The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-08
THE FIFTIETH CONGRESS.
Senator PIatt Concludes His Remarks Criti-
cisine the Presidents Message.

cisjng the 1res1aent's message.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 7.-Among the bills re-
ported from committees and placed on the calen-
der were the following:
For the relief OF women enrolled as army
nurses; 10 restore pensions in certain cases; for
relief of importers of animals for breeding pur-
poses in certain cases
Mr.. Frye offered q resolution, which was
adopted. instructing the committee on COM
merce to inquire into the right and expediency
of Congress assuming control of the erection of
bridges over navigable waters within State
limits.
The Senate then resumed consideration OF the
resolution to refer the Presidents message and
Mr.. Platt resumed the speech which he COM
meneed yesterday He had shown, he said, that
the Presidents message meant the absolute and
it meant practical and absolute free
trade, and that it could result in nothing
else than the entire downfall of the protective
system of the country. He could not but as
sumo that the Democratic party intended to fol-
low the recommendations of its commander-iu-
chief. There had been, indeed, some straws
that looked as if there might be some question
about that; as il there would be an attempt at
some COMPROMISED as If there would be studied
effort on the part of the Democratic party to do
nothing at this session in the line of tho Presi-
dents recommendations, and then to go once
moro to the country on the Presidents free
trade message its platform But he could
Democratic leaders in Congress- really intended
that course of action. He admitted the neces-
slty OF some reduction of income, but he was
not to be frightened into abandonment of the
protective system by the Presidents sraw head
and bloody bones" figures. As to the surplus in
the Treasury, he denied that there was any
ton of reduction of taxation had very little to
do with relieving the treasury of what the
President called the 'congested condition
The great talk about the surplus could be for
other purpose. it appeared to him, than TO hold
out an inducement to break down the protective
system. Why had the accumulation in the
tion not been reducedl Why had not the Demo
crat party in power in the House of Representa-
tives-where revenue bills had to originate
not sent to the Senate some bill looking to the
reduction of taxation2 That party stood
pledged by its platform and by the professions
of i Is leaders on every stump to take steps. i'm
duction of the surplus. The Senate had waited
now nearly three years for some bill for re-
duction of taxation to come from the House,
and had wondered why Its coming was so long
delayed Eight long weeks had passed since
Congress had been told of the dangerous condi-
ton OF the treasury, and no bill had yet
ton of the surplus. This was not Republican
administration It was Democratic admins
tration; and if the money had been allowed to
accumulate in tho Treasury and no effort made
for its reduction, the fault was that OF the party
in power. What reason could be given for that
delay in the pastg What reason could bs given
accumulation in tho treasury was being used,
and deliberately used to force Congress into
destruction of the protective system of tho coun-
try2 Why did the Democratic party in Con-
gress refuse payment of the governments just
obligationsa Why refuse appropriations for
needs of the governments Why constantly re-
for Notifications mono for coast de-
lenses. and mono last year) for i'm
provement of rivers and harborsa
the surplus menace to tho business inter
ests of the countrya But was there no
proper employment for the surDlusa In
government bonds to the amount of
1852, 900, 900 would fall due, and the
per cent bonds would fall due in 1907 Why
not try to pay off that debt in advanced The
President had cast doubt upon the existence
of any authority for the Treasury to buy up
bonds. because the authority was contained in
seemed to forget that his authority for
drawing salary of $4,000 year. instead of
$4,000. was also IN an appropriation bill, the
Legislative bill Of 1873. It seemed to make
difference Whose OK was gored," whether the
President wanted to do thing or wanted not
to- do it. II the mysterious agents fit
House and a committee-room of the House of
Representatives had turned their attention to
negotiations between the government and the
bondholders. there would have been no difficulty
in arriving at some arrangement by which the
debt could have been anticipated and the Treas
ury relieved of its accumulation. He wanted
obey its commander. to take off the mask and
have a square fight on the issue presented by
the President; and he quoted from the speech of
Senator Kenna whore he declared that .both
the internal and external-tax systems will be
treated as a WHOLE" Was that, Mr.. Platt asked,
the recommends alton of tho Presidenta We're
Democrats in Congress going to attempt to play
that game and thon 60 to the country claiming
tho President to be a free-traders The benefits
of protection, said Mr.. Platt in conclusion were
as extensive as the country's boundaries. Pro-
wa ia q America
competition with tho world. Unless Demo
cratic President and q so-called Democratic
united America would continue to beat the
world in the grand struggle for human advance
ment.
Mr. Dolph addressed the Senate in favor of
tho bill reported by him for the payment of the
Oregon and Washington Indian war claims for
suppression of Indian hostilities in 1886.
On motion of Mr. Vest, the House bill to au-
thorize the construction of bridge over the
Missouri river at Lexington, Mo-, was taken mp
and passed without amendment
On motion of Mr.. Frye the House bill to
grant an American register to the foreign-built
bark Nordstejerner now in San Francisco har-
bor taken up and passed.
Mr.. Plumb offered bill granting right-of-way
through the Fit Riley military reservation in
Kansas, to the Chicago Kansas & Western
Railway Company. Referred.
After executive session tho Senate adj
journed.
Poceedinss of the House.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Mr.. Kelley Of Penn
sylvania, presented petition from 100 wooden
and worsted mills located in twelve States, and
a large number Of New York merchants, pray
ing for the passage Of the Breckenridge bill
classifying worsted cloth as wooden cloth. Re-
ferred
On motion of Mr.. Landes, OF Illinois, q reso-
luton was adopted calling on the Secretary of
the Treasury for information showing whether
at the date of the account of 1878 fixing the