New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-11
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
THE HOUSE AND THE TARIFF BILL.
A DAY OF SHARP AND ANGRY DEBATE-LITTLE
PROGRESS MADE.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBUNE.l

Ell
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1O.-Absenteesm from the
House is growing evil, especially among Republ-
cans. At noon to-day the number of Repub-
licans IN their seats was dozen less than
the number OF Democrats; altogether there was
less than aquorum. Again, at 4:3O this afternoon,
the Committee of the Whole was compelled to sus-
pend business and the House to adjourn because
Representatives had deserted their posts until less
than quorum remained. The roll was not called and
therefore the deserters escaped having their names
officially recorded. Mr.. Moore made short speech
to-day in which, after describing in plain terms the
obstructive course of the Democrats, he spoke in
equally plain language about absenteeism on the
Republican side.
The fight over the duty on iron and steel cotton-ties
renewed with great spirit this morning, another
full hour being allotted for debate the paragraph
There was sharp competition among Representatives
from the Cotton States for place in the front rank
during the fray, and such of them as could obtain
recognition made fiery speeches. denOuncing the
tariff robbers" who sell cotton ties to
Southern planters for cents per pound and buy
them back at the price of cotton-10 or IL cents
per pound. Mr. Aiken, of South Carolina, spoke of
"New-England liberality" as an unknown guam
tity y; Mr. Blanchard, of Louisiana, said the South
ern planters and laborerS arc to be taxed 100000
year in order to enrich the owners of ten cotton
tie factories n the North.
Mr.. Brumm supported the bill, and again
exposed the narrowness and inconsistencies of the
sO-called tariff Democrats" "Touch hemlock
bark or charcoal iTon," he said land Governor
Curtin is up in arms for protection to American in
dustry. Attempt to lay a finger on glass, and In
diana and ST. Louis Democratic Representatives
are fierce in their demands for protection"
The Southern Representatives again asserted that
Northern ~
by net weight, but Major McKn-
ley and Mr.. Cbace, of Rhode Island
fully exposed the falsty of this assertion the for
mer by letters and kilograms from manufacturers
and the latter by letters from the superintendent
of the New-York Cotton Exchange and by dealers
in cotton for home consumption as well as for ex-
port Major Mckinley dwelt upon the injustice of
allowing cotton ties, which are a manufacture of
hoop iron, to come In at 50 per cent
ad valorem. when hoop iron itself is taxed 1 2-10
cents and Clio cents per pound.
Considerable excitement and anxiety were mani
Tested while the vote was being taken on Colonel
Mackey's amendment making the rate 80 per cent
ad valorem instead of 40 cents per pound
as recommended by the Ways AID Means
Committee. The amendment was rejected
81 to 1O1. Messrs. Anderson BiSbee, Gambler,
Mackey, Smalls Hubbs, and one or two other
Republicans, voted III the affirmative, and
Messrs. Hardenbergh, Musgrove, Wise PENN and
ETmentrout in the negative. The other five So
called tariff Demonfats from Pennsylvania, incud-
ing Mr. Randall and Mr. Curtin, "dodged" every
vote. The Southern men very indignant and
threw out dark hints that they will get even" with
Randall and his crowd before very long. An hour
was spent in voting upon various amendments. all
looking to a reduction. but the Democrats at last
gave up the fight and the rate stands IS fixed by
the bill.
There was brisk discussion upon an amendment
offered by Mr. Dunnell to reduce the duty on cut
nails and spikes from Il cents per pound to cent
Nj. Anderson made very violent speech, denOunc-
ing the Iron mOnopolists of Pennsylvania aud |
warning his Republican associates that they could |
not afford to stand by this "iniqutous system |
Mr. TOwnshend read from the report of Mr. Fosters
testimony before Senate committee this week on
the condition of the operatives in gland fac
tories Mr. Russell, OF Massachusetts, replied that Mr..
Fosters statements were uutruthful, and to show
the comfortable and prosperous condition of opera
tives in Massachusetts, stated that in his own city
of Lawrence 1900 of the 200 dwelling houses are |
owned by mill operatives, mechanics and other |
working people. The amendment was lost-71 to
81. Mr.. Dunnell also offered an amendment |
to reduce the rate on horseshoe nails etc. from |
cents TO 3 cents per pound. This also rejected |
after lively discussion Messrs. Aiken, Buchanan
and Mills undertook discipline a brother Demo
crat, Mr.. Hewitt of Alabama on account of certain
sentiments ayowed by him few days ago in
favor OF prOtectiue tariff on IRON.
" Did not you run for Congress Oh Free-Irade
platform = shouted Mills When the excitement
had reached the boiling point Mr.. Hewitt replied,
e No. stood where | now stand, i'll favor of a rev.
enue tariff with incidental protection to American
Industries" do you mean to say that you do
not support the National Democratic plat
form of tariff for revenue onlyi7 thun-
dered Mills, laying great stress on the
word only" That does not mean Tree trade"
protested Mr.. Hewitt, among hostile shouts from
the free-trade Democrats around him. ayes il
does, yes it does. What else does it mean ~ came
from angry voices on every. side. Vainly SIR.
Hewitt tired to give his definition OF the famous
to listen and cred hin 1'''t down, ''iD Mf a.
Mills who was terribly excited cXcaiming; You
JON with the Republicans i'll attack ug aud discreet
ting the National Democratic platform. nope YOU
VIII have happy time in Alabama"
The only change made today affecting rates w9s |
one reducing IRON y cents per pound 10 If cents
the rateon non or steel railway fish plates ana
spl.e bars. On motion Of Chairman Kelley
the paragraph imposing duty OF Ii CENTS
per pound on iron castinggnot specially enumerated
was made 10 include cast-lTon vessels plates Stove
plates, aDullOns saulTOus talOrs irons and hatefs
irons, and on motion OF Mr. Diugey, the paragraph
making the rate on anvIls cents Der pound was |
enlarged so as to embrace anchors aud paris thereof
mill irons, mill ciauks OF wrought IRON wrought
iron for ships, steam engines aud locouOt y. \ and
parts thereof weighing more than twenty-five
pounds.
TARIFF AND REVENUE IN THE SENATE.
SLOW WORK On COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS SENATOR
HILL OPPOSES A REDUCTION OF REVENUE.
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUSEl
WASHINGTON, Feb 10.-When the Tariff hill |
came up the Senate to-day Senator
Hill, who had not burdened The Record
with any remarks during the entire discussion |