Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-05-18

WASHINGTON, May lS.-The feature in
the Senate yesterday was the passage of the
pension appropriation bill.
The conference report on the Cincinnati
Exposition bill was presented and agreed
10.
Mr.. Stewart offered a resolution which
went over calling on the Attorney General
for an answer without unnecessary delay
to the Senate resolution of March 26th last
for information as to private land claims
in California. Mr.. Wilson gave notice
!. that he would move to take up the bin to
Quiet titles TO the Des Moines river lands
on the 2sth instant
The pension appropriation bill was taken
up, the question being on the amendment
reported by the Committee ON Appropria-
tions TO strike out the words THAT in all
pensions to widows, payment shall be
made from the date of the death of the
husband" and TO insert That all payments
which have been or which may hereafter
be granted under the general laws regu-
lating pensions to widows in consequence
OF death resulting from a cause which orig
mated in the service since March 18th, 1861,
shall commence from the date of the death
of the husband"
After prolonged debate the amend
ment was agreed to without division, and
the bill was passed.
The Senate then, under order of yester-
day. proceeded to business on the caleu-
dar. After a short executive session a
number of bills from the calendar were
passed, and at $40 p. m. the Senate ad-
journed until Monday.
The House.
The tariff bill discussion continued yes
terday in the House. Mr.. breckenridge
went into an exhaustive analysis of the
provisions of the bill, and contended that
none of the industries of the country af-
fected by the measure would be crippled.
He denied that the free wool proposition
was sectional, because sheep were more of
q product of the South than of the states
that were clamoring against the feature of
the bill.
The pending question was natural one,
and it was for the people to determine
whether they would take the first step, as
proposed by the Mills bill, towards the re-
turn TO something like a peace establish
merit or whether they would permit a war
tariff and system OF subsidy to obtain the
land.
Mr.. Stewart, of Vermont, opposed the
bill, and said that the free wool clause was
not asked for or wanted by the wool
grower, the wool manufacturer or working
men. The only persons who wanted it
were the representatives on this floor of
the traditions of another age, and of the
British manufacturer.
Mr.. Cox, of New York, put in 8 good
word for his committee on the census of
referring TO the frequency with which the
reports of the last census had been drawn
upon for information during this
debate. On the first day of the ses-
sion he had said that he believed the
tariff 10 be q business question, and il
should be so considered and kept aloof
from personalities and parties. Mr.. Cox
was willing to reduce taxation in almost
any way. He would do almost anything to
get of the surplus, which menaced and
paraiyzed the industries of the country.
Governor Allen, of Ohio, once said that a
surplus was the worst thing a Government
could have, and that il was as well to run
q powder mill in hell as an honest Govern=
ment with plethoric treasury. Mr.. Cox
opposed extravaganza as a means of getting
rid of the surplus, and taxes should be
raised on principle of equality. He
would not quarrel with gentlemen
who had local interests at stake.
The protechonists argued that the United
States had protection and high wages
therefore protection brought high wages
As well say that England had the House of
Lords and low wages, therefore the House
of Lords made low wages; the United
States had tramps and high wages. there
fore the tramps made high wages; Ireland
hsd no snakes and no wages, therefore
snakes made high wages. The truth was
that wages were utterly irrelevant to dis
cussion of the tariff.
In concluding, Mr.. Cox made plea for
commercial liberty; to give our men the
right to the earnings of their own labor,
and not take from one class TO give to
another.
Mr.. Mason of Illinois. said he represented
a district in favor of tariff reform, and d
party pledged to reform inequalities of the
tariff: but knowing that the Mills bill was
in the hands of the free trade Democracy,
he looked with suspicion upon their efforts
TO reform the tariff. Criticising the Mills
bill he said il was framed in the interest of
trusts and syndicates, especially of the
sugar trusts. President Cleveland was the
most popular American in England to-day,
for he advocated the passage of the laws in
the interest of every nation under the sun
but his own.
Mr.. Mason declared himself opposed to
free whisky. Whisky was not only pau
per breeder but mulnplier of Demo-
crats. Attacking the Committee on Ways
and Means, he said he believed that an
agent of the English manufacturers had
been in consultation with the committee
and had been influential in preparing some
parte of the Mills bill He accused the
committe of attempting to frame to frame
the bill in every particular in the interest
of the South, and wholly regardless of the
interests of the North, East and West.
Mr.. Herman. of Oregon, opposed the bill,
urged the necessity for sea coast defences,
and suggested that most of the surplus
might protitably be used for that purpose.
At $50 D. m. the committee rose and the
House took recess until a. N.