National Republican., 1884-01-23
Received Considerable Consideration in the
Senate Yesterday,
Debate on the RetaIiatoy Resolution
Offered BY Mr. Anthony
Our interests 10 be Protected Against Governments
Prohibiting Importation Of American Meats.
Various Subjects Acted Upon In the House
OF Representatives.
TILE SENATE.

with reference to the extra territorial effect to be
given to DEGREES of divorce.
Mr.. Cameron, from the committee on Indian
affairs, reported back adversely a number OF petit
tions praying for the opening up of the Oklahoma
lands for setu ement. The committee do not favor
such opening.
Mr.. Van Wyck, from the committee on pen.
slons, reported favOrablya bill increasing the pen
sion of sallie Nal lory, widow of a soldier of the
revolutionary war and the war of 1912. As tho
beneficiary is over 80 years OF age and in much
need he said he would ask for its immediate pas
sage.
Objection being made, however, to this course,
II was placed on the calendar
The following resolution offered by Mr.. Hoar,
was agreed to:
"RssoIyed, That the committee on postohices and
post roads be instructed to inquire into the eS-
pedency OF additional legislation to prevent the
circulation In the mails OF this country OF lottery
advertisements coming irom foreign countries,
Also iuto the expediency OF providing, by postal
abuse"
Mr.. Beck then called up the resolution offered
by Mr.. Anthony on Jau. 9 instructlng the com.
mittee on foreign relations to examine into and
report upon the expediency Of such legislation rs
shall enable the President to proeet American in.
tcrUsts against those governments Which prohibit
or restrain the importation of healthful American
meats.
Mr.. Becks amendment would instruct the COM
mittec on foreign relations to investigate and re.
port OH the Determinations by tariffs or treaties
made by various foreign nations against the United
States and to report the causes OF such discrmina
ton and what legislation may be necessary to
place the United States on All equal footing with
a report OF John NJ. Francis, American consul
general to Portugal 10 show that the exclusion of
American meats from Portugal was due to the
demand of meat producers In that!country. He
also quoted from the London Economist an article
indicating that the action of France Is from
reaatory rather than from sanitary considera,.
tions, and showing that the French Academy Of
Medicine had declared that trichinH was found
in the pork of all countries. and not in American
pork alone. Referring tothe Determinations made
against our commercebv France through the tarih,
MIR Beck said that up TO 1881, when u modica:
American manufacture, including cotton and
wooden goods, Was absolutely prohibited from
entering the ports of France. The modification Of
1881 was an Improvement, but II still leaves
American manufactures substantially plohibited;
Germany with France there are treaties by which
ageneral tarf OF 10 per cent. operates This
gives England and Germany so much advantage
over the United States, in their tlade relations
with france, as to amount TO practical pro.
hibiton, because our goods cannot compete in
Frunce with these countries
Mr. Beck cited Instances Of dues charged by
France upon similar articles coming into that
country from England and the United States re.
against the United States the dues on the Ameri-
can article being in some cases double that on the
English article because the English article goes
into France under the operation of the special
trade convention, while the American is subject
the general tariff The suggestion of retaliation
aud 1t would only have the effect to injure Amer
icaii-commerce. Our manufactures had been ex-
Guided for years from France. Why did we, not
want retaliation then? Because our manufdct-
urers were not seeking foreign markets. II we
exclude French and German Wines from our
country 1t will reduce the demand of Germany
for our alcohol; and the complaint will then BIO
heard that we can neither sell our alcoholnor our
hogs. What Mr. Beck desired was thorough in
vesligation OF the whole subject of discrimina-
ton, whether by tariff or otherwise. We have
by our tariffs, prohibited these foreigners from
trading with us. Tney exercise similar right in
refusing to allow us to trade with them. France
receives imports from Germany-a nation between
which and herself there are strong differences Of
her interest to do SO. There is no sentimentality
induged In III such matters Mr.. Beck hoped that
some way would be found by which to help the
men who are not protected, and at the same time
make 1t possible for them to buy what they ne0d
without paying double price forit.,
Mr.. Logan did not understand that the sort OF
legislation referred to would be injurious TO our
interests. He was in favor of giving the Presi-
dent power 10 exclude oreign wines or other arti.
