The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-30

could mean. Why this Difference to the English
governments Il could not be that the admins
tration intended TO deliver the people hound TO
that government He was afraid. II there
should be another session of English commits
sioners in Washington, some OF the onicsrs OF
the government would be found walking down
the street with orange flowers in their button
holes, with the bottom of their trousers turned
up with large canes and with buil-terriers.
Mr. White. of New York, suggested that if
the committee post-oficss and post-roads had
displayed half the amount of ability in securing
information on the subject that it has displayed
in finding out how not to get 1T, the matter
would have been dis posed of weeks ago; that the
bill would have 5een passed, showing that the
American Congress recognized thu fact that an
American citizen good as a Canadian cit
izen if he behaved himself we'll. He called
attention to the fact that the recent posaa
treaty was of those which did not require
ratification, but which entirely under the
control of the executive branch of the govern
ment. His resolution was IN way offensive,
but only asked for information kof which, he
thought, the House should be in possession.
Mr.. Blount OF Georgia, said there had been
much criticism of the department. IN regard to
the treaty. The very terms OF the treaty were
but a repetition of the terms negotiated during
the last administration of President Grant. BY
Republican Postmaster-general; SO whatever
there was in this matter was not especially
chargeable to q Democratic department. A
treaty had been negotiated with Canada by
which the rate of postage on seeds and bulbs IN
Canada was less than the rate In our domestic
intercourse. 1t a treaty binding upon the
citizens and government of both countries. The
Postmaster general having learned that Ameri-
can Seedsmen were carrying their seeds
to Canada, and thence sending them by mail
into the United States, thus getting advantage
of the lower rate of postage. had called the at
tention of the Canadian government TO 1t, an
had directed the postal officials to rate up the
postage on such matter. There was nothing
wrong in that. It was the duty of the Post
mastergeneral. as upright official. to execute
the treaty He Mr. Blountl had no objection
to the House receiving all the information on
the subject it desired, but protested against the
diSrespectful language of the pending resolu-
ton which would be regarded as insulting if
used by an executive department In addressing
Congress. and would not be tolerated in inter-
course between the executive departments and
the Supreme Court
Mr. Peters. of Kansas, wished to amend the
resolution by striking out the words which were
considered TO reflect upon the department, but
was not permitted to present the amendment.
The resolution was tabled-yeas. 125 nays. 122
Mr.. Randall moved to reconsider tbs vote
Lost-yeas, 123; nays, 127.
The bill was reported to prohibit aliens from
acquiring title to owning lands within the
United States House calendar.
The House then went into committee OF the
whole on the Indian appropriation bill.
Mr.. Nelson; of Minnesota, took advantage of
the general debate to speak upon the tariff. 1t
was not honest, he said. to call men who favored
tariff reduction, free-traders. The men who OPP
posed all forms of tariff reduction not the
only friends of American labor, were they
the only guardians of American enterprise. The
question of protection or free trade was not
fairly involved in the problem Congress had
to solve. The question was whether
the surplus should be got rid
Of by extravagant expenditures or
whether the taxes should be reduced. The
great body of the people agreed that the
surplus should be reduced by reduction of
taxation The next question presented was,
whether. that reduction should be applied to the
tariff or internal revenue taxes. He sent to the
Clerks desk and had read letter received by
him from Charles A Piilsbury, of Minnesota,
who. he stated, a prominent Republican,
warmly commencing his course in Congress
upon the tariff question, and declaring that 80
per cent. of the Democrats and 70 per cent. of
the Republicans of Minnesota agreed with him
in his views. The reading of the letter was APP
also to the the desk snd
had read extracts from Minnesota newspapers
and private letters 60 himself favoring tariff
revision. The reading was also received with
ern Republican platforms, declaring in favor of
a reduction in the tariff at an early day and
added. amidst the laughter and applause of the
Democrats, land now, my friends, Is the APP
pointed time" Continuing, he said that even
as stiff protectionist as Senator Sherman had
been forced at the meeting of the Home-market
Club at Boston, to admit the necessity of tariff
revision and declare in favor of the admission,
free of duty, of such materials and articles
as did not compete with domestic products. In
the face of these platform pledges and these adj
Missions in the face of the great and
growing surplus taken from the people
out consideration aSna therefor, It made
him sick at heart to think that there were lead
ing men on his side OF the chamber who at this
juncture could not think of any other fields for
tax reduction than whisky and tobacco.
Surely those not the things which the
poor laboring man kept his family. Would it
not be better to give them cheaper Clothes and
food and sheltera He would put free sugar. free
salt and free lumber against free whisky and
tobacco. and so would the great mass of the
American people.
Mr.. Funston of Kansas, attempted to pat
some questions to Mr.. Nelson, but the latter
marked that the gentleman could have the floor
to himself. and took his seat not replying to
Mr. Funston's challenge to why he did not
put wheat the free list
The committee then rose and the House ad-
journed.