The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-02-03
Lth CONCRESS--.FIRST SESSION.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 2.


The presiding officer announced as a
special committee ON the Pacific railroad,
Senators Frye, Dawes, Hiscock, Davis, Nor
gan, Butler and Hearst.
Senator Riddleberger made several at
tempts to expedite business so as to reach
his resolution for consideration in open ses-
sion of the British treaty, but the resolution
for investigation of the condition of the
postal service took precedence, and debate
on this was resumed.
Senator Quay obtained unanimous consent
for the consideration of the bill to increase
the pensions of certain soldiers and sailors,
utterly helpless from injuries received or
diseases contracted while in the service of
the United States. The bill was passed.
1t provides that such persons receive
pension of S72 per month.
Senator Kenna secured the floor to reply
to the tariff speech of Senator Sherman.
Senator Kenna said the Senator from Ohio
had dismissed the solemn warning of the
President with a wave of the hand and had
treated the large and growing surplus as a
matter, neither requiring attention, nor JUS
tifying apprehension. Sherman had garbled
words quoted from President Jefferson, so as
to justify his own opinion. Jefferson had
solemnly invoked change in the organic law
of the land to avert the danger of the sur
plus. General Jackson, Daniel Webster and
a succession of Republican Presidents and
Secretaries Of the Treasury bad shared the
apprehension expressed by President Cleve-
land. Republican statesmen v0icing such
opinions have not been denounced as free
traders. The voices of responsible officials
of the government united in the expression
of apprehensi0ns OF the dangers which the
President had called on Congress to avert.
No patriotic American, excepting possibly
Senator Sherman himself, calmly contem-
plated the unnecessary withdrawal and hoard
ing of money. Senator Sherman protested
against the Presidents declaration that in
ternal revenue should be done away with.
In 1867, the Senator himself expressed much
the same opinion be now so severely criti-
cized and in 1880 and 1882 he eloquently and
forcibly maintained much the same views.
Senator Kenna proceeded to discuss, in de-
tail, the effect upon the revenue and upon
domestic interests of a judicious revision of
the tariff, disputing almost every economic
proposition advanced by Senator Sherman,
and maintaining that the Presidents sug-
geStlonS pointed way not only to relief
from the burdensome taxati0ns and dangers
OF excessive revenue, but also to the increased
prosperity and correction of the innumera-
BILE evils without disregard for any establish
ed interests.
Senator Sherman congratulated his friend
from West Virginia at having proclaimed
the fact that the ranks of the Democratic
party were closed and distinct issue was to
be presented to the people. Let the Demo-
cratic proposition to reduce taxation be pre-
sented and the Republican party would be
found with its old ranks unbroken, ready to
to accept the issue. Let it go to the people.
1t was true that since the tariff discussions
n hn anil frhf how
changed his mind. III he had not done so,
under changed conditions and circumstances,
he would not be worthy his seat in the Sem
ate. 1t was ON the bill to repeal the internal
revenue taxes dn 1860 he madt the remark
that the taxes most willingly paid were those
on spirits, beer and tobacco. So they were
then and so they were today. But within
the last few years complaint had come, main
ly from the Southern States, against the tax
on tobacco. 1t came from the farmers. He
needed it, and in doing so only did what the
Senators from Virginia, West Virginia, Ten
nessee, North Carolina and Kentucky ought
to do. As to grants of public lands for rail-
road purposes, he reminded the Senator
from, West Virginia (who complained Of
them that that system had its birth
in the Democratic party, and in the case
of the grant made to the State of Illinois,
He declared among the foremost advocates
OF the Northern Pacific grant and the second
Union Pacific law were such Democrats as
Hendricks and Reverdy johnson. Those
grants were made by the consent of the peo-
pie, in pursuance to the resolutions of the
Democratic and Republican national con-
ventions of 1860, and made without regard
to parties, or North or South; for the South
had also project for Southern Pacific
railroad. The Republican party said it
would not strike down any protected indus
try; that when manufactures had sprung up
by the aid of protection, it would not strike
them down, derange their conduct or their
plans, or lower the prices of labor. The
Republican party would join with the Demo-
cratic party in reducing such taxation as
bore heavily on the people, but would pre-
serve the system of protection by tariff du-
ties as long as necessary, to give Americans
fair chance in the trade and commerce of
the country, so as to invite foreigners to
compete with home industry. He congratu-
lated Congress that the country was to have
a fair, square and manly issue on the indus
trial question.
The motion to refer the Presidents mes
sage went over without action.
Senator Stewart addressed the Senate
briefly in support of the education bill.
Senator Call obtained the floor for speech
on the same measure, but gave way to mo-
ti0n to go into executive session.
The Senate, at 4.10, proceeded to executive
business, and at 420 adjourned.
HnuSE