The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-02-03
XLVI CONGRESS--2d Session
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8.
Mr. Hoar present q petition OF President
Giiot and otheI professors OF Harvard, asking
tnat no one but professional astronomers OF
experience shall be hereafter eligible for the
position Of superintendent OF the United States
naval observatory, and that the new obserya-
tory shall be planned and built under the di-
rection of commission of scientific men. Re-
ierred to the committee on naval affairs
Mr.. Pendleton introduced bill to amend
the national bank act.
Inc tariff bill was taken up.
MI Bayard inquired whether the chairman
o. The commi.tee expected the session to con-
inue into the evening.
Senate to sit until in the evening, with the
hope OF finishing the bill this week. (Derisive
lauohter)
The President-U Until what hour?
Mr.. Morrill, do not name any hour.
Inc paragraph embracing. potato, corn and
nee starch, reserved yesterday, was taken up.
Mr. Hale moved TO make the duty on potato
OF corn starch two cents per pound.
Mr. Bayard opposed this as another instance
OF seeking to protect local industry without
regard to the interests of the community gen.
orally andt said that a tariff working upon
such plan would become mere scramble for
the spolls OF legislation.
Mr. hale denied that this was the case of q
local industry, seeking undue protection. For
the iast ten years the starch manufacturers
nave oeen barely able to hold their own against
Cahada and German competition and If the
duty were reduced as proposed in the pending
Dill 70 one cent per pound, they would be-
driven out OF existence. This would leave the
control OF our markets to Canadians and Ger
mans who won Id not be very likely in such q
case to redag,s the price to the consumer.
Mr.. Hale's amendment making the duty on
potato and corn starch tive cents per pound
was agreed to.
The rats on rice and other starches was left
at TWO and one-half cents per pound as in the
bill.
The Senate passed to the consideration OF
the cotton and cotton goods schedule.
After some debate Mr.. Coke said he would
vote for free wool if New England would
agree to reduce the duty ON manufactured
woolen goods TO % per cent.
Mr. Frye said he believed New England
manufacturers would accept the offer with
pleasure.
At 6.35 the vote was taken on Mr.. Harris
amendment to make the duty on cotton yarn,
etc., 30 per cent ad valoren, which resulted in
nv quorum voting.
Mr.. Edmunds moved to direct the sergeant
at-srms to request the attendance of absent
Senators, and pending this motion Mr.. Vance
moved 10 adjourn Lost.
Mr.. Edmunds insisted on his motion to di-
rect the ereesntal-arms TO request the at
tendance OF absent Senators Agreed to.
Mr.. Anthony of Rhode Island had read
letter from the architect of the capitol Stating
that the government printing Office was la u
dangerous condition from the overcrowding OF
the upper stories with heavy machinery, and
introduced a joint resolution directing the
public printer to render the building entirely
safe ana appropriauing $500 for this purpose
and TO pay for tue storage OF the properly else
where. Passed
MIR. Morgan addressed the Senate on the
pending amen lment. In the course Of his rs-
marks he went into The consideration Of labor
ps4fa sfkanf nf
mlttee on education and labor to take action
on the resolution offered by him last session
for the investigation Tor the condition Of labor
III this country.
Mr.. Blair, chairman of that committee, stat
ed that the question was now being investi-
gated.
Oh Mr. Harris amendment the vote stood,
ayes IL, nays 2-no quorum. After roll call
the vote Was again announced with the same
result.
Another roll call disclosed the presence of
10 Senators, more thar quorum. A vote Was
No quorum.
Another roll call showed that Al Senator'S
We Q present.
AT conclusion of the call Mr.. Morrill, moved
to adjourn.
Mr.. Edmunds demanded a division, The
motion was carried by vote of 20 to 6, and at
ten minutes past 10 the Senate adjourned
HOUSE.
