The Portland daily press., 1888-05-11
Lth CONCRESS--.PIRST SESSION.
SENATE.

The railroad land grant forfeiture bill was
taken up. The question being on Senator
Calls motion to reconsider the vote by
which the bill was passed. The vote
passing the bill was then reconsidered and
the bill again brought before the Senate.
The necessary amendment to protect pre-
emption and homestead claimants was then
offered by Senator Spooner and agreed to.
Senator Call offered an amendment, con-
firming titles Of purchasers of railroad lands
in Florida lying adjacent to parts of railroad
lines constructed within the time limited IN
granting the act. After discussion the amend
ment was passed.
On motion of Senator Sherman, the Senate
voted to proceed to the consideration OF the
resolution offered by Senator H0ar and re-
ported adversely yesterday from the commit
tee on foreign relations, providing that when
the fisheries treaty is under consideration,
stenographic reporter be admitted to report
the debate and proceedings and such report
to be subject to the order OF the Senate as to
publication.
On motion of Senator Edmunds. the doors
were closed and the resolution discussed.
The doors were reopened at 4 o'clock and
a number of bills dassed. among them the
Senate bill appropriating $4,000 for mon
ument to the memory of Major General Hen
ry Knox, of Thomaston. Me.
authorizing the President to arrange a con-
feaence for the purpose of promoting arbi-
tratiOn and reciprocal commercial relations
with the Central and South American States,
Mexico and Brazil was presented by Senator
Frye and agreed to. The Senate adjourned
until Monday.
A conference report on the joint resolution
authorizing the President to arrangea con-
fo-oraa fo~ tt,a nurnoca ~ Y,rouotino arhi-
tration and encouraging commercial rela-
tions with Central and South America and
Brazil, was adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Sayers, the amendment
was adopted appropriating $3,5OO0,OOO to sup
ply the deficiency in the appropriation for
the payment of army and navy pensions to
invalid widows. minor children and depend
ent relatives and survivors of the war of
1872.
The House then went into committee of
whole on the tariff bill. Mr.. Turner of
Georgia, criticised the Republican side for
not having formulated some bill to revise
the tariff in the interest of the people.
Mr. Turner then spoke in advocacy
OF tariff reform. Referring to the devastated
condition of the Southern States after the
war, he said the South began to emerge from
the scene of wreck and ruin. and had just
begun to feel that its desolation was behind.
1t was not a new South added to a new
Union, but was the old South rehabilitated,
and added to the Union of our fathers. He
asked Congress and the government, in
Gods name, to take their hands off her and
let her ambition soar.
Mr. Cannon of illinois, admitted that the
surplus ought to be reduced but denied that
the Mills bill would reduce it. He said that
the Republican party had been tainted for
not submitting tariff bill. but the Democra-
cy was in the majority and responsible for
legislation. The minority was powerless to
legislate and had not even the privilege, un-
der the rules, of having its amendments con-
sidered in committee. If the people called
the Republican party into power 1t would re-
wise the tariff and decrease taxation without
reducing wages and without breaking down
industries But until in power, 1t was not
called upon to legislate.
Mr.. Wilkinson of Louisiana, made an ar
gument for a sugar tax, favoring. revenue
tariff with the incidental protection.
Mr.. Brumm of Pennsylvania, said that
Grover Cleveland had solemnly proclaimed
doctrine which was the spawn of the cotton
combine of Wall street sharks and the Ken
lucky whiskey ring. lie proceeded to argue
for protection. He introduced the Southern
question and bitterly upbraided the South
for its treatment Of slaves, negroes
and c0nvicts.
Mr.. Clements of Georgia, deprecated the
unbusiness-like treatment Of the proposition
to revise the tariff. He urged the House
not to bubble over VINO was to do the work
of tariff revision, a Democratic or Republi-
can House, in face of so great peril but to
do the thing at once, together, as Americans.
He adjured tie gentlemen on the other side
to abandon the discussion of the confederate
constitution and slavery, and deal with the
vital question, which concerned:the people of
the whole country.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Clements's
speech, the committe rose and the House
took recess until s p. m.
At the evening session speeches were
made against the tariff bill by Messrs. Bel
den, of New York; Atkinson, of Pennsylva-
MIA Fardley, of Pennsylvania; and Post, Of
Illinois; and in favor by Messrs, Tracy, of
New York, Dargan, of South Carolina;
Newton, of Louisiana; Lane, of Illinois;
Gambler, of Georgia; Whiting, of New York.
The House, at IL o'clock, adjourned.