Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-19
THE ENATION'S CAPITAL
How HaVeIneyer'S Visit Affected
the Mills Bill.
PallaciOuS Reports Of Cotton Mill Earn
inss Exposed by Frye.
The President Promises to Talk Politics
in New York.
Committee on Appropriations to Sit
During Recess-AdIournmen
Agreed Upon.
WAsHISGToS, Oct. Is.
Senate.

Senator Brown offered resolution for f.
nal adjournment on Saturday, as substi-
tute for Mr.. Allisons recess resolution.
Senator Alison favored the substitute and
it was adopted by the Senate.
Mr.. Gray, in the absence of the two Con-
necticut senator's, presented and read men,
orial of five hundred citizens of Connecticut
workingmen. wage-earuers, manufacturers
and farmers in favor OF the Mills bull and
the admission of raw material, particularly
ool, salt, lumber, tin plates, ETC., free of
duty.
Laid on the table.
Mr.. Teller offered resolution instructing
the committee ON Indian affairs, 10 inquire
as to the truth of the report, that the secre-
tary of the interior has purchased large
number OF wagons for the Indian service,
that were manufactured with prison labor in
the State of Tennessee.
Bate of Tennessee said the firm in ques-
ton paid Tennessee over 100000 upon the
convict labor contract being approved by the
legislature. The bargain with the interior
department was male after the advertise
ment and contract was let to the lowest bid
der. He saw no reason, however, why the
matter should not be investigated if the SEN
ator from Colorado desired it. The system
of convict labor in Tennessee had beer bor-
rowed from a report made by James G.
Blaine.
Cockrell criticised the resolution as being
merely an attempt to get up a smelling com
mittee to take testimony ard publish it on
the evening of the election.
The discussion took the tariff turn, partic-
pated in by Allison, Aldrich, Dolph, Teller
aud Cockrell.
The resolution went over till tomorrow.
The Senate took recess and then passed
various joint resolutions for the printing of
agricultural reports 100000 copies) and
other documents.
senators Edmunds, Dawes and Faulkner
were appointed as joint select committee
to investigate the work on the Washington
aqueduct tunnel.
The Senate resumed the consideration of
the tariff bill and was addressed by Aldrich.
Frye criticised the statements made in the
Senate and House as to the net profits made
by the cotton mills. These net profits had
been placed at 80 per cent. but the calcula-
ton had been made on the plan of leaving
out much of the expenditures, such as the
cost of power, fuel, gas, salaries, taxes in
su 'ance, depreciation of machinery, etc. To
show the fallacv of such statements he read
from transcript from the books of a fifty
thousand spindle cotton mill in his own town
(welt and carefully managed) which showed
for the year 1852 net profits of three per
cent. That the same transcript, treated in
the way in which some senators made their
calculati lions. (by the omission of many items
of expendlture) would have shown net
profit of over nineteen per cent. As mat
ter of fact the net profit has been three per
cent. He asserted that the average net prof
its of that mill for ten years had not been
five per cent. nor four per cent.
lie knew another cotton mill in the same
town that has not run for six years. He
knew the average net profits in well
conducted cotton mills iii his own
State had not averaged per cent. for ten
years. Wooden mills were worse off than
cotton mills. Nearly half the wooden mills
in the country today are idle. Taking New
England all through woolen mills had not
netted per cent per annum for 10 years
There shouldn't be, he said, such terrible
mistakes made in such matters.
At the close Of the discussion Allison of
fered a resolution authorizing the finance
committee to continue its investigation into
tariff matters. Laid over till tomorrow
The Senate then adjourned.