Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-25
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
TARIFF DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.
SENATOR VOORHEES, ON THE MESSAGE.
The Senate

were the following:
To relieve certain appointed and enlisted men Of
the Navy and Marine Corps from the charge Of de-
sertion.
To enlarge the powers and duties Of the Depart
House bin giving to the city Of Grand Forks,
DaK. the right TO build two free bridges across the
Red River OF the North. Passed with an amend
ment.
Tue House amendment TO the bill giving pen-
sion OF SlO0 month to the widow OF Gen. Ricketts,
treducing 1t to $75) was non-concurred In and a
commit, Of conference ordered.
MIR. Manderson introduced bill providing for
bureau OF public documents Referred.
Mr.. Mitchell offered resolution (Which was
adopted calling on the secretary OF the treasury
Ior copies OF the reports or Special Agents Beecher
and Tlngle as TO the alleged smuggling OF opium
from British Columbia.
Mr.. VOORHEES, ON THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The motion TO refer the Presidents message was
taken up, and Mr.. voorhees, proceeded to address
the Senate thereon, reading his speech from manu-
script. He said that the issues which the two
great parties would present to the American peO-
pie at the ballot-box next November were plainly
LAID down. ON the principle proclaimed by Jefer-
son, that error was not to be feared SO long as
truth was left free to combat II, the pernicfous
republican party might be looked upon without
apprehension and, indeed, welcomed 10 the great
arena OF debate.
REFERRING TO THE ATTACK MADE BY SENATOR IN
CALLS,
some time ago, upon the late Generals Mcclellan
and Hancock, Mr.. voorhees, reviewed the services
OF the two generals during the war, and dwelt
upon what he alleged was the injustice with
winch Mcclellan was treated because he was a
democrat Mr.. voorhees, declared that at Antie-
tam Mcclellan saved the Union. He SPOKE OF
Gen. Pope as "vapid" and incompetent,
memories and records OF Mcclellan and Hancock
as ''clamOrous kiles and other ignOble scavenger
birds" Senator Voorhees, then reviewed the nis-
tory OF reconstruction and denounced the kepub-
lcan administration or Southern State govern
mentS He justified the South for Its refusal TO
anlate with the republican party, saying as well
might the frontier settlements be expected 10 well
come another Invasion or tOmahawks and Scalping
knives. lie could see nothing to wonder at In the
7o,OOO democratic majority given In Louisiana but
| 1ew days ago. These peOpie were alarmed at the
possibility OF return to power OF the party and
burdened with debt. His only wonder was that
the vote Was not unanimous
| PROSPEROUS CONDITION OF THE SOUTH.
Mr.. voorhees, said let the present prosperous con-
| dition OF the South answer the partisan charges
| made against that section. He quoted statistics
showing the miles OF new railroad constructed,
the factories established &C., during the past ten
years, and said that capital does not fiow into
region where crime and lawlessness prevail He
feclted ngureS showing the enormous Industrial
growth OF the South In the last ten years, and
added that peace. law, order, and prosperity
prevail all through that section.
THE VERDICT IN NOVEMBER.
2:15 p m.-Mr. voorhees, closed a very eloquent
and impassioned speech with the prediction that
| the verdict OF the American people in November
| next would be that there had been honest, capable
government for the last four years, and that 1t
should be continued.
THE RAILROAD LAND FORFEITURE BILL
The conference report on the bill for the con-
ference OF American nations was non-concurred
IN, and then the railroad forfeiture bill was taken
| up for consideration.
House Of Representative.
Mr.. Lanham (Texas) presented the conference
report on bill for the relief OF q postmaster for
the loss OF certain postal funds. The senate
amended the bill By making its provisions general,
| and extending the provisions OF the act OF March
Il, 1892 horizng the Postmaster-General to ad.
Just certain claims OF pos:masters for loss by
| fire and burglary, so as TO 1nclud. within the
claims which shall be adjusted those arising from
| the loss or postal funds.
on THE TARIFF BILL.
The report was agreed TO, and the House went
into committee OF the whole (Mr. Springer, OF Hi.
nois In the chair on the tarifr bill.
Mr.. BYNUM ON THE DANGERS OF THE sCRPLCs.
MIR. Bynum Gnd-), referring to the surplus, said
| that the withdrawal Of so large sum OF money
from the channels OF trade for any longer period
OF time would result in contraction of the cur
| rency which would swallow up in bankruptcy
and ruin our most enterprising business men
Congress could not longer escape the RESPONSE
billty which rested upon it without arousing the
passed when the House could refuse to con-
sider measure for the reduction Of tax
a,i0n; the time had come when II must
meet the question fairly and honestly
The bill presented did not meet with his unqual-
itied approval He believed that duties on i'm.
ports should be levied and collected all times to
meet the current, ordinary expenses OF the Gov
ernment, and that any extraordinary expenses
should be met by resort to internal taxes. Be-
lievng this To be correct, he would maintain the
present internai-revenue system OF taxation until
But mindful 81 the dvefsei "a Tee
country, he was willing to come to the cOnsidera
tion or the blil in
SPIRIT OF CONCESSION AND COMPROMISE
and join in the construction OF a measure which
yielded something to the productions Of ,every
locality.
At present, the law fixing the duties on imports
was Onerous. 1t had been framed In a spirit OF
selfishness. He advocated reduction OF duties on
the material upon which the laborers OF the
country worked. He advocated such q reduction
as would give larger markets In which manufac-
wages had Increased under q protective tarin. but
he denied that this was on account OF the tarin,
because the same increase had taken place In
Great Britain under free trade. The country had
grown great but not Dy reason Of protection but In
spite Of protection. He argued that
THE PRICE OF LABOR
was regulated by the law Of supply and demand
and not by protective tarifr. The great trouble
| with the country was the want OF market Tear
| down the wall that had been built around the
coast; give American labor chance to compete
with foreign labor and II could take OF J,el
ocratic side] He controverted the claim that a
protective talir was for the bensfit OF American
labor.
In support OF his position, he said that during
the past ten years the United states has imported
Size, 600 900 OF cotton goods more than it
had exported. American labor had been
robbed OF the privilege OF making that
$l63, OOO, 600 OF cotton goods. During the same
period tue imports or wOOlen goods had exceeded
the exports by $3.50, 900. The American work.
men had been ,ouUed OF The labor that was con.
tanned In the $3.50 600, 900 of wOolen goods: and
yet gentlemen on the Otner side talked about pro-
tecting American labor.
1t was said tnat American farmers must be pro.
tected in the production Of wool Under the
high protection On wool the price had
steadily fallen. He did not assert that the
tar was the sole cause OF the decline in the price,
but he contended that 1t was an important factor.
Wool could not De produced in the
United States for less than forty cents
u pound. The people OF the country con-
sumed 900 900 900 pounds year, which cost them
S240. .0O0, 900. OF this 6O0OO00O0 pounds more
than 800 900 600 had to b. purchased abroad De-
cause the nigh tarin had broken down all our
wOO.en Industries.
In cOnclu Ion, he said that the day had passed
when the glory and triumph OF men
and nations was In an invasion OF q
foreign land, and the day had arrived when
that glory and triumph consisted in bearing the
national emblem into the harb0r OF every country
OF the world, and the TO plant tt In the grand
temple Dedicated to commerce and industry.
(Applause on democratic side.1
The District In Congress.