On motion of Mr.. Lynch of Mississippi the
Senate JOINT resolution was passed presenting
the thanks OF Congress to John S. Slater of
Tue Speaker named conference committee
on the post office appropriation bill
The House went into committee on the tar
IF bill, the pending amendment being that off
cred by Mr.. Curtin Of Pennsy lvania to increase
the duty on tanning bark from 10 to 20 per
cent.
Mr.. Bowman of Massachusetts, opposed the
aspendment on the ground that the proposed
rate OF 10 per cent was high enough to afford
protection to the tanning industry.
Mr.. Holman of Indiana, argued against the
amendment as tending to the destruction OF
the American forests
Mr.. Austin advocated the increased rate
He did not propose to hand over the small tan
Ders and owners of hemlock forests and the
multitude connected with those interests to the
tender mercy of the monopoly in Boston which
had purchased hemlock land in Canada.
Mr.. Gambler of Massachusetts, stated that
the men referred to as monopolists were young
men who beginning at the bottom of the lad
der had become great tanners through their in
dustry and perseverance, and it was through
their enterprise that the price of leather had
been greatly reduced.
Mr.. Carlisle moved to strike out the clause,
stating that it was his intention to move to
place the extract of bark on the free list.
Mr.. Curtin's amendment was agreed to, 9s
to "a.
This was the first vote on which there was
considerable division on both sides of the
House.
Mr.. Carlisle's motion was withdrawn.
The clause now reads: Extract of hemlock
Dud other bark used for dyeing and tanning
uot otherwise provided in this act, 20 per cent.
I'd udlorenl
IN voting upon the amendment to the var
nish clause, no quorum voted and this point
was raised by MIR. Mills of Texas, but owing to
some confusion in the chamber the chair failed
to hear Mr.. Mills and subsequently stated that
the point WAS IN ,de too late.
Mr.. Mills stated that he had attempted to
catch the attention of the chair in time.
MIR. Aldrich of Illinois-We heard no such
thing
you tell falsehoodl" exclaimed Mills,
Mills misunderstanding the remark.
Mr.. Aldrioh-I say we did not hear it.
Subsequently Mr.. Mills retracted his re-
marks stating that they were made under
misapprebenslOn.
The clauses relating to varnish were finally
agreed upon as follows: Shellac varDish, 20
cents per gallon, aud in addition thereto an
amount equal to the internal revenue tax on
alcohol contained therein. Varnishes, other
than shellac, 40 per cent, dd Uoldrem, and in
addition thereto an amount equal to the inter-
nal revenue tax on alcohol contained therein.
Chemical schedule was concluded and
eCuouuiO - \Ooi ithOh "aIo anu Siaoo WdlcI td n
en- up.
Mr.. Cox of New York moved to reduce from
25 TO 20 per cent dd Udlorena the duty on brown
earthen ware, &c. He stated he did so at the
request of his colleague Hewitt, whe was sick
The motion was lost.
Mr. Springer moved to make the rate % per
cent. Lost.
MIR. Ray of New Hampshire said while he
was in favor of protection he believed thai
these articles which were used on the poor
mans table should not bear higher duty than
that recommended by the commission.
Motion to reduce the duty on ornamental
china and earthen ware from 65 to 55 per cent.
dd gdlorenl was lost.
Mr.. Tucker moved to reduce from 55 to 45
per cent. the duty on white china, porcelain,
parian aud bsque, ware. Lost.
Mr.. Morrison moved to reduce from 30 to 40
per cent. the duty on common white china.
Lost.
Mr.. Guenther of Wisconsin moved to change
the duty on green and colored glass bottles.
vials, demijohns, carboys, &c from II cents
per found 10 50 per CENT dd C7alorenl, assert ng
that The specific duty of II cents was more
than 100 per cent. dd ydtorenl. After long de-
bate the motion was agreed 10.
Mr.. Haskell then moved to strike out the
words which had just been insert. d, but in
order TO avoid the rule coupled it with another
formal proposition. Lost.
The committee then rose.
Mr.. Cannon of Illinois, from the committee on
appropriations, reported the legislative, exAcu-