St. Paul daily globe., 1886-12-14
THE SEN aTEs
Most of Yesterdays Session Devoted
TO Tariff Debate.

presented the credentials of Senator Ed
munds for the full term, commencing March
l, 1887. Placed on file.
Among the numerous bills introduced and
referred were the following:
BY Mr.. Cullom-To amend the revised stat
utes in relation to the immediate transporta-
ton of bonded goods.
By Mr.. Brown-Providing new basis for
the circulation eff national banks.
By Mr.. McPherson-To authorize the reduc-
ton of United States bonds and the circula-
ton Of national banks.
Mr.. Plumb. from the committee on public
lands, reported joint resolution to authorize
the secretary Of the interior to certify lands
for agricultural purposes to the state Of
Kansas. Calendar.
Mr.. Morrill, offered resolution fnStructing
the committee on finance to examine as to the
eXpedfcncy of some practical measure for the
maintenance of the system of national banks,
with ample security and without additional
cost TO the government Referred to the
committee on finance.
On motion of Mr.. Hoar
THE ELECTORAL COUNT BILL,
as received from the house, was laid on the
table and ordered printed.
Mr.. Morgan called up his resolution of
Dec. g. requesting the secretary Of the inte-
.rior to furnish information as to the state of
facts on which the coal and iron lands of Ala
bama have been withheld from sale, notwith-
standing the act of March 8, 1883. Adopted.
Mr.. Cullom made an effort to have the
special order on Mr.. Logan's bill accepting
land for government purposes on Lake Michi-
GAM postponed until Wednesday uext; but
Mr.. Platt contended that the special order
for open executive sessions took precedence
over it. The senate then at 1850 resumed
consideration of Mr.. Morrill's resolution de-
claring the promise OF making proper revis-
ion Of the tariff at the present session obvi-
ously hopeless and impracticable, and Mr..
Dawes proceeded to address the senate on that
subject. The secretary of the interior, he
said, had come into the field and taken his
admired position on the subject of the tariff,
causing increased apprehension in all the
great Industries of the land. Sober, cOnser-
vative business men and thoughtful, anxious
but clear-headed, dependents on these inter-
ests, were now seriously inquiring whether,
on the whole, they might not be wrecked if
the theories and doctrines announced in the
reports of the secretary of the treasury were
to govern in the revision of the tariff. The
secretary of the treasury threw overheard
entirely (and in so many words) all idea OF
protection to American industry. Hence
forth, according to the Secretary's theories
and dogmas, there was to enter into the pol
icy that is TO control in the fashoning of the
revenue laws of the future, no idea OF prOtec-
ton to American industry. The secretary's
effect OF carrying out his views on home pro-
ductions, not whether they might not be
ADVANTAGEOUS OR INJURIOUS
to the.best interests invested in productions in
this country (more than $5, GOO, 000 600 in 18S0)
Or to the z, 700, 900 wage earners dependent
upon them. In the mind of the secretary OF
the treasury no such consideration was to en-
ter into the question of the imposition of du-
ties. The secretary would not remove the
duties on sugar, because they amounted, he
said to only 80 cents per capita: but he would
remove the duties or wool although they only
amounted to cent per capita, and on ready
made clothes, although they only amounted to
cents per capita. the proposition;o of remov-
ing the duty on row materials did not even
meet the approval of the manufacturers, for
whose benefit it wtaS suggested. Or this point
Mr.. Dawes read from the testimony taken
before the comnsdttee of wa5s and means, in
which Mr.. Whitman. a leading woOlen manu-
facturer, declared himself in favor Of duty
on wool, so as to encourage its production in
this country and SO render manufacturers In
dependent of foreign wool. He character
lied the secretary's S views as wild and want0n
and brutal, but they had, he said. awakened
serious and well-grounded apprehensons
throughout the country 1t was the attitude
of those who had the tariff to reform which
led to these serious apprehensiens. Those in
dustries turned to the senate for the aiterna-
tive. They looked to those who spoke for the
senate (as they had spoken for the policy of
the government in the last twenty five years.
to know what the alternative was. They
know that under the constitution the finance
committee of the senate could originate no
law to remodel or reform the tariff but they
also knew that it was within the province and
ability of the finance committee to consider
this question and formulate in report that
would carry
QUIET AND CONFIDENCE
to the industries and labor of the country,
a method of bringing the receipts of the gov
ernment down to the lines of its eXpendi
lures, without impairing the development or
prosperity OF those industries or diminishing
the compensation of that labor It was for that
purpose that he had introduced his resolu-
ton lnstructing the committee on finance to
inquire and report what specific reduction
can be made in customs duties and internal
taxes that will reduce the receipts to the
necessities and economical expenditures of
the government without impairing the pros
perity and development of home industry or
the compensation of home labor. He de-
clared that the man who would attack home
industries and home labor would strike
deadlier blow at the welfare of the country
than could be inflicted in any other manner
short of war and treason. 1t was treason it
self to the great underlying interests and
prosperity of the country on which its future |
depended and by which alone its stability |
could be maintained. He who impaired and |
weakened these industries came very near to |
him who sapped and mined the citadel of the |
nation Therefore he had thoughtit not out |
of place to propose that the finance COM |
,nittee of the body should deliberate on the |
situation, and present TO the public the pos |
sibity of q reform of the tariff that would |
leave these results unimpalred and give |
freer and broader scope to the energy, the |
enterprise and the vigor of the American |
people. Those who met the exigencles of the |
past were capable of competing with the |
problems of the future. In the great struggle |
for the possession of the opportunities Of |
fered to home industries and home labor. |
they turned to those who had lifted labor |
from degradition and servitude to dignity |
and honor, and whose policy had developed |
the strength and wealth and greatness of the !
nation. He should therefore ask for the |
adoption of the resolution which he had |
offered.
MR.. MCPHERSON
said there were but two methods of disposing !
of the surplus revenue. One was extrava- |
gance in appropriations and the other was
hv q reduction of taxation. For himself he |
was in favor of the second alternative. The |
senator from Ohio (Sherman) had suggested |
in his speech the other day policy by which |
S54. O0O, 600 Of revenue could De avoided by |
striking off the tax on sugar; and IN the same |
breath that senator declares that the duties |
on sugar and on wool were the only protec- |
tion which the agricultural interests enjoyed. |
He (McPherson) was opposed to the removal |
of the duty on sugar. and predicted that |
with that duty retained), nine-tenths OF the |
sugar consumed in this country would De |
produced here. He would also retain the |
duty on the high qualities OF wool whlcn are |
produced in the United States' put ne "ouiu
remove it from the cheap qualities or wool
that are not used here and that are used IN !