New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-06
,Br TELEGRAPH TO THE rErBUSE.l

FAILS TO CATCH IT
,Br TELEGRAPH TO THE TErBUsZ-l
Washington, Sept. j.-To-day's debate on ~
taiation was one of clear weather and dense
intellectual fogs and the House adjourned VIII
the loghorn in full blast
II was bad day for the few Administration
members who were in their seats or holding
! frequent and earnest conferences with Don W
Dickinson, who spent most OF the day in the real
Of the chamber Another distinguished visltoi
who was the recipient of many attentions wa'
! Bishop Ireland, of Minnesota. Neither the dls
penscr of post-oficcs and clerlIships nor ths
Bishop showed much interest in the discussion
| The Republicans who contributed to today's dis
cusson were William Walter Phelps, and Messrs
Davis and Cogswell. of Massachusetts,. The Demo
Gratis were Chairman Belmont and William L
Scott.
Mr.. SCOTT STARTS AFTER THE BILL
The Junior member Of the firm Of Cleveland a
Scott, Limited" started in pursuit Of the Diu
at o'clock, and ffty-fve minutes later be had
not caught up with it, but he out Of breath
and the House kindly adjourned 10 give him an
opportunity to recover il. lie will resume the
chase tomorrow, and his friends think be will
overtakc the bin some time in the course OF the
day
The first twenty minutes Mr.. Scott devoted
TO some observations which sounded like page
from a cyclopedia. lie began his speech with
some remarks on Spanish. French and Englsn
colonization in the United States, but said
nothing about Left ErillsOn and his advcnturout
companions. The siege Of Lousbourg had greater
attractions for him, and he dwelt upon It with
much zest. The remainder of MS long preiacs
was devoted to what he called evidence OF ths
fact that Great Britain overreached the United
States in the Treaty of Washington, and that
! If.rna for
Scott submitted some statistics to show the amount
and value Of American tonnage carried il Can dan
cars on American railways, but he did not men,
tion the fact that the pending bill does not give
the President authority to prohibit or suspend
the very profitable traffic now enjoyed by the
Canadian Pacific Railway, OF which Mr. Scott IS
a director, AZ a favored rival of American trans
continental lines In word Mr.. Scott did not
touch, even remotely, the subject before the
House.
Mr. PHELPS PRODs THE DEMOCRATS
Mr. Phelps opened the debate. As usual when
he takes the floor, the House settled down and
members listened attentively to hear what he
would have to say. He at his best to-day
and his speech, which will rank with the ablest
and most powerful which he has ever dell' cred,
deserves the careful attention Of every American
citizen. Some passa ges made the ADMINISTRATION
men vince, and he was several times inter-
rupted by Acting Chairman McCreary and Chair
man Belmont, who plays second fiddle in this
debate The former disturbed by Nr. Phelpss
reference his declaratio Of yesterday that the
l. free-tradc message and the retaliation message
will be linked together in history and always
remembered the two great state papers OF this
Administration He declared that he did not uso
the phrase free-trade message and he de-
MED rather testify, that the December message
was free trade document, whereat there was an
outburst of derlsive laughter on the Republican
side.
Mr. Phelps pleasantly replied that they were
both talking about the same thing and he had
only used a better phrase, one which everybody
understands. Both he and the gentleman iron
kentucky were agreed that the two messages
would take their places together in history as
the Siamese twins OF President Clevelands
policy.
Chairman Belmont undertook 70 catechse Mr.
Phelps who courteously offered 10 yield for a
question and the consequence was that the chair
man soon found himself in pitiable plight He
asserted that the reciprocal relations between
the United States and Canada as 10 the trans
shipment Of goods in bond were established long
before the ratification of the Treaty Of Washing
ton.
Mr. Phelps expressed great surprise and begged
Mr. Belmont to inform him and the House in what
article of what treaty such provision could be
found Nobody had discovered IT, and 10
was of the highest importance that the nforma-
tion should be made public
Chairman Belmont began: The gentleman
forgets-7
L" do not care TO he reminded of what have
forgotten. | want TO be informed Of what the
gentleman knows. want an answer 10 my ques-
tion. In what section OF what treaty is the pro-
vision found?'
Chairman Belmont began to wriggle. OF
course the gentleman knows" be began.
No; | do not know | want to find out.
want a categorical answer to my question: re-
piled Mr. Phelps
Mr.. Belmont wrigglcd more and more and began
to hug copy of the Revised Statntcs, from which
he hoped to derive inspiration, and possibly IN
formation which would satisfy the lnqulsltlve
Jerscyman. lie began another speech. but Mr..
Phelps RELENTLESS well as inquisitivc aud
said that since the gentleman refused to answer
a simple question which permitted a direct answer
he must refuse to yield further.
Well I'll answer in my own time exclaimed
the nettlcd chairman.
That will be better, for I fear mine would
not be sufficient was the polite reply.
Mr. BELMONT AVOIDS THE BREAKERS.
| But Mr. Belmont did not answer the question
/ in his own time, and he discourteously refused 10
permit Mr. Phelps TO ask him question when he
had obtained the floor. He did admit that he had
serious and difficult task before hun. in at
tempting to answer McSSrs. Phelps and Hitt-but
: thA was as apparent everybody as that he
utterly failed to answer either of them. slr.
! i, mont found 1t difficult TO realize why the
| President is charged with Inconsistency
mark which was hardly complimentary to himself.
/ z he speeches of Ncssrs. Davis and Cogswe must
have heightened him that point. DR. DAVIS
is man of Irish birth and his ridiculc of the
Presidents cheap bid for Irish American votes
was apt and, effective. Both he AMI
/ General Cogs 'cil have been virtually
eve witnesses of the effects of the Administrators
shameful policy IN regard - the Fisheries cOntro-
ycrSy. and th,y spoke with feeling. ~ we'll as
with lulneS> of knowledge. The latter said that
if earth were like heaven and there were more
Joy over one sinner that rcpcnis than over ninety
n ne ulst men " ne ed no .cp - tie Amer cau