Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-07
AFFAIRS OF THE NATION.
The Senate Spends Another
 Day with the Tariff.
DIRECT TAX BILL IN THE HOUSE.

 The Metal Section of the Senate Bill Under Discussion-A Bill in the Interest of Working People-Naturalized Citizens to Have First Call for Employment. WASHINGTON, Dec 7-The senate resumed the consideration of the tariff bill, beginning with schedule B, which covers earthen ware and glass ware MT. McPherson called atten- tion to schedule B and said, to his mind, the rates of duties provided in the senate bill were an increase on the existing rates. He reserved the right to offer some amendments hereafter to the glass and pottery items MT. Hoar also reserved the right to offer some amendments to the glass paragraphs. No amendment, except as to two formal changes of phraseology, was made to schedule B, and the senate proceeded to the consideration of schedule c, relating to metals.
 MT. Plumb called attention to the para graph as to beams, girders and joists, and spoke of the iron and steel combinations in this country. He moved to amend by reduc- ing the rate from 1 l-10 cents per pound to S-10 cents
 MT. Harris called attention to the fact that the existing duty on these articles was equiv alent to an ad valorem rate of 102.75 per cent. that the rate of 6-10 cents per pound, proposed by the house bill, was equivalent to 49 g. per cent, and that the rate proposed in the senate substitute was equivalent to 90. 42 per cent. He moved to amend the amend ment by fixing the rate at CLIO cents per pound
 MT. Allison opposed MT. Harris amend ment, saying that it went to the root of the whole iron and steel schedule. He had no doubt that if the present rate of duty were maintained the competition would be sutfi- cient, in very short time, to break down the prices
 MT. Aldrich also opposed MT. Harris amend ment. The adoption of the amendment, he said, would necessarily involve the recom- initial of the bill its abandonment It would certainly be an abandonment of the protective feature of the bill The prices of structural forms of iron and steel were not excessive now
 MT. Reagan advocated the amendment.
 The discussion was continued by Messrs. Aldrich, Harris. Hoar, Butler, Plumb and Payne, but no vote was taken the pending amendments and the bill was laid aside, the progress during the day being about eight pages
 THE DIRECT TAX BILL.
 The house began the discussion of the direct tax bill
 The order relative to the consideration of the bill was so modified as to make the measure a special order for next Tuesday.
 An effort was made to reach some agree ment touching the offering and pendency of amendments to the bill, but it proved futile. MT. Casweu explained that the simple pur- pose of the bill was to refund to the states and individuals who paid that tax that por- tion of the direct tax which was collected. After careful computation, he was able to state that the bill carried S15, ,227 ,632. This did not include the 15 per cent. commission allowed the states or parties who paid the tax. The amount to be cancelled, now un- collected was S2, ,562, ,401.
 Mir. Oates (Ala) said that the bill was un- constitutional and unjust. He sent to the clerks desk and had read for information a series of amendments which he proposed to offer at the proper time.
 The first refunds the cotton tax; the second permits persons who paid that tax to bring suit in the court of claims to recover the amount paid; the third revives the right of action in the court of claims under the pro visions of the captured and abandoned prop erty act, and the fourth directs the secretary of the treasury, in making payment and set clement of the direct tax, to take into ac- count and set off any amount due by any state to the United States under the act ot June 23, 1s36 ito regulate the deposits ot public money"
 Mr. Kerr Qa.) said that one of his objections vo the refund of the cotton tax was that during the years when the tax was col lected the producers received so large a price for their cotton that the tax was really tc their advantage.
 MT. Stewart (Ga-) regarded the pending bill as unwise legislation He suggested that were there not surplus in the treasuls the measure would never have been brought forward.
 IN THE INTEREST oFsswoRKINGMEN.
 MT. Blair introduced in the senate an elab crate bill entitled: IA bill to organize bu reaus of information relating to employment occupations, wants, means of livelihood ant homes"
 The bill provides for the establishment b, the president on recommendation of the com missioner of labor in geographical sections o not less than 100000 or more than 10000 inhabitants of bureaus of information, DEC yided always that there shall be one in eac state and territory. This bureau is to obtai through the mails, the telegraph, persona intercourse and other investi gation the mos complete information obtainable in regar to the matters referred to in the title of tn bill, opportunities for employment, localitie and character of such employment; the COS of living in those localities, prices and qual ties of lands personal property and tram portation; the opportunities for education etc. The bureau is to establish, at least ono a month, in newspaper form or in some new paper in the district, the information ol tained, or at least compendium of it, an is to supply information without charge i those who seek it. It is made the duty the president and the house of representative to provide that all public money expende under contract or otherwise on public bull, ings, rivers or 'harbors, Notifications, vesse and other public works shall be paid American citizens, or persons who have mao a declaration of their intention to becon American citizens and who, becoming COZ petent, are needy of employment, giving u preference to those who reside in the vicinit of the work.
 The Mine Fire Spreading.
 RED JACKET, Mich., Dec 7.-The fire .hoft of fba CaIunet mine is oraata