The Portland daily press., 1888-08-03
TARIFF AND PENSIONS IN THE HOUSE.
Democrats Reminded OF a Chance
to Reduce the Surplus.
Congressman DInsIey Speaks Of the
Senate Tariff Bill.
Senator Morgan Thinks 1t Should Be
1918 or Fight.

w WAonAN0AONg mug hO AAVhSC1 hON0Jg
In committee Of the whole, considered the
deficiency appropriation bill. Mr.. Hovey, Of
Indiana, in speaking to formal amendment,
replied TO a speech published in the Record
OF last Sunday, purporting to have been de-
livered in the House the preceding Saturday
by Representative Matson, of Indiana, on the
subject of pensions. In that speech the gen.
tleman labored to show that the Democratic
party was and had been the friend Of the ex-
soldiers. Mr.. HoYey contradicted this and
said every intelligent man knew the Demo-
cratic party, from the President down, was
strongly opposed to all pension legislation,
He analyzed several the Presidents vetoes
to substantiate his declaration.
Mr.. Holman, Of Indiana. remarked that the
Republican party for twenty years had grant,
ed lands to corporations and refused to grant
1t to soldiers.
Mr.. Mckinney, of New Hampshire, quot
ed figures and reviewed pension legislation
in an effort to show that President Cleve-
land had signed more pension bills than his
Republican predecessors
The consideration of the bill was then re-
sumed and for some time ran smoothly until
Mr.. Dockery, Of Missouri, precipitated
brief tariff debate bya few remarks on the
subject of surplus. He explained the in
crease Of the surplus and said that with this
condition confronting Congress, 1t had occu-
pied days and weeks and would continue oc-
cupying days and weeks discussing theories:
The very difficulties President Grant had
foreseen had come to pass. The moment the
government went into the market to buy
bonds, the bonds appreciated.
Mr., Dingley Of Maine, said, II he under
stood the complaint Of the gentleman, 1t was
that the Republicans had pursued policy
which had the result Of increasing the sur
plus. With regard to the reduction OF reye-
nue., the Republican side had stood ready
proposition for the reduction of the reye-
nue. by the abolition Of the tax on tobacco.
Notwithstanding the fact that gentle
men on the other side had sought to OBJ
tain recognition for the passage OF bill, re-
pealing the tax, no recognition had been
given. and for year that which could have
been done had not been done, that the in
creasing surplus could be used as lever to
secure the overthrow OF the doctrine OF pro-
lection. The Republican side had been
ready from the beginning to give their votes
for the passage of bill reducing the reve-
nue. which would protect the Industries of
country. and the Senate would send such a
bill to the House. 1t would then be seen If
the gentlemen on the other side would be as
ready to reduce the revenue when the indus
tries of the country were to be protected as
when they were TO be destroyed.
Mr.. Bynum, of Indiana, said that when the
Mills bill was considered In the committee,
the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr.. kel-
ley, moved to repeal the entire tobacco tax.
Messrs. Kelley and Reed voted in the affirm
ative, and Messrs. Mckinley, Browne and
Burrows voted against it. This showed that
the majority of the Republicans. as repre-
sented on the committee, were not in favor
of repeal Of the tobacco tax.
Mr. Dingley declared that IL the tobacco
provision of the Mills bill had been put into
a separate bill it could have been passed at
any time. Pending further debate the COM
mittee rose and the House adjourned.
Morgan on The Treaty.
In the Senate. today. Senator Sherman
moved to proceed to the consideration Of the
fisheries treaty in open executive session
This was agreed to by a strict party vote.
The matter was taken up, the question being
on Senator Morgan's motion to postpone fur
ther consideration till December next. Sem
ator Morgan then addressed the Senate. in
reference to the phase of the case covered by
his resolution which declares, that, in the
opinion of the Senate, the treaty has been
properly authenticated and is lawful and
valid, and that the time has not passed
for negotiating ON the subject of the fisheries.
He said the country was already advised, by
the action Of the caucus of the Republican
party, that the treaty was doomed to defeat.
The purpose Of his resolution was to save to
the government as good an attitude as possi-
BILE, after the rejection Of the treaty. If he
were opposed to the treaty and belle we'd 1t a
sacrifice of the honor and interests of the
people Of the United States, he would never
theless insist on the adoption Of his res0lu-
tion, for the purpose Of disembarrassing the
future diplomatic or other relations of the
United States with Great Britain, and pro-
viding means by which the two govern
ments could get in accord. He could not
conceive more unfortunate situation than
for the government to make declaration, as
proposed in the majority report Of the COM
mittee on foreign relations, first, that the
fisheries relations of the two coun-
tries were not a fit subject for negotiation
and, secondly, that the time for negotiations
had passed. He did not believe in either of
these statements. The country would re-
ceiye such declaration with very serious
doubt and he desired, by vote Of the SEN
ate, to free the question from any such un-
necessary embarrassment as that. III 1t was
desired to reject the treaty in solido, with
out attempting TO improve it by amendments,
let it be SO rejected, but let that rejection be
accompanied with declaration, Iade neces-
sary now by the majority report, that the
time for negotiating had not PISSED, and that
the subject was proper one for negotiation.
After going over the subject thoroughly.
Senator Morgan declared the treaty Of 1918
was the sorest spot in our history, and sur
rendered the rights we secured by the revo-
luti0nary war, yet 1t was part Of the su-
preme law of the land and he would live up
to it until the country was ready to fight for
the restoration of the rights it surrendered.
As Described by Mr.. DIngIey.
Speaking today of the general character Of
the Senate tariff biu, Mr.. Dingley of Maine,
who keeps thoroughly posted on tariff mat
tiers, said that the bill would reduce the rev.
enue sixty millions, as much as the Mills bill,
and would reduce the average rate of the du-
table lists to the 421 per cent. proposed by
the Mills bill, but would make the reduction
on such articles as sugar and rice. not pro-
duced here to any considerable extent. and
would maintain sufficient duties on articles
produced here to protect our own industries
Sketching the general plan of the bill as fore
shadowed by the motions and votes of the
Republicans of the House, Mr.. Dingley said
1t would be as follows:
First Abolition OF internal revenue tax on to-
bacco and dealers 10 tobacco, with perhaps the
exception OF cigars.
Second. Abolition of internal revenue tax on al
cohol used In the arts, manufactures and medicine,
without any reduction of tax on whisky or aco.
holic liquors used for other purposes for 1t should
be remembered that on motion made Dy DEM
0cratic member to abolish the tax on whiskey
every affirmative vote came from the Democratic
side.
Third. Such revision of the tariff as will cor
rect the inequalities which have arisen from decis-
ions, errors In the act of 1883, or changed cond-
tons; such as will place on the Tree list articles
that cannot be produced in this country and Will
maintain the American system OF protection to
home industries and labor, the more important
points of which revision should include