National Republican., 1885-01-19
SATURDAYS CONGRESS.
An Interesting Debate on Reciprocal Treaties
in the IIOuse.

in the House.
In the senate, Saturday, bill involving n
very important precedent was passed after
debate which had run through the mornings
Of several days sessions. II was bill for the
relief of the First National Bank Of Newton,
Mass. and which provides for the payment to
that bank Of interest at five per cent. per an
mum from 1867 to date on $4,000 OF the banks
money, which the United States court OF claims
had decided to have illegally come into the
possession ofthe United states. Tho interest
amounts to nearly $4,000.
Mr.. Cockrcll strongly opposed the payment
Of interest except on so much OF the principal
as consisted Of United Slutes Understanding
securities aud he offered an amendment to
enforce his ideas. This would bring the
amount of the interest to $4,000.
Moesrs. Morrill,, Conger, sherman, Morgan,
Saulsbury Harrison and Harris thought the
| payment Of Interest in such cases not good
Messis. Iloar, Frye and Bayard favored the
provisions of the bill; Mr.. Bayard saying he
dld not believe the government or people OF
the United States proposed to iatten on stolen
goods Mr., Cockrell's amendment was voted
down and tho bill passed.
The interstate commerce bill engaged the
attention of the senate during the remainder
| OF the session. Several amendments were
| made to the bill, and alterward, by unanimous
| consent the house bill on the same subject
| was taken from the calendar, and Mr. Cullom
| ihNNNl W " DN hlllkltK OUT hll hlltI Nut
enacting clause and inserting the provisions
of the senate bill Without action upon this
motion the senate adjourned.
IN the house saturday, in the course OF the
| proceedings upon the diplomatic and consular
appropriation bill, an Interesting discussion
followed the ruling out by the chair, as not
germane, an amendment proposed by MT.
lownshend requesting the President to invite
tho cooperation Of the governments of the
American nations In securing the establish
| ment OF commercial league by and between
said nations to be known as the "Customs
Union Of America"
Mesrrs, Cox, of New York, Dorsheimer. His.
cock, Reed, and others made remarks drawn
out by uterances relative TO the merits OF the
Iownshend proposition.
Mr.. Dorsheimcr believed in reciprocal
treatios-such reciprocal treaties and liberal
arrangements of trade us will secure to our
people the great markets of the world. Ho
DID not want to see the enterprise andintelli
genoo of Europe occupied with the problem o
now 70 get along without American products
Inc danger of the policy In which the country
seemed to be starting out was that 1t woul(
excite European covntrles to endeavor to fine
how to get along without our cotton, corn, O
wheat He favored the proposed treaty will
Mexico and was disposed to favor the Spanisl
treaty. The treaty with Nicaragua, in hi
Judgment furnished 10 this country methot
OF avoiding great peril in the future, as wei
as ofsecuring an immediate advantage of higl
Importance The peril in the future which IN
had In his mind was this: He found that b!
lsthmus of suez European politics had beel
changed.
The canal became the pivotal question II
European politics, and now presented tn
only question which threatened TO disturb tn
peace of the European continent. lie did nc
believe II possible that canal should be bull
through the lsthmus of Panama by any ioreig
government without giving to this people u
use most temperate phrase) a cause for seriou
| disquietude How would II be when to tn
fleets OF some foreign power there was diret
way opened to the Pacific coast, while ou
fleets were compelled to make long journe
around Cape Horn2 Under such circun
stances, In some possible exigency Of the fl
ture, the people of the United States would nC
hands, but would take 1t into their own, b
the exercise of all the power they possessed.
Mr. Hiscock, of New York, said that his tw
colleagues Cox and Dorsheimer) had al
nounced the old democratic doctrine thnt th
country should bo purely agriculture
country. They had maintained that tn
United States should have free trade and G,
change of commodities with other nation
had no hesitation in declaring thI
before this congress adjourned, irol
other manufacturing and business center
would come announcements of distress IN
: failure-all preclpitated by the agitation thi
was threatening the country on the part of IL
next administration. Referring to the pen
- ing treaties he asked his colleague (Mr. Dor
heimer) what the United States would hay
TO sell provided they were ratitled2 II
United States had nothing TO take to sell
the markets of South America, unless II cou
compete with England, and 10 do so II mt
reduce the price of labor. Did his colleagt
propose to degrade labor to the point that
could compete with foreign labor2
Mr.. Dorsheimer replied In substance that
Is Is no time now, when tho streets of the citi
/ are filed with discharged workingmen, wht
the valley of the Hudson was visited by lar
bands OF tramps, TO talk about the bett
- wages of this country
Mr.. Cox, of New York, contended that Il
democratic party was misrepresented by
colleague (Mr niscock) when he said that Il
incoming administration was in favor
making this country a purely agricultur
\. country. The republican party, after ma,
years Of protectron, had come forward all
once with lot of reciprocal treatles-fr
trade treaties
~ beg PARDON" interrupted Mr.. Hiscoc
II "not the republican party"
n well, at least a republican administr
tion," replied Mr. Cox.
Mr.. Curtin, of Pennsylvania, thought tn
the discussion should cease. lie did not wa
the people depressed by such talk, Businl
Q. was good and wages were good
The debate then closed, the committee ro
and the bill was passed.
The Indian appropratlonlbill was taken
- and the house adjourned.