The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1888-12-15
| WASHINGTON NEWS.
WHAT THE UNITED STATES OF
A FICIALS ARE DOING.
CONGRESS-.

Dir. Frye's resolution of Monday, in
| Itructing the Senate committee on for
| eign relations to inquire into the state OF
| AAairs at Samoan Islands, was reported
kAck on Tuesday from the committee on
i contingent expenses, and agreed to-
AZ; Chandler presented petition pray
Amg for investigation into the alleged de.
4 privation of the right to vote for electors
and congressman in South Carolina.
This petition is signed by the names OF
100 residents of Ziegler precinct,
lrangeburg county, South Carolina, and
4ecites that they endeavored to comply
Nwith the registration law of the state,
Hbut were prevented from doing so, and
then on the day of the election we're re-
fused the right to vote. The petition and
ietter were referred to the committee on
privileges and elections. The Senate
ythen resumed consideration of the tariff
bill, the pending question being the
Harris amendment to reduce the duty on
beams, girders, etc., from one and one
tenth OF cent per pound to six and
ope-tenth of a cent. An amendment Of
Tered by Mr.. Jones, of Arkansas, to make
cotton ties free of duty gave rise to long
dlscussion, participated in by Messrs.
Jones, of Arkansas; Berry, Mcpherson
and Vance, on one side; and by Messrs.
Dawes, Aldrich and Stewart on the
other. 1t was not disposed of-the Sen
ate going into executive session. In
the House, Mr.. Hopkins, of Illinois.
spoke in support of the proposed
amendment refunding the cotton tax.
1t there was merit in the latter PROPOSE
ton, that merit should be discussed in
separate bill, and an amendment should
not now be brought forward to embarass
the consideration of the pending mea-
sure. He controverted the position taken
by Mr.. Barnes, CT Georgia, that the cot
ton tax was unconstitutional, and con-
tended that the tax was uniform as con-
templated by the Constitution, being
.3aRled the Same in Illinois as in Georgia,
and having been collected from twenty
Six states and territories. The ~asSump-
\ ton that this tax had been paid by the
people of the Southern States was mis-,
taken one. 1t had been paid
4 by consumers in Northern States.
Mr.. Enloe, of Tennessee, declared that
the bill was sustained neither by law nor
by precedent, and denounced it as
! fraud and charged that its aim was to
perpetuate the power of trusts to exact
!. tribute from the people by means of
high tariff. Referring to the cotton tax
he attacked it on constitutional grounds
d and spoke in favor of the proposed
amendment refunding the tax, as far as
possible, to the persons who paid it, and
a reserying the remainder as common
school fund. Mr.. Dibble, of South Car
olina. stated that it was a mistake to
" suppose that the state of South Carolina
+. was in default in regard to the direct
tax. AS matter of fact more than its
quota had been paid in. He thought
that the refundng of the tax was
thoroughly constitutional and equitable
proposition. No conclusion was reached,
and the House adjourned.
On Monday, the discussion of the
tariff question was resumed IN the Sen
ate. MIR. Sherman said the time was not
far distant when all structural forms of
] steel and iron would be multiplied to an
i.amazing extent and would be produced
kcheaper and cheaper by the offer of in
X ducements to manufacturers to enter into
business. That was one of the objects
of the proposed rate of duty. He thought
1T better to sustain the finance committee
/ IN its classification than to change rates
2 blindly and at haphazard. In regard to
\ trusts, he looked upon them as one OF
81 the most dangerous and subtle inventions
Of man, and was in favor of breaking
!, them up. They were contrary to the
u spirit of the common law of England;
4 but the only way, Che thought to break
/ Chem down was by inviting competition.
... Under the call of states in the House,
81 u nnmber of bills and resolutions were
|tnHoduced aud referred. Mr.. Holman,
( nf Indiana, asked for the present consid-
gation of the following resolutions:
~ hereas, it is publicly charged in the
S1s3b1ic press. and otherwise that, in gen
&sfal elections of recent years, involving
3the election Of President and vice-Presi-
dent of the United States and members
Fpf Congress, large sums of money have
stbeen involuntarily contributed and eX-
sspendcd in various ways for the purpose
sspf Influencing and controlling such cleo
SStions; and, whereas, such contributions
ssand expenditures tend TO debtse the
Elective franchise, corrupt the ballot
box and impair the vigor and purity
Of our free institutions; therefore,
Resolve, That the committee on judi
ciary be Instructed to investigate the said
charges, and toipQuire what legislation
rs 1fees airy and proper to suppress such
s eptrlouu9na and expenditures, and 10
az eFye end maint0inHhe freedom aad
of the elFtiye franchise,