Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-07

THE NATIONS N'SCAPITAL.
Our Protection System Platte
Ably Demonstrates Its I'm
portanCe and Benefits.
Captain White Of Indiana Retains His
Seat In the House.
General Congressional Notes
WAsHIsGToS, Feb. 8.
Senate.

The joint resolution for the celebration of
the centennial of the constitution, was
passed.
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 its publication, may be sent to persons
living in other counties when they receive
them at the post Offices within the county of
publication.
Upon the motion of Mr.. Salisbury, the
Senate joint resolution, relating to interna-
tional coinage, was taken up. Salisbury
addressed the Senate.
Riddleberger sent to the clerks desk copy
of the treaty between Prussia and Russia,
which he wished TO have put on record. lie
said he wished it placed before the country.
1t was tabled. 1t is assumed that the paper
is similar in provisions to the British treaty,
which Riddleberger is anxious to have dis
cussed in public.
| Mr.. Patt took the floor for speech
upon the Presidents message.
| platt announced the President free trader
and said he had made free trade versus pro-
lection an issue in the presidential campaign.
The republicans welcome the square issue
in which the democrats looking toward the
South couldn't wear free trade look
! anu ioOhiliR tO"dIu view IOIhs
and New Jersey and Come ctcut
wear protection mark. Weeks have passed
since Congress assembled and the Civilizations
of the democrats over the Message
/ is somewhat tempered by sadness.
A few protectonists, after the first gush of
admiration for the President had begun to
realize that something had hit them but did
not know exactly what. There was no doubt
as to what the President would be understood
/ to mean in the southern and western States,
and 1t vas seen necessary TO convince the
democratic protectionists in New York New
/ jersey and Connecticut, that, after all, the
| Presidents message was not a free message
but pretty good protection document. The
! Presidents argument aimed not at irregulari-
ties but the protective tax, that was to be
stricken down.
| The educational bill, laid before the SEN
| ate temporarily. was laid aside at the request
of Platt, who proceeded to address the Senate
upon the Presidents message.
| Platt challenged any of the democratic
senators to rise in his place and say that the
President was, in his judgment, protect
/ ionst. They dared not go to the country on
any such issue. The President had referred
| to import duties as being a scheme for the
benefit of manufacturers. The protection
! lists desired it, and insisted that whenever Il
duty was laid which protected the American
! manufacturer in competition among home
producers, it always brought down and al
ways would bring down the price.
/ 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. Steel rails had been sold for $3.50
per ton, which made the price, minus the
duty of Sl7, IL. 80 per ton, while steel rails
couldn't be bought abroad for double that
price. That blankets, cotton goods and
wooden clothing were as cheap in this coun-
country as anywhere, while articles of wom-
ems wear were superior in workmanship and
cheaper in price in the United States than
! elsewhere.
/ He repeated that there was not one article
of domestic production manufactured here
I to a considerable EXTENT that WAS not as ap-
| proximatcly cheap as abroad. Laborers
everywhere were most interested in mainta in
! ing protective tariff. First, artisans. men
who work in factories, would be hit; next,
agriculturalists next, manufacturers in sec
tons of the country where the industries
might indeed be called infant" next those
engaged in transportation next, those en-
gagged in merchandise; last and least, the
manufacturers of New England As to put
/ ting raw materials on the free list, the manu-
facturers of New England, as A class,
'spurned that bribe."
| lie quoted from letter by Ex-Governor
Bigelow of Connecticut in correction of an
Interview published on the subject in the New
York Times. He remarked that he was in
formed on good authority that the cores
pondent sent to get up the interviews was
employed by the general government. He
declared with a full unde rstandinv of what
he sad) either the President in his message
intended free trade or else was not dealing
fairly with the American people.
Without finishing his speech Platt, at 80,
yielded to a motion to proceed with execu-
tive business.
The Senate adjourned at $50.