Morning journal and courier., 1888-02-03
Fiftieth Congress--First Session

expedite business so as to reach his resolu
 ton for consideration in open session of th
 British treaty, but the Plumb resolution fo l an investigation of the condition of the posta l service took precedence and debate on tn resolution was resumed. MT. Plumb saiC | that 1t had not been his purpose in offering ! the resolution to introduce anything of partisan character, but simply to have thu bad condition of the mail service rectiGed } He might have multiplied the testimon, l which he had presented as to the ineficiency 1 ot the mail service in the western country | It was not necessary to rely for it on th' newspapers.
 MT. Quay asked and obtained unanimous l consent for the consideration of the bill re ported from the committee on pensions te 1 increase the pensions of certain soldiers and sailors who are utterly helpless from injur' ' ies received or diseases contracted while i1 the service of the United States. The bill was read and passed without discussion and without division. It provides that from and after it's passage all persons who are or may become totally helpless from injuries receiv. ed or diseases contracted while in the mili tary or naval service of the United States shall be entitled to receive pension of $7s per month; also that the increase allowed by this act to those persons who may hereafter become totally helpless shall be made tc commence in strict conformity with section
 4, 6SS 1-2 of the revised statutes.
 Senator Kenna then secured the floor to re-
 ply to the tariff speech of Senator Sherman.
 After showing what, in his opinion, were in-
 accuracies and misstatements in that speech
 Senator kenna proceeded to 0 discussion in
 detail of the effect upon the revenue and ups
 on domestic interests of judicious revision
 of the tariff, disputing almost every economic
 proposition advanced by MT. Sherman and
 maintaining that the Presidents suggestions
 pointed the way not only to relief from bur
 densome taxation and the dangers of exces- sive revenue, but also to increased prosperity
 and the correction of innumerable evils with out disregard for any of the established inter- ests of this country. Senator Kenna argued that it was true we have no ships; they are prohibited together with obscene literature, counterfeit coins and contagious diseases
 These constitute the excluded class, vet ob- scene literature finds admission and so do counterfeit coin and contagious diseases
 Republican protection succeeded only in ex- cluding ships. The Senator from Ohio, who viewed with complacency the surplus in the treasury, perhaps congratulated himself that there is no surplus in ships. MT. Kenna de- nied the assertion that reducing duties in creases importation and increases the reve- nue. Protection might be so high as to pre- vent importation and yield no revenue. The other extreme is free trade, which nobody asks The true solution is fair and just medium, producing just the necessary reve- Hue 5p1I1t Ol 1dIIuthS u all 1QG0TSSCS. Senator Sherman referred to 8 proposed deg radiation of the workingman. The President proposed only to lift his burden and give him equal opportunities in the struggle for life. The freedom, intelligence and manhood of American labor exerted at the polls would not allow present conditions to exist longer. The President stands squarely by the platform upon which he was elected and MT. Kenna wished to express his hearty cooperation. He expected from the House bill framed in spirit of con- servative fairness to all sections and interests The system which the Senator from Ohio championed has caused more strikes, more distress, discontent, starvation and death than any other system the country has ever seen. It is time for change and the Presi dent gravely eonfronts the requirements. There was nothing in his recommendation to alarm the country. 4 spirit of fairness and justness would prevail and both the benefits and burdens of our system of taxation, inter nal and external, would be fairly distributed. He had no doubt the tobacco tax would be reduced or repealed. Iron and coal and wool would be allowed their fair share in the ben efits of a revised system. Monopoly fortified and entrenched behind twenty years of exac- ton and misrule will have to go.
 MT. Sherman rose and congratulated his friend from West Virginia at having pro- claimed the fact that the ranks of the Demo-
 
 issue was to be presented to the people. That party had been in possession of power in the House of Representatives for more than ten years and not single affirmative proposition or measure as to the tariff ques- tion had been presented to the judgment of the American people. If the Democratic party had, as MT. Kenna declared, closed up it's ranks, and if there was to be a fair and manly contest between the two parties on this great question, he would be delighted, but he did not believe the issue would be presented. Let the Democratic ranks be closed. Let its proposition to reduce taxation be presented and the Republican party would be found with its old ranks unbroken ready to accept the issue and let it go to the people. But for the Senator to assail him for having expressed views ten or twen- ty years ago which appeared to be different from those he expressed to-day was ''rather a small hole to creep out of." It was true since the tariff discussions of thirty years ago he (Sherman) might have changed his mind. If he had not done so, under the changed conditions and circumstances, he would not be worthy of 8 seat in the Senate. It was a bill to repeal the internal reve- nue taxes Gin 186O that he had made the re- mark that the taxes most willi ngly paid were those on spirits, beer and tobacco. So they were then so they were to-day. But within the last few years complaint had come mainly from the South against the tax on tobacco. It came from the farmers. He needed it, he obeyed it, he regretted it, and in doing so he only did what the Senators from Virginia, West Virginia, North The Republican party said it would not strike down any protected industry of the country; that when manufacturers had sprung up by the aid of protection it would not strike them down, derange their conduct, derange their plans or lower the prices of their labor. The Republican party would join with the Democratic party in reducing such taxation as bore heavily on the people, but it would preserve the system of protec- tion by tariff duties just so long as it was necessary to give Americans fair chance in the trade and commerce of the country so as not to invite foreigners to compete with home industry The law referred to by the Sena- tor from West Virginia Gin regard to immi- grafton under contract) was passed in the midst of war when two million northern men were down South. It was law inviting foreigners to help make good the absence of brave soldiers. He would vote then for any kind of law to defeat the Democratic party of the day, but he was sure he had voted for it's repeal whenever that matter was pre- sented. He congratulated Congress that the country was now to have fair, square, man ly issue presented on the industrial question, a question which affected the life, property and interests of every citizen; question be- tween protected labor in this country and the pauper labor of Europe, 8 question between diversified industries and that of single (agriculturaD interest with a few
 blacksmith and carpenter shops scattered
 throughout the country.
 The motion to refer the Presidents mes-
 sage shen went over without action.
 MT. Stewart addressed the Senate briefly in
 support of the educational bill.
 Senator Call obtained the floor for a
 speech on the same measure, but gave way
 to motion to go into executive session.
 Pending the question the chair announced
 without respect to the formation of the se-
 lect committee for the consideration of the
 message of the President on the reports oi the Pacific railroad commission that the mover of the resolution, Senator Hoar, would have been entitled to the chairmanship, but the chair was informed by that Senator that under no circumstances could he accept { place on that committee.
 The Senate at 4:30 proceeded to executive business and at 4:30 adjourned till Monday HoUsE.-Mr. Blount of Georgia, chairman of the committee on postofdees and pos roads, called up for consideration the bill ! amending the statutes so as to provide tha | no publications that are but books or re n | II | --1<l.0 0,rn@-