The Portland daily press., 1888-02-07
Lth CONCRESS...HIRST SESSION.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb.

The Senate passed bill to amend the pos
tai laws so that newspapers now sent free
of postage to persons residing within the
county of publication, may be sent to per
sons living in other counties when they re-
ceive them at the post offices within the
county of publication.
Senator Riddleberger sent to the clerks
desk the copy of treaty between Prussia
and Russia, which he wished to have put
upon record. He SAID he wished IL to- go DerOre
the country 1t was placed upon the table.
Ii is assumed the paper is similar in its pro-
visions to the British treaty which Riddle
berger is anxious toshave discussed in pub
lie.
The educational bill was laid. before the
Senate, but temporarily laid aside at the re-
quest of Senator Platt. who proceeded to ad-
dress the Senate on the Presidents mes
sage.
Senator Platt pronounced the President a
free trader, and said he had made free trade
versus protection the issue of the next Pres
idential campaign. The Republicans well
coined a square issue in which the Democrats
looking South could not wear a free trade
face. while looking toward New York, Con-
necticut and New Jersey they wore protec-
tion mask. Eight weeks had passed since
Congress had assembled, and the exultation
of the Democtats over the message was
somewhat tempered by sadness. A few
protection Democrats, after the first gush of
admiration for the President. had begun to
realize something had hit them. They did
not know exactly what, but there was no
doubt as to what the President would be un-
derstood to mean in Southern and Western
States. 1t was, however, seen to be neceS-
sary to convince the Democratic protection
lists in New York, New Jersey and Connec-
ticut that, after all, the Presidents message
was not free trade message, but pretty
good protection document. The Presidents
argument aimed, not at irregularities and in
equalities but at protective tax that was to
be stricken down. Senator Platt challenged
any of the SO Democratic Senators to rise in
his place, and say the President was in his
Judgment a Protectionist. They dared
not go to the country on any such issue.
The speaker introduced figures to show that
calico could be bought at retail here for less
than half the amount of duty paid per yard,
that steel rails had been sold for $3.50 per
ton, which made the yrice, minus the duty Of
S17, $11.50 per ton, while steel rails could not
be bought abroad for double that price; that
blankets, cotton goods, and woolen clothing
were as cheap In this country as elsewhere,
while articles for women's wear were supe-
rior in workmanship and cheaper in price IN
the United States than elsewhere. Without
finishing his speech, Senator Platt, at 4,3O,
yielded to motion to proceed to executive
business, and the Senate, at $50, adjourned
HOUSE.
Among the bills introduced in the House
today was one by Mr. Butterworth, Of Ohio,
to extend the trade and commerce of the
United States, and provide for full recipro-
city between the United States and the Do
minion of Canada.
Mr.. Grosvenor, of Ohio, introduced the
joint resolutions of the Ohio Legislature, ex-
pressing their faith in the protective tariff
for the sake of protection, to the end that the
people may have diversity of employment
farmers may have home market, laborers
good wages, and the nation may be indepen-
dent among the nations of the earth; de-
nouncing as unjust, unwise and unpatriotic
the views expressed by the President In op-
position tc protective policy.
At the conclusion of the call OF States.
Speaker Carlisle entered the chamber and
assumed the gavel, amid loud applause from
both sides. ,,.. -
the Lowrey-White contested election case
Mr. johnson, of Indiana, submitted an argu.
ment in support of the sitting memDer, ana
Mr.. O'Neill, of Indiana contendedsthe seat
should be awarded the contestant.
Mr.. Collins, of Massachusetts,, differed
with the majority committee on elections IN
the conclusion of law at which It had ar
rived. That COZ clusion was that the record
was the only proof of naturalization, very
dangerous doctrine to lay down.. lie con-
tended that naturalization could be proved
by parole ard thought that Mr.. White had
given satisfactory proof he had taken ont
his papers. If there was any doubt about ~,
he (Collins) would give Mr.. White and his
constituents the benefit of the doubt. The
contestee has been foolish in some OF his
actions, lbut they did not always elect
solomon from the 18th district of Indiana.
Naughter)
Messrs, McAdoo, of New Jersey, Houk,
Oates Davis and Lodge also spoke.
Mr.. Crisp, of Georgia, chairman OF the
elections committee, closed the debate.
At its conclusion, Mr.. Crisp moved the
previous question upon the resolutions sub
mitted by the majority of the committee; :,
Mr.. Howell, of Illinois, moved as a substl-
tute the resolution presented by the minor
ity, declaring the sitting member lMr.
White) entitled to his seat. The substitute
was agreed to, 1877 to 105 The resolution,
as amended by the substitute, was agreed to-
thus confirming Mr. Whites title.
Adjourned.