The Portland daily press., 1888-12-11
ADAYS WORK AMONG THE LAWMAKERS
Senator Sherman's Pointed ExpIana-
tIon OF the Tariff Bill.
Affairs In the Samoan Islands to be
Investigated.
Other Business In the Houses OF
Congress.

Sp3sOoSs
WASHINGTON, Dec 10-At o'clock today
the Senate resumed consideration of the tar
iff bill.
Mr.. Mcpherson moved two amendments to
the iron schedule. both reducing the duties.
One was on the cost of iron pipe. He stated
that the cast iron pipe industry had formed
trust and made the price equal to the for
eign cost plus the duty and all expenses.
Both amendments were rejected by strict
party vote.
Mr.. Mcpherson then ntimated that 1t
seemed that all opposition to the bill might
as we'll cease If amendments so reasonable
were to receive the united opposition of the
Republican side.
Mr.. Allison nodded.
"fhen," said Mr.. Mcpherson, I'VE are to
understand that manufacturers Of iron pipe
may appear before the COMMITTEES of the
Senate and fix any rate they choose withou.
regard to what the consumers say" Mr..
Mefherson moved three more amendments.
all of which were rejected. Mr.. mcpherson
alluded to the criticisms in the public press
on Democratic Senators, for remissness in
opposing the substitute and exposing its
weak paints. He explained that the substi-
tute had been arranged by the Republican
Senators of the committee on finance. and
the Democratic Senators had no Opportunity
TO examine 1t. In his opinion, il IL were to
become law, it would bankrupt the whole
country In less than five years. He. there
lore, moved that the consideration of the
Dill be postponed until the 10th of january
next.
Mr.. Dawes asked satirically, whether the
Senator from New Jersey was not apprehen-
slye that disaster might come to the country
from the treasury surplus if the matter was
Mr.. Mcpherson suggested that more prog
ress would be made with the bill If time
We're given to Senators ON his side to become
conyersant with its duties
Mr.. Dawes-"Then the Senator's motion is
for the purpose of education ?''
Mr. McPherson-'Yes;s this has been an
educational campaign all the way through. !"
Mr.. Dawes-"I suggest that the Senator
accompany his motion with provision for
class leaders and teachers"
At the suggestion of Mr.. Harris. Mr.. Me-
Pherson withdrew his molten for postpone
ment, at which there was some Quiet iaugh-
ter ON the Republican side. Mr.. Mcpherson
tnen moved TO reduce the rate ON axles, and
the motion was rejected.
Mr.. Harris renewed his amendment to re-
giles, etc. -"
Mr.. Vest argued in support of the amend
ment, and said there was no item in the bill
issue than this one. He spoke Of Mr.. Car
.,egie's profit on $1,000 tons of steel besms
manufactured In one year, as over a million
dollars, and described the steel trust in the
country as one 'hoary with age" How long.
he asked, was that trust to exist? s'
Mr.. Sherman desired to state once for all
the grounds OF his several votes on the bill.
because 1t was neither matter of pleasure
ior the Senate, nor matter of public utility
70 10y, waste re time IN repeating over and over
clauses of the bill. Undoubtedly the Mills
Dill represented the joint sentiment of the
democratic party, while the Senate substi
tute had been carried before the people and
debated, advocated and supported. One bill
looked to the tariff for revenue only. and the
other to the tariff for protection. de wonld
not undertake to define what tariff for rev
enue only meant, but tariff for projection
meant tariff where the rates were SO fixed
as not only to give reasonable revenue. not
prohibiting importation, but also, in every
feature OF 1t, to extend protection, encour-
agement, hope and competition among
American producers. The Senate substi-
tute represented the latter sentiment. The
paragraph 1t was proposed to amend includ-
eo great variety OF articles, some Of which
could be produced In this country for $40 or
$50 ton. while others could not be produced
Tor less than $40 per ton. Ii it were possible
to make discrimination In the duty of these
articles II should be done; but was it pos
siole without incurring ad yalorem princi-
pies? and experience was not favorable to
that principle. In imposing duties ON iron
ana steel, 1-10ths cents per pound might be
little too HI h on some articles, but It h nd
been liked upon by the finance committee as
a fair average late. As to Mr.. Carnegie's
about il except that Mr.. Carnegie had been
the first in this country to apply a continu-
0us, process in the manufacture of steel
beams. MT; Carnegie, he presumed, held
patents which could not be taken away from
him, but they would soon expire. The time
was not far distant when ali Structural
iorms OF steel and iron would be multiplied
TO an amazing extent, and would be pro-
duced cheaper and cheaper by the offer of in
ducements to manufacturers to enter into
business. That was one OF the objects of
the proposed rate. He thought it better to
sustain the finance committee in its classif-
cation than to change the rates blindly and
at haphazard. In regard to trusts, he looked
upen them as one of the most dangerous and
subtle ss ied Inventions OF man, and was in favor
to the spirit Of the common law of England,
but the only way, he thought, to break them
down was by inviting competition. If that
was not sufficient, he was willing TO 20 to
tne extent ssl OF proposing law to prevent and
[Mr. Harrisl had made a motion some days
ago to lay the Senate's substitute on the
table. That motion had been rejected by
the Senate, being an expression of opinion
that the substitute was better bill than the
House bill. The principle having been thus
determined, he thought 1t better to leave the
details of the bill to the committee which
framed It unless there was some palpable er-
ror to be corrected. He asked his Demo
cratic friends to abide by the judgment of
the people on the question. That judgment
had been In favor Of American industries.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Sherman's re-
MARKS, and without coming to vote on the
pending amendment the Senate adjourned.