The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-05-03
FORTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS-.
SENATE
WASHINGTON. May 2.

WASHINGTON May 2.
The chair laid before the Senate tele-
graphic communication from Mr.. Wicker,
late collector OF customs at Key West, Florida,
asking that full investigation be made into
his conduct in connection with his official
duties.
Mr. Garland reported adversely the House
bill requiring the governors of territories to be
for two years residents of the Territories in
which they may be appointed.
Mr. Cullum, from the committee on TERRI
tories, reported adversely memorial and
joint resolution of the Wyoming Legislature
asking for additional compensation. Inc re-
port was agreed to.
Consideration Of the shipping bill was was re:
sumed and Mr.. Vest made formal offer OF
an amendment permitting the admission to
American registry of ships bought abroad and
the admission free of duty of shipbuilding
materials.
Mr.. M ,Pherson offered an amendment to it
excluding ships bought abroad from the coast
wise trade.
Mr.. Hale spoke in support of the bill, and
In opposition to the amendment OF Mr.. Vest.
He agreed with that gentleman that no act OF
CONGRESS would bring the carrying trade imme-
diately back to its original condition, but what
there was left OF 1t would be promptly annihi.
lated by the adoption Of Mr. Vests amend
ment If free trade should get possession OF
the Senate, MIR. Hale continued, as it had got
possession of the House, we may bid farewell
to all hope OF seeing revival of the Ameri-
can mercantile marine in our lifetime. Mr..
Hale in conclusion remarked that nothing
tended TO much to keep the peace of Europe
as a sensitive condition Of English shipping.
But if war should break out between England
and any other European power the whole
sailing force of Great Britain would, If Mr..
Vests amendment should prevail, come under
tho American flag in the name OF some part
ner or factor OF American nationality, and We
should then present to the world spectacle of
great nation having carrying trade under
oor flag without our people realizing dollar
from it. Such a condition OF affairs would, in
Mr.. Hale's opinion, be an intolerable one to
the American people.
Pending debate the Senate went into execu-
tive session, and when the doors reopened
adjourned to Monday.
HOUSE.
The House went into committee on the tar
if bill; Mr.. Nutting of New York opposed
the bill.
Mr.. Deuster of Wisconsin gave notice of an
amendment which he proposed to offer pro
viding that on and after July !, no duty shall
be levied or collected on any kind OF raw ma
terial which may In any manner be consumed
by the people or by the factories of the United
States.
MIR. Belmont of New York favored the bill
He said the Democratic House was undertake
ing to carry out by legislation what the ad-
ministration of President Arthur was doing
cited the reciprocity treaty with Mexico and
said that it foreshdowed treaties with Spain
and Cuba. He claimed that both political
parties were being compelled to the same
course at the hands of the country for freer
commerce and foreign markets.
Mr.. Mcmillan of Tennessee said the quest on
presented was not as to whether there should
or should not be free trade, but as to whether
or not there should be reduction of taxation.
He denounced the present tariff as q mon
strous piece OF injustice, inequality and false
pretence.
Mr.. Cox of New York briefly replied to some
propositions advanced by Mr.. Kelley OF Penn
sylvania. One of Mr., Kelley,s propositions
was that the cheapening OF goods which in
volyed q reduction OF wages could not relieve
any stagnant American industry, This as
sumed that the cheapening of our products of
manufacture must result Ia a reduction of
wages, and this assumption Mr.. Cox contro-
verted.
Mr.. Cox of North Carolina regretted the
tone of the speech made yesterday by Mr..
Eaton OF Connecticut, who. in order to secure
abe applause of the Republican side and to
draw odium on the measure which his party
was advocating, and he had appealed to sec.
tional prejudice. he then proceeded to an.
swer the protection arguments asserting that
protection for the sake Of protection was rob.
berry, and directing his remarks to Mr.. Eaton's
argument said that that gentleman would be
unable to recognize any bantling but his own.
The Democratic party proposed to make a
horizontal reduction because thereby it could
do what the last Republican House had failed
to reduce taxation. Wages depended on tho
supply of labor and the skill of the lsborer.
He saw no other result from the cheapening
OF goods than the enabling OF 55,0OO,0OO peo-
pie to consume the products of manufacture.
Mr.. HobliIzeil of Maryland deprecated the
agitation of the tariff question at this time.
the present system was full of ineongruities,
inequalities and anomalies, but the pending
bill would have the effect of making an iniq-
uitous system more incongrous, more unequal
and more anomalous. BE admonished the
Democratic party that If it wished to formu-
late measure which would give an earnest to
the people that it desired to reduce taxation
it should turn its genius and stateemanship
against that un-Democratic, un-Republican
monster, the internal revenue system, and at
one fell stroke uproot the odious legislation.
Mr.. Springer of Illinois said the pending
bill did no more than what had been recon-
mended by the tariff commission. 1t went no
farther than the Commission had said was de-
manded by the best interests of the country
and certainly Democratic Congress would
not hesitate to enact such measures as this
aud bring some relief to the people. He ex-
pressed sympathy with the masses Of working
men of the country and denied that they were
protected against the labor of foreign coun-
tries Of the present high tariff.
Messrs. Brainard and Brown of Pennsylvan.
ia briefly opposed the bill and the committee
then rose and the House took recess until 8
O'Clock, the evening session to be for consider
alton of pension bills.
EVENING SESSION.
At the evening session thirteen pension bills
were passed