The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-12
POLITICS IN HMH3TAXES.
MEssRs. VEST AND ALLISON BEAR
THE BRUNT OF TIE DEBATE.

THE BRUNT OF TIE DEBATE.
The Former Asserts that the Senate's
Bill Was Frame as a Magnet to
Catch Votes in the Last Election
Mr.. Allison Processes a Willingness
to Vote for All Just Amendments.
WASHINGTON, Dec. ia conference Of
democratic senators was held last evening
at which the Senate substitute for the Mills
bill was under consideration. The confer
ence was called to learn whether or not any
senator had any suggestion to make of
change in the manner of treating the
measure heretofore pursued in the senate,
but there was none. No vote was taken at
any time during the meeting, the gathering
being merely a conference and not a caucus,
but it was unanimously determined to
make no factious opposition to the bill, and
to let it take its regular course. The views
of the democratic senators will, however,
be made known as each paragraph is read
and amendments whicl are deemed neces-
sary and just will be offered. There was a
full attendance Of senators at the confer
enee.
DEBATE OF THE SENATE.
The Senate at 2:40 o'clock to-day re-
sumed consideration of the tariff bill, the
pending question being the Harris amend
ment to reduce the duty on beams, girders,
etc, from IL cents per pound to 0.6 of a
ss.s.t. Mr.. Vest referring to Mr.. Shermans
speech yesterday denied the assertion that
the late election had settled the question of
tariff legislation. Mr.. Vest was not dis
heartened by that resolution. If the
senator from Ohio and his party
thought that the election had set
tied the tariff question, greater
mistake had never been made by mortal
man. The question would last as long as
the country endured, because it involved a
fundamental difference in the construction
of the constitution. Aside from the poll
cies of the government, if the position of
the republican party to-day was the
correct one, that of unlimited taxa
ton for the purpose of protection,
the war would never cease, because it vas
in his judgment, subversion of the principles
of the government and Of its autonomy.
Unless he was very much mistaken in the
American people and had studied human
nature in vain, the result was just as
sure, in the course of time, as that be stood
in the Senate chamber to-day. But what
he had particularly wished to say was that,
although the senator from Ohio might be
right in stating that the election was a
triumph of the protective principle, he
aDSOluC6ly u6ulSu III IlOSG beTIuS
that it settled the question as to the details
of the bill.
THE STEEL TRUST,
Mr.. Vest proceeded with his argument on
the metal schedule, and referred again to
the steel trust, characterizing it as "a
gigantic devil fish of a combination" which
put an immense amount of money into the
pockets of its members in the name of
American labor and of protecting infant
industries. He quoted from a trade
journal to show that American
manufacturers sent their products to
Canada to the amount of $50, 900, 900 yearly,
and were there able to compete with the
products of British manufacturers paying
the same rates of ddties), and he asked why,
if they could do that, they needed such
enormous protection at home. He would
be obliged to any senator who would
answer that simple question.
GoRMAN NOT AN EXTREMIST.
Mr.. German said that he had never taken
an extreme view either as to the reduction
or increase of duties. The country had ex-
pected, however, that there would have
been a moderate decrease of the revenues,
so as to remove the inequalities in the pres
ent without interfering with the capital
invested or with the labor EN- nlov ed in manu-
features But in the midst of the presidential
campaign and for political purposes, the
Senate substitute had been framed-its pur-
pose being a reduction of taxation on two
or three articles principally sugar and to-
bacco) and an increase of taxation on all
other products for the purpose of increasing.
unduly, the profits of certain manufactur-
ing interests in the north.
THE SENATES MAILED HAND.
And the Senate, he said, was now met
with the statement that there could be no
modification Or ra6uption of tho rataS Dro-
posed, and that the republican side of the
cha N Der would vote solidly to keep
the substitute as it is. AS to the item IN
der consideration, he had no question from
his knowledge of the iron and steel business)
that l cent per pound would be an ample
duty on steel beams Probably that rate
would be more than was necessary to pro-
tect that industry and all the labor en-
ployed in it. His impression was, however,
that the rate proposed in Mr.. Harris's
amendment, 0.6 of a cent per pound,
would be too great reduction.
ALLIsoN's DISCLAIMER.
Mr. Allison-I entirely agree with the
senator from Maryland that this bill should
discussed in detail on the merits of each
Item, and so far as | am concerned as a
member of the finance commit
tee, | disclaim any idea that
the bill is immaculate in its details. l ex-
HcCb lldU ID6 lDdDCo CDIlUllIJe6 lOSeu Will
offer a good many amendments to it.
think there are several defects in it, /
think that these steel-beam people can get
along with a duty of l cent per pound
on steel beams, and at some proper time
shall be glad to offer that amendment.
For myself disclaim presenting bill that
Is to be put through on party lines or for
party purposes. / shall listen with pleasure
to any criticisms on the details of the bill
The bill, in its general framework, is in
tended to protect American industries and
American labor, but as to its details | stand
ready to listen to amendments and to vote
Tor them If they convince my judgment
that the rate is either too high or too low.
think that some of the rates proposed are
too low, and | have no doubt that | shall
vote to raise them. | think that some are
TOO high and | shall vote to reduce them.
GoRMAN GLAD.
Mr.. Gorman--I am very glad, even ct
this day, to have that statement from the
senator from Iowa. We all understood why
this Senate substitute was framed. We all
understand that it was framed for political
purposes. | am not complaining of that.
on referring to the republicans succeeded
IN the election. You carried the country.
1t vas well and magnificentiy done on your
part, and have no right to complain of it.
hut, now that the election is over, now that
your party has succeeded and is soon TO
come into possession Of every branch of the
government, it Is the hight of unwis1om
10 insist on these unduly high rates. There