was carried, yeas q, nays 10. The
soldiers homestead bill then came up.
Messrs. Logan Window and Stewart advO-
Gated it,
Mr.. Stewart said that this was the first sol
diers' bill that was not for the benefit of specu-
lators. The bill passed
The Vice President laid before the Senate a
memorial signed by over 400 Utah women,
strongly deprecating the admission of that ter
ritory into the Union as State
Bills repeatedly Mr.. Pomeroy, from the
Committee on Lands, to secure hOmesteads to
actual settlers on the public domain; repeating
the preemption laws and providing for home
stead settlements only; to incorporate the great
Salt Lake & Colorado River Railway Co. with
a grant of right of way
By Mr. Foreman, from the Committee on
Claims. providing for the payment to loyal cit
liens of Luodon county, Virginia, for property
taken by the military authorities of the United
States
by Mr.. Caldwell, from the Committee on
Private Land Claims, extending for three years
the act for a final adjustment of land claims in
Louisiana, Florida and Missouri.
Mr., Morrill, of Vermont introduced bill re-
pealing acts granting lands and certain privi-
leges in the Indian territory to railroad compa-
MES.
THE TARIFF DEBATE. TEA AND COFFEE PUT
ON THE FREE LIST.
The Senate resumed the tariff bill
Mr.. Corbett was entitled to the floor.
Mr.. Corbett criticised the bill as making too
great reduction of duties and ending to pro-
duce stagnation i'll trade, and argued as the
premium on gold went down, the necessity for
high productive duties increased. ss
Mr. Morton said that while prohibitory tariff
was an absOlete idea, free trade was out of the
question and that the doctrine generally ac-
cepted by the American people at this time
seemed to be a tariff for revenue so adjusted as
to discriminate in favor of American industry.
Upon this tariff question, political parties
were divided and the position of the Democrats
seemed to be that they We're opposed to a re-
duction on articles in which their particular
States were interested and in favor of liberal
upon all other articles.
Mr.. Hamilton of Maryland said that the
Democrats were in favor of reducing the duties
upon all articles.
Mr.. Morton read from the Democratic plat
form of 1868, on theq uestion of tariff, and said
he understood there was to be new party
opened in Cincinnati for the reception of bodies,
which bodies he thought would not be recog-
n:Zed after the meeting by their best friends-
That movement had started on free trade
basis, but it was feared that it would not work
well, so it is decided that it shall be neutral on
the tariff question.
The tariff, he said, was a question of labor
and wages more than anything else. Wages in
England were about 7-12 of American wages,
and in Germany and Belgium were only 1-3 as
much as in the United States, and with such
disparity in wages it was idle to suppose our in
dustries could thrive without protection. There
was an expression abroad that American man
ufacturs were making enormous profits. He
believed this ERRONEOUS as to the average
profit of manufacturing in Rhode Island with
in the last five years.
MIR. Anthony thought it could not be more
than 8 per cent.
Mr.. Morton asked Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont
his opinion on the subject.
Mr.. Morrill, said that during the war some of
the New England manufacturers made large
profits, chiefly by the great rise in the value of
the raw material they had on hand at the be-
age did not exceed per cent.
MIR. Morton asked Mr.. Scott to state the aver
age profits OF the iron manufacturers of Penn
sylvania.
Mr.. Scott could not state the average through
out the State, but said that in his region the
established manufactures had been able to
maintain themselves through the period of de-
preston that came upon the trade
MIR. Morton then said further that while he
he was in favor of tariff which would protect
industry, he did not favor prohibi-
tory tariff, but one which would produce a
healthy competition between American and
foreign producers The tariff could never be re-
garded as settled. 1t must be adjusted from
time to time. Passing to details he said he
was in favor of placing tea, coffee and coal on
the free list and reducing the duty on salt and
on textile fabrics. r4 o.tfs
Mr.. Morrill, of VT, thought we could not af-
ford to make tea and coffee free yet, but favor
elk reduction of the duty. Va
The question was taken up ON Mr.. SCOTS
amendment, putting tea on the free list and it
was agreed to-yeas, Messrs. Alcorn, Anthony
Foreman, Caldwell, Cameron, Chandler, Clayton,
Cooper, Corbett, Davis of West Virginia, Ed
munds, Ferry of Michigan, Frelnghuysen,
Gilbert Goldwaithe, Hill, Hitchcock, Howe,
Kellogg, Kelly, Morton, Norwood, Nye, Osborn,
Pomeroy, Pratt, Ramsay, Rice, Robertson,
Sawyer, Scott, Stewart, Vickers, West and
Nays Messrs. Ames, Blair, Conkling, Fen
ton, Hamilton of Nd, Hamlin, Johnston,
Morrill, of VT, Schurz, Sherman, Sumner,
Trumbull and Wright.-13. -
Mr.. Morrill, of VT, moved to strike out the
second section of the bill reducing ten per cent.
metals, earthenware, glassware, leather rub
Der, oil cloth, SC.
Mr.. Sherman favored the motion and said if
Mr. Morrill, had not anticipated him, he would
have moved on behalf of the Committee to
strike out the second section and also retain
the duty ON rice and other articles. He argued
that the question of repeating duties on tea and
coffee was now settled and advised the business
Of the country to make their arrangements &C
cordingly, but putting those articles on the free
list would strike tff $31 900, 900 of revenue
and no further material reduction of tariff
could be made unless we were to retain our in
ternal revenue taxes and stop all payment ON
the principle on the national debt.
Mr.. Trumbull argued that the second section
onght to be retained, because the articles en-
braced in it were largely used by the masses and
in fact were necessaries of life.
At g. Is o'clock the Senate without voting on
the pending question, adjourned to Monday
HOUSE.
Mr.. Myers of Pennsylvania, presented me-
mortal of the National Board, asking such mod
ifications as the dignity of the importation law
of 1870 as will signify the entries required at
port arrivals, and allow wines and distilled spr-
its the advantages conferred by said act.
Mr.. McCrary of Iowa, from the Committee
on Elections, reported a resolution to pay Mr..
Cessena of Pennsylvania, the unsuccessful con-
testant for the seat of b. +. Myers, $448O for
expenses, which was adopted.
large number of private bills were reported
and passed.
The remainder of the day was given to bust
ness of the District of Columbia. The session
tomorrow is to be for debate only
NEW YORK.
WHAT STOKES SAYS OF THE ERIE RING
New York, March 22.-The Brooklyn Eagle
publishes an interview with Stokes, the muir
derer of Fisk, who says that Hank Smith was
made Police Commissioner by money of the
Erie ring for the purpose of securing control of
the police in case of need. He charges that the
Indictment against himself for conspiracy was
q put up job between the Erie ring and District
Attorney Garvin, and procured ON the evidence
of prostitutes and discharged English convicte
and that over $40, 10000 Of fraudulent vouch-