The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-12-12
The Tariff Bill Still Under
Discussion.
DIRECT TAX BILL DISCUSSED.
Both Houses of Congress Have
Lengthy Debates Charges and
Counter Charges, Etc,
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, December u.-Frye's
resolution of yesterday, instructing the
committee on foreign relations to make
an inquiry into the state of affairs at
the Samoan Islands, was reported back
from the committee on contingent ex-
penses and agreed to.
The Senate then resumed considera-
ton of the tariff bill, the pending ques-
ton being Harris amendment to re-
duce the duty on beams, Orders, ETC.,
from 1 1-10c. per pound to CLOG. per
pound.
Vest, referring to Sherman's speech
yesterday, denied the assertion that the
late election settled the question of
tariff legislation. He (VesD was no
disheartened by that result. The ques-
ton would last as long as the country
endured because it involved the funda-
mental difference in the construction of
the Constitution, aside from the poll
.cies of government. If the position of
the Republican Party to-day was cor
rect, unlimited taxation for the pur-
pose of protection,
because it was, in his judgment, sub
division of the principles of govern
ment and its autonomy. Although
the Senator from Ohio might be right
in stating the election was triumph
of the protective principle, he abso
lutely denied, in most emphatic terms,
that IL settled the question as to the
details of the bill. The people had not
meant to endorse the Senate substitute.
For himself, he would exercise his
right to criticise and oppose every
single provision of the substitute, al
though it should take up the balance of
the session. Vest denied the accuracy
of the statement made by Sherman,
yesterday, that there was reduction
of 10 per cent. in the metal schedule by
the Senate substitute.
Sherman reaffirmed his statement
and said the reduction was over 10 per
cent.
Vest continued to discuss the metal
schedule in detail, and characterized
the Islington steel trust as
"GIGANTIC DEvILIsH COMBINATION"
which put an immense amount of
money into the pockets of its members
tecting Infant industries
German spoke at length on the mat
tel, sayidg they all understood very well
that the Senate substitute was formed
during the campaign for political pur
poses.
The debate was continued at great
length by Mcpherson, Allison, Vest, AL
drich, FRYE and German. In the course
of it, Allison disclaimed the idea that
the Senate substitute had been prepared
for a political purpose. There never
had been a time when the committee
did not know that a revision Of the
tariff and
A REDUCTION OF THE REVENUE
was absolutely necessary. The bill had
been prepared by the finance commit
tee on their responsibility as Senators,
and not for the base purpose OF max
ing capital. They did not claim it was
perfect, and knew it was open to re-
vision. The debate then drifted into a
discussion of a political nature which
was finally closed, and Harris amend
ment relected-20 to g. All the Repub-
licans voted in the negative, and with
them voted Senators Mcpherson and
Payne. German did not vote at all.
Vest then moved to fix a rate on steel
beams, etc.
Allison assented to that part of the
finance committees report, saying he
had been instructed
TO OFFER AN AMENDMENT,
and would have done so if be had been
recognized by the chair. The amend
ment was agreed to, without division,
and the rate on steel beams, etc., stands
at cent per pound.
An amendment offered by Vance, to
reduce the rate on trace chains from
cents to 2cents per pound, vas rejected.
but on the suggestion of Allison, the
item was passed over without definite
action.
An amendment was offered by Jones.
of Arkansas, to make cotton ties free of
duty, and gave rise TO long discus
sion. 1t was not disposed of, the Sen
ate going into executive session and
adjourniDg.