St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-24
EVENING TALK.
Synopsis of Tariff Debate in the
House Tuesday Evening.
The Committee Bill Relating to the Subsi
died Pacific Railroads.
The Senate Advises Dismissal of COLLECTOR
Wicker of Key West.

WASHINGTON, April 22.-There was not
three dozen members present when the house
met after recess for debate on the tariff bills,
Mr.. Hatch of Missouri in the chair.
Mr.. Evans of Pennsylvania, in the name
OF l, 400 manufacturing industries Of his dis
trict, protested against the passage OF the
Morrison bill.
j. W. Eldridge favored complete revision
of the tariff
Mr. Cannon, in a two-minute speech, had
Just time to thank the house for the splendid
attendance assembl to listen to his argu-
ment, when the speakers gavel cut short the
remainder Of his discourse.
Mr. Lanham submitted an argument in
support Of the pending bill
Mr.. Dockery said protection wrung from
the consumers annually more than S1,000,-
600, OO0 This enormous tribute went, not
into the treasury, but into the Golfers Of the
American manufacturers, and it went there
not to enhance the wages of honest labor
but to increase the already plethoric estate Of
those manufacturers. Protection yielded to
manufacturers more than 81 per cent. on the
capital invested, while labor was protected at
the enormous Figures of one dollar and six
teen cents per day The Democratic party,
he said, was not free trade party, but was
in favor of tariff which would bind together
all the great industries and all sections of
this great republic.
Mr.. Price advocated the protective system
as beneltting the laboring man and enhanc-
ing the price of his labor. In reply to
question by Mr.. Weller as to whether the idle
and vicious element in the large cities might
be attributed to the protective system. Mr..
Price replied that 80 per cent. might be at
trbuted to saloons kept by pirates, licensed
by demagogues and patronized by fools. lie
then proceeded to picture the benefits
of protecting the lumber industry Of his
state.
Mr.. George addressed the committee at
length, showing the effect of protective and
free trade principles upon the foreign ship
ping interests oil this country, and argued
that tide protective system should be extended
to our ships on the high seas. Adjourned.
PACIFIC RAILROADS.
The house committee on Pacific railroads
to-day, concluded consideration of the pro-
posed amendments to the Thurman sinking
fund act They extend the provisions of the
act to the Kansas Pacific, Sioux City &
Pacific, and the central branch of the Union
Pacific railroads. The secretary of the treas
ury is authorized to invest the sinking funds
of each of the subsidized companies in first
mortgage bonds of said COM
panies, or in any bonds or Sc
curities of the United States in
his discretion, or he may, with the assent Of
the companies apply the same to the extin-
guishment of the interest on the subsd
bonds, the government to refund the same
ii at any time it becomes necessary in order
to meet any debts or obligations of said cor
porations prior to said lien. A third amend
ment requires that each of the roads pay 30
per cent. of their net earnings into the sink
ing fund, instead of 25 per cent. as now re-
CURED. The per centage was at first fixed by
the committee at 3719 per cent, but it was
reconsidered with the above result The
fourth amendment relates to moneys due by
the government to these roads for transporta-
tion, but retained and applied to the pay
ment of interest and to the sinking fund which
retention and application the courts have
practically decided was illegal. The gross
amount thus retained, with interest, is
about SO, 000,0 600. Instead of repaying this
money to the companies the amendment
provides, it shall remain in the sinking fund
and be eventually applied to the extinguish-
ment of debts which are prior liens to these
due the government, thereby increasing the
ability Of the companies to pay debts due the
government, which are a second lien upon
portion of this money, estimated at about
$4,000, 900, which has gone to the extingush-
ment of interest, and which, under these
amendments will be transferred to the sink
allowed from the date of its application until
it is covered into the sinking fund. fifth
amendment authorizes the secretary of the
treasury to withhold, for the pur-
pose of securing the requirements
of the sinking fund, all sums
due from the government for transportation
of any kind upon the entire system of roads
owned, leased and operated by the
subsidized companies to the extent of inter-
est, or to controlling companies in such
earnings. A sixth amendment provides
that each company may, if it so desires,
settle its debt, including both principal and
interest, with the government within five
years from the passage of the proposed
amendments. Representative Thompson,
whose bill formed the basis of the commit
tees action, says the proposed legislation will
increase the amount now paid into the sink
ing fund by the subsidized roads by about
$155, 900. In 1890, when the bonds become
due, he estimates the increase will have ag-
gregated S26, 100000
COLLECTOR wICKER'S CASE.
The senate was in executive session to-
day three hours, having under consideration
the recommendation of the president that
Collector Wicker, of Key West, be removed.
The issues were both of fact and methods
1t was maintained by Wicker's friends that
he had done nothing to merit removal, while
others contended that his acts of open
sympathy with the Cuban insurgents, were
ample ground for dismissal It was said
also the president had full power to act as
he saw fit in the matter, and that the inter.
ference of the senate was unprecedented
and uncalled for. To meet this objection an
amendment was proposed to the commerce
committees report, declaring that the action
of the senate should not be sustained as an
expression of opinion in regard to the con-
tinuation of the power of the president to re-
move at WILL thereupon the senate adopted
q report advising the dismissal of Wicker.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The house commerce committee has direct
ed a favorable report on Representative
Graves bill, authorizing the appointment of
a Missouri river commission.