The Portland daily press., 1888-12-06
IN THE SENATE.
The Tariff Bill and Other Matters
Under Consideration.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-Mr. Vest offered
resolution in the Senate today continuing
the existence Of the select committee on
questions toE$ Ing the meat product of the
United States, especially as to its transpor-
tati0n referred.
When the tariff bill was taken up Mr..
Harris, OF tennessee, NOV ed to lay on the
table tbe amendm ent to the House bill pro-
posed by the committee on finance, which is
the whole Senate bill, and demanded the yeas
and nays. The motion was rejected by a
strict party vote, yeas 10, nays &c.
Mr.. Vance moved an amendment to the
tobacco section reducing the limit of claims
for rebate from ten to eight dollars. Re
jected.
An amendment was offered and rejected
removing from the internal revenue statutes
all provisions fixing minimum of penalty
and leaving the matter to the directors of
the court.
Various amendments to the internal rev.
enue statutes were offered by Mr.. Vance and
all were rejected.
Mr.. Hoar offered resolution continuing
the select committee on relations with
Canada.
Mr.. Plumb offered resolution, which was
agreed to. instructing the committee on epi-
demic diseases to inquire as to the causes of
the introduction of yellow fever into Florida
strumentalitiesH Of such introduction were
still in force and what legislation is nee
eSsary TO prevent repetition.
Mr.. Dawes offered resolution, which was
agreed to, calling ON the secretary of the in
terror for information as to the alleged out
RACES and restraint of liberty Committed in
Alaska on the Aleuts, and what steps, if
any, have been taken by the department to
protect the persons in Alaska from such
0utrages.
Mr.. Vance offered an amendment, which
was agreed to, providing that when the
health or life of prisoners under the internal
revenue laws is endangered by close confine-
ment the Judge may issue an order providing
for such prisoners reasonable comfort.
When in consideration of the tariff bill,
section ~, which deals with "duties upon
imports" beginning with schedule A,
chemical products, was reached, Mr.. Nc
Pherson called attention to the fact that the
rates OF duty reported for chemical products
made no allowance for the remittance of the
tax on spirits used in medicines. This re-
mission would, he said, simply operate as an
additional bounty to manufacturers of chemi-
Cal products. No member of the finance
committee would deny that there would be
great frauds on the revenue under the DO
vision for free alcohol in the arts and manu-
factures. He therefore regarded those pro-
visions as the first step towards the total abb
r0gatlon OF the whiskey tax. 1t would be
necessary either to repeal the proposed leg
lslatl0n or abolish the whole tax on whiskey.
He was unalterably opposed te such legisla-
and to any system which offered a premium
on fraud. He called for yea and nay vote
on the provision as to alcohol used in manu-
factures.
Mr.. Allison thought there was some force
in Mr.. McPherson's suggestion that this was
tfft ftd eeefltfg eAtfhs tt6ea 70 aIe8fStiAP rgb gbstes
andmanufactures should remain in the bill,
or be excluded from it. He denied, however,
the force of McPhersOn's argument
Mr.. Aldrich criticized the Democratic Sen.
ators who favored "free raw materials" fol
opposing the proposition to remove the tax
on alcohol used In the arts and manufac.
lures. He said, If in the whole range of ar.
ticles taxed by the internal revenue laws oil
customs laws there was one article of raw
material on which the tax should be removed
it was alcohol used in the arts.
The discussion took a political turn and
Mr.. Dawes asked Mr.. Mcpherson whether
he would abolish the protective system OF
the internal revenue system II the alterna
| tive were reached.
Mr. Mcpherson said: II am not in the
habit of jumping before / reach a stile
| When any such question comes before the
| der prayerful consideration"
Mr.. DaweS-"I state distinctly, and
| should like to see a Republican differing
| from me, and that is that when that alterna
| tive is. presented to me will vote for tht
| abolition of the internal revenue system anC
| against the abolition of the protective sys
/ tem." s7
| A vote was taken to strike out all sections
| as to alcohol used in manufactures, an ! i
was rejected-yeas, II; nays, "a. Mr.. Sher
man voted with the other Republicans in th'
negative.
| Mr.. Mcpherson gave notice that he woul'
| renew the motion hereafter.
| After disposing of thirty pages Of the bill
and reaching the end of the schedule, 81
amendment being offered to it, the Senat
| proceeded to executive business and ad
| journed.