Giles Which on examination should be declared
injurious on the very principle that France and
Germany excluded our meats. The meats pro-
duCed in America were, as u matter OF fact, the
inos heal.hlul III the world, and more so than
those Of France and Germany. In justice to our
whiIs tbe Inc torsiTners exclude our meats "''"'
Mr.. Miller, of New York, was opposed 10 the
amendment proposed by the gentleman from
Illinois Mr. Loganl, which was to strike out the
words "the expediency of and insert "and report
10 the senate" SO as 10 make the resolution read:
"rhe committee on foreign relations be instructed
toinouire into and report to the senate what
legislation is necessary &c. This looked to him
like declaring that we are ready at this time TO
enter upon Ietnliatory measures.
Mr.. Miller agreed fully with what had been said
about the injustice of the exclusion of our meats
the senate of the United States was prepared now
10 say that we shall enter upon absolutely retalia
tory measures. Senators should not act hastily or
stood the condition OF the question, automatically
considered, it was this: The German government
authorities disclaim all idea OF retaliation in their
axrlilsinu n nj IN Tnuy Simnly IN that the
meats are unhealthy. The claim Is based on re-
ports printed in American newspapers. They
also claim that we have no governmental inspec-
tlon aud that, for that reason, they cannot decide
whether the meats ure healthy or unhealthy, and
hence object To their Introduction INTO Germany.
The senate could not ut this stage of its informa
tion, t,y that the claim of the German govern
ment was not an honest one, and not honestly en-
In France, Mr.. Miller said, the position was
somewhat differ ent from the position in Germany.
The prohibition there was originally an eGecu'
tive act OF the government, butas result of our
diplomatic correspondence, and through the
efforts of our minister to France, the executive
orders for the free introduction OF American
meats. Immediately, the legislature OF France
tuok the matter up, and by action OF its own ex,
cludcd those meats, so that the matter Is, ut
present, out of the hands Of the executive. The
entire correspondence on tho subject had been
called for by the senate, and would doubtless be
received in Il lew days, II was therefore too soon
TO express an opinion on the subject to-day. Il
upon examination Oi the mhlter the committee
OH foreign relations should become convinced
that TctaiaOry measures were necessary, those
measures should only be resortod to after grave
dellbegatiUn.
Mir. SALISBURY thought the matter should not bc
Lett, as he thought the resolution would leave II,
in the hands fthe President.
Mr.. Logan did not agree with MT Miller that
the adoption of his amendment wonld be Il declN-
ration that retaiAtOry legislation was now neceS.
sary IL would be in the discretion VI the com.
mittee us t. what legislation to rtcommend.
Mr. Miller stated that II II should come TO appear
that uulounded objections and prohibitions were
not removed he would be in LNor OF relAllatory OF
other proper measures but hr wanted IL done IN
suCn mHn.Ier rs TO be Un assurance that II was no
done with undue haste or without proper consid
erAtlOu for governments with which we nave
peaceful. relations,
MIR Logan thought congress ought to passa gen.
erNl law authorizing thu president OF the United
States 10 protect American Interests, when con
LrGsS Is in session, against GmDargOCs laid on
our exports to foreign countries,
NJ Logan's ana Mr. BeCks amendments were
agreed to, nnd,On motion OF Mr. Ingalls, the refer
Gnco 10 the executive" was struck out Of IN,
resolution,
NJ. MaXcy observed that If we start out Will
retaliation we do not know where ii may end. II
may eud On wheat or cotton We should not as
facts of the case aud before proposing retaliatOry
legislation we should make sure of the facts
ON motion oil Mr. Ingalls,, the word "hCathiul
was stricken out, and the resolution, as amended
was lhcm agreed 10, as follows:
"RcoOlued That the committee on foreign reln
tons be Instructed to inquire into ana report Il
the s'natG such legislation MS shall protect on
iutcro rs against those governments which have
prohibited or restrained the importation Of me, 4
from the United States And tho committee /!
further instructed TO report what discrimination
pre- made against exports from the United State
Hl.... IL. -