The Portland daily press., 1888-12-19
oBsTRUcTIoNIsTs AT WORK.
Democratic Senators object to At
tending Evening Sessions.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18.-The Senate today
took up the resolution favoring evening ses-
sions and long discussion ensued. An
amendment was offered by Mr.. Morrill, pro-
yidIng that, until otherwise ordered, the
daily hour for the meeting of the Senate be
II a. m, at $50 each day recess to be taken
until s p. m. Messrs. Vest, Harris and Vance
opposed the amendment. They disclaimed
any desire to make factiOus opposition to the
Senate tariff bill, but wanted a fair and le-
gitimate investigation and discussion. They
could not be forced to sit day and night.
Democratic Senators had no opportunity to
examine the details of the bill. Mr. Vance
referred to hearings given by the sub-com-
mittee OF the finance committee to manufac-
turers and their representatives, who had
stood. he said, around the door of the COM
mittee room like hungry dogs around a kitch-
en- door waiting for the cook to shake the
table CLOTH The bill had been framed in
their interests, the interests of consumers
not being considered, nor those of the gov
ernment. 1t was not fair, proper, Just, or
right to hurry the bill through by caucus ac-
tion.
Messrs. Morrill, and Allison defended the
amendment as intended to enable the Senate
to do the business of the session intelligently
through with the tariff bill by the middle Of
January, 1t would have to be laid aside to
make room for appropriation bills.
Mr.. Sherman reminded the Democrats that
in 1888. when the previous tariff bill was un-
der discussion, the Senate sat through the
holidays on the resolution introduced by Sem
ator Garland, Democrat. There was just
as much surplus as year ago and Just as
much necessity for the passage Of tariff
bill.
Mr.. Vance, referring to the tariff legisla-
ton Of 1888, said it had been introduced and
carried with great flourish of trumpets and
when it went into effect 1t was found 1t 're-
duced the average taxation from AZ to AZ per
cent"
The discussion was continued at great
length by Messrs. Voorhees,, Hawley, Hoar
Blackburn, Aldrich, Vest and Cockrell. The
resolution was finally postponed until to-
morrow.
Mr.. Morrill, reported back from the finance
committee the House concurrent resolution.
for holiday recess with an amendment re-
stricting 1t to the House of Representatives
That also went over without action until to-
morrow.
The Senate then resumed consideration of
the tariff bill, at paragraph $50. in reference
to wire rods. Mr.. Turpie made general ar
gument against the substitute which ap-
peared, he said, to be based upon the super
stition that taxation was for the benefit Of
the industrial classes,' a superstition which
would have to run out its course, Just like
the South Sea Bubble and Tulip Craze. He
moved an amendment to the wire rod para
graph, which was rejected.
Mr.. Vest had read O communication from
the New Haven Wire Company, asking to be
protected against the American wire rod
manufacturers. and that the duty on wire
rods be reduced to four and one-half cents
per pound from six and one-half. He moved
TO amend the paragraph to that effect. This
Mr.. Allison opposed and 1t was rejected.
After considering about three pages Of the
bill the Senate proceeded to executive busi-
ness and adjourned.