Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-01-08
FORTY-ElGHTH CONGRESS-.
SENATE.
WAsHISGroS Ian

/ WASHINGTON. Jan. I.
| Mr.. Morrill, called up the resolution some
weeks since submitted BY him relative to the
reciprocity treaties. The resolution is as
follows:
Resolved, That the so-called reciprocity
treaties. having no possible basis of recip-
roclty with nation of inferior population
and wealth, involving the surrender of enor-
mously unequal sums of revenue, involving
the surrender of immensely larger volumes
OF home trade than are offered us IN return
and involving constitutional questions of the
gravest character, are untmely and should
everywhere be regarded with dsfavor.
MIR. Morrill, spoke at length in support of
the resolution, taking the ground that recip-
rocity treaties were unconstitutional t lat
apart from constitutiopality, they were ''in-
curably wrong;" they were at war with the
''most favored nations" The clauses of all
other treaties that were so-called "reciproc-
| ity" treaties with inferior nations surren-
| dered much home trade in return for the
little foreign trade, and that real reciprocity
with such nations was impossible. Through
out the entire speech there was careful avoid
ance of distinct mention of the Spanish
treaty.
| In the course of his remarks MIR. Morrill,
said: "When the question of reciprocity
treaty was first presented to the Senate forty
years ago, it was unanimously decided that it
would be grave and dangerous invasion of
the prerogative of Congress to regulate COM
merce with foreign nations, as well as the
prerogative of the House of Representatives
as to its exclusive power to originate revenue
| bills. Daniel Webster had said Il hope
know the constitution of my country better
than to think that reciprocity treaty is con-
stitutional.' If such treaties were unconsti-
onal when that declaration was made they
were none less so now. The President, with
the concurrence of two-thlrds of the Senate
may make treaties, but under cover of this
authority no constitutional treaty can be
made 'to regulate commerce with foreign
nations or to initiate revenue bills any
more than to establish uniform law of
bankruptcy or of naturalization, and these,
together with all other powers which were
especially coDtided to Congress or to the
House of Representatives by the constitution,
should, as flaming sword against all en-
| crOachments of the executive, forever limit
and exclude the reach of its treaty making
power No act of the executive branch of
the government or of Congress can suspend,
repeal or blot out the plain provisions of the
constitution. If such provisions could be
suspended or removed for six years by a
temporary majority of Congress or of the
House of Representatives, they could of
course, be suspended or resumed for 20 wears
or 100. 1t appears to me, therefore, that any
treaty which encroaches on the power to reg
late commerce or to originate revenue bills,
involves plain, open and palpable violation
of the constitution. If this departure from
the revered example of our fathers is in har-
mony with our constitution, | fail, and
think that future patriots and statesmen as
well as common people will fail, to under
stand it. We cannot afford to demoish the
accepted theory of the republican govern
ment by sanctioDing the initiation of revenue
bills by the executive. We cannot afford to
change the constitution by merely a new
Interpretation and without any change in the
| fundamental law"
| Referring TO the actual benefits derived
from reciprocity treaties, Mr.. Morrill, said
that under the reciprocity treaty with Can
ada, our exports TO that country had dwn-
died in II years from S2l0 ,000, 900 to Sl5,-
| 600, 900 annually, while the exports OF Canada
! to the United States had increased in the
same period from $l2, ,000,0 900 TO S46 ,000,0 900.
! In conclusion, Mr. Morrill, insisted that
reciprocity treaties were unrepublican in
! their origin and character, tending to largely
increase the power of the executive, and
making Congress mere register of the ex-
| ecutive will.
/ AT the conclusion or MI. MOrrlll re-
marks, the consideration of the Interstate
commerce bill was resumed.
| Mr.. Bayard expressed the hope that the
consideration of the bill in the Senate would
be carried no further for the present, as the
question embraced in the bill was under con-
sideration in the House with the probability
of an early decision.
| Mr.. Ingalls, expressed surprise at the posi-
ton taken by MIR. Bayard-that the Senate
should not consider the subject contemper-
aneously with its consideration in the House
| He regretted that the Senator from Delaware
! (Bayard), supposed to be the leader of the
new public opinion under the new evangel of
reform in the days that are to come, gravely
recommend the Senate of the United States
to pursue the 'do nothing" policy that has
| characterized Congress on this subject for
ten years past
Mr. Bayard said his object had been to
avoid the waste of time that would come of
results that were not practical. An early
result seemed to him more probable if the
! result to be reached in the House was not
antagonized in advance by the passage in the
Senate of bill totally dssimilar from the
| House bill.
| At 4.l0 P. NJ. the Senate went into execu-
tive session and later adjourned.
HOUSE.
The consideration of the interstate COM
merce bill was resumed.
| On motion of Mr.. Hopkins of Pennsyl-
vsnia, an amendment adopted, giving
the United States courts power to issue writs
of mandamus, compelling railroad companies
to forward freight.
Mr.. Hammond of Georgia offered an amend
ment providing that no case brought under
this act in any State court of competent juris-
diction shall be removed to any United
States court; agreed to.
| Mr.. Perkins of Kansas offered as an amend
ment all the sections of the bill originally
reported from the committee on commerce,
creating an interstate commerce commits
sion, and defining its duties.
Mr.. Hammond moved to amend by provid-
ing that the commissioner shall not be ap-
| pointed until March 9TH, 1885.
| Pending the action the matter went over