National Republican., 1883-01-16
THE SENATE.

A large number of petitions, memorials, and
remoustranccs werc presented in the senate
yesterday, and several bills were introduced.
At the close of the morning hour Mr.. Jones,
of Nevada moved to postpone the calendar in
order TO take up the bill for the relief of Ben
Holiday. The motion was agreed TO by n
vote Of 50 to z, and the Holiday bill was
taken up, tho question being on Mr.. plumb's
motion to substitute for il the bill TO enlarge
tho powers and duties of
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
Mr.. Davis of West Virginia, spoke in favor
of the passage of the latter bill. The pros
perity, and indeed, the life of q country de-
pended largely upon its industrial pursuits,
the chief Of which were agriculture, mi ming
manufacturing and commerce, and itwas &C.
cssary that there should be % separate de-
partment of the government to care for the
greatest of these-agriculture To the oh
lection that IL is undesirable to multiply d O.
partments, Mr.. Davis replied that of the sew en-
existing departments five were establish ed
when the population of the country was less
than four millions; that IL was found ncces.
sary to increase the number of departments
with the growth of the country that our de-
partments arc fewer than those of foreign
kONtIuLl tltJ tJlllhlnbllNo tibLlNulAulc
were established, or about to be establi shed,
N the leading countries of Europe. Russia,
Prussia Austria and France each spent an
nually more money for the benefit of agricul-
ture than we spent in decade, and England
had recently sent u committee to America to
investigate the subject of agriculture. Tho
report of that committee, very interesting
document had led to the creation of n depart
ment of agriculture in the English govern
Tho inpDrtuupn attached tn this great
interest in England was illustrated by this
action and also by the fact that the British
parliament contains 363 farmers and only 105
lawyers while i'll our congress there are but
16 farmers to 252 lawyers.
Mr.. Davis embodied in his speech several
interesting tables. One of these showed, he
said, that about 80 per cent. OF our exports is
derived from agriculture. Another showed
that the average duty on articles used by the
farmers of the country was about 40 per cent.
From another it appeared that the value of
our corn, hay, and cotton crop alone for n sim
gle year was 81, 400, 100000, and according to
the estimate of the bureau of agriculture the
entire farm products in 1881 were worth about
three and one-half billions-more than our
entire national debt. Much was heard about
the mines of California and Nevada, yet the
value of the annual wheat product of those
states was greater than the value of their
mineral products, and the total value of the
crops of this country for u year would prob
ably exceed that of all tho gold and silver
money in the world. Agriculture contributed
not only S0per cent Of our exports, but also
about 80 per cent. of our internal revenue,
tobacco being direct product Of the soil and
whiskey an indirect one.
The creation of an executive department of
agricultural, as proposed by the bill reported
by the senate committee would not be costly.
The organization of the existing bureau would
he transferred to the new department, and the
total additional outlay required would not eX-
coed $1,000. In connection with this qucs-
tion of expense, Mr.. Davis spoke of the num-
'ber ofemployes in,tho government departments
and submitted q table showing the incrcase-at
different periods. In 1903 there were 102 such
employees; i'll 1860, about ], 300; ; in 1882 6,2S6,
and in 1883, 1880. Thus it appeared that the
increarc in single year, from 1882 to
1883, was greater than the whole number of
employees in the departments in 1860, and
these figures did not include the persons en-
ploycd in the bureau of engraving and print
ing, the coast survey, or the government
printing office. Mr.. Davis did not now COM
plain of the increase shown by these figures
he called attention to it as illustrating the
growth of the country and the reasonableness
of creating this new department of the gov
'Crnment. Tho Treasury department was now
so large that the secretary could hardly sec
oven his leading subordinates once in week,
and it would probably be necessary before
long TO divide it into two--onc II receiving
and the other paying department.
Mr.. Morrill, made an argument against the
bill for
THE RELIEF OF BEN HoLLADAY.
If it were passed il would establish n precc-
dent which would make the government an
insurer of mail contractors, II class which had
notoriousy got rich out of the government,
against any losses they might sustain from
Indian dcprcdations.
Mr.. Cameron, of Wisconsin, said that the
committee on claims in reporting this bill
had not intended to assent to the idea that the
government was to be regarded as an insurer,
but had treated the case of Mr.. Holiday as
an exceptional one, and had given its reasons
for SO uOing.
Mr.. Morrill, was willing that the claimant
should be paid for any property Of his that
was taken blythe military authorities, but he
supposed that if any property was taken in
that way it was receipted and paid for long
ago,
Mr.. Cameron asked to have the report of
the committee read, but before tho reading
could be finished the morning hour expired,
and
THE TARIFF BILL
came up as the unfinished business. The in |
ternal revenue section of the bill having been
reserved by general consent last week, to be
considered hereafter, the senate resumed the
consideration of the tariff schedule.
Mr.. Hale moved to make the duty on deX-
trine, burnt starch, gum substitute or British
gum, two cents per pOuhu lhsteHu OF ~ per |
cent. ad valorem, as provided in the bill.
Mr.. Morrill, offered an amendment, which |
Mr. Hale accepted making it one cent per
pound. The amendment as amended was lost |
ayes 2i noes %.
MIR. VGnce moved to reduce the rate on re-
fined cumphor from five cents per pound, as |
in the BILL to three cents. Lost.
Mr.. Miller, of New York, offered an amend |
mont making the duty on hemlocll and other
bark used for tanning mot otherwise enumer- |
ated) 90 per cent. ad valorem,
Mir. Hoar moved to make it 10 per cent |
Lost.
Mr.. Miler's amendment was agreed TO.
On motion OF Mr.. Garland, cotton-seed oil |
was included among the oils on which the !
duty is 20 cents per gallon
Mr.. Vance moved to reduce the duty on !
resublimed sodine from 40 cents per pound to |
10 per cent. Lost.
On motion OF Mr.. Dawes, the duty on as |
bcstOs (manuiacturcd) was raised from 20 to !
% per cent. nd valOrem
On motion of Mr.. Aldrich, the ratio on |
whiting and paris white, ground in oil orputty, |
was fixed at one cent per pound.
Mr., German moved TO make the duty ON hi |
chromate of potash three-and-a-half, instead |
OF three cents per pound.
After some debate Mr. ingalls, rose TO move |
TO strike out the item, with the view of put |
ting bichrOmate of potash on the free list; but !
Mr.. Window, having been previously rocog- !
uiZpd. made "A nation n 90 into pvpputiVp J