The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-03
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS
Senator Kenna Defends President Cleve-
lands Tariff-Reform Message.
He Attacks the Recent Speech Of Senator Sher-
man. and that Gentleman Responds-Low-
ryWhite Case Taken Up in the House.

n petition from the president OF the johnson d
Fuller Manufacturing Company, of Madison,
Wis, for the abolition of all import duties on
agricultural machinery, such as plows, har-
rows and hay and harvesting machinery, on the
Ground that such duties were superHuous and
useless, and that agricultural machinery
would be imported if the duties were wholly
discontinued Among the bills reported from
committees and placed on the House calendar
were the following:
House hill TO facilitate the prosecution of
works projected for the improvement OF rivers
and harbors; TO provide for an Indian school at
Carson City, New; giving to the Washington 81
through the Occur d'Alene Indian reservation;
authorizing the construction of bridges across
the Red River of the North and across the Mis-
pissippi at or nea- Natchez
Among the bills introduced and referred was
one by Mr.. Butler, to provide for justices of the
Supreme Court of New Mexico, authorized TO
determine the validity of Spanish and Mexican
land grants.
Mr.. Platt gave notice that he would, next
Monday, submit some remarks on the Presi-
dents message.
Mr.. Doph gave notice that he would, next
Tuesday, call mp the bill for payment of the un-
dian war claims of 1855 and 1856, and address
the Senate on the subject
Mr. Plumb introduced bill calling for in
formation as TO why proper care and protection
are not given to the military cemetery at Mound
City, Kan. Laid over.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Plumb, some
days since, as to the iueficiency of the postal
service in the West and South, was taken up.
and Mr.. Plumb spoke at some length upon the
subject He said that the mails of Senators and
Representatives were burdened with complaints
as to bad mail service in the regions indicated In
the resolution He in favor of proper
economy, but the first consideration as to the
mail service speed and safety; economy
came in afterward.
The bill to increase the pension of totally
helpless soldiers to $72 per month was passed
The presiding officer announced that he had
appointed as the select committee to which had
been referred the Presidents message the
Pacific railroads Messrs. Frye, Dawes, His
cock, Davis, Morgan, Butler and Hearst.
Mr.. kenna then proceeded to address the SEN
ate on the subject OF the Presidents message
surplus revenue and tariff matters. and Mr.
Sherman's speech in reply thereto. He said
councils of his party, and had much to do
with the shaping of its policy;
sition in favor of revenue reform and
reduction OF taxation was to be regarded sig
nihcant. Time and thought had been devoted
20 the preparation of that speech, and the assault
had been deliberate. It might, therefore. be
fairly assumed that the Senator'S ''reply" was
exhaustive of his own and of his party's re-
sources on that important subject In the light
of that fact, the speech might justly be regarded
as challenge. 1t presented the square issue
to whether the Senator's party should stand in
that assault or fall in the defense. The speech
taken In connection with the Senator'S former
utterances the same and similar subjects
presented a contrast astounding it un-
expected-a conflict as rreconciable as it was
positive and absolute-an enigma which he
would proceed briefly to analyze. The Senator
from Ohio had dismissed the solemn warning of
the President with wave of the hand He
had treated q large and growing treasury
plus as q matter neither requiring attention
nor justifying apprehension. The great states
man whom Mr.. Sherman had quoted did not share
such az opinion. Mr.. Sherman had CARRIED the
words which he quoted from President jefferson
60 as to justify his own opinion. Mr.. jefferson
had solemnly invoked q change in the organic
law of the land to avert the danger of surplus.
General jackson, Daniel Webster, and a success
sion of Republican Presidents and Secretaries
of the Treasury had shared the apprehension
expressed by President Cleveland. Republican
statesmen voicng such opinions had not been
denounced as freetraders. The voice of the re-
sponsible officials of the government was united
In it's expression of its apprehension of the dan
gers which President Cleveland has called upon
Congress to avert. No patriotic American,
ceptinc. possibly, Mr.. Sherman himself, calmly
contempiates the unnecessary withdrawal and
boarding Of money. Senator Sherman
had protested most vigorously against
the Presidents declaration that the
internal revenue should not be done away with
In 1867, Senator Sherman himself had expressed
much the same opinion that he so severely
criticised. In 1870 and in 1882 he had eloquent
1y and forcibly maintained much the same views
Senator Sherman had charged that the Treas
ury surplus was due to the Presidents failure
to exercise mis- legal functions. This charge
based mainly on the fact that the President had
opposed shipping subsidies. Upon such criti-
cism the President could well afford meet the
ISSUE Senator Kenna then proceeded to dis
cuSsion 10 detail OF the effect upon the
nue. and upon domestic interests of judcious
revision of the tariff, disputing almost every
economic proposition advanced by Mr.. Sherman,
and maintaining that the Presidents suggestions
poin ted the way, not only to relief from burden
some taxation and the dangers of excessive
revenue, but also to increased prosperity and
the correction of innumerable evils without dis
regard for any of the established interests of
the country.
In conclusion. he said: 1.-THE question before
us at this time is the bare reference of the Pres
idents message The debate upon that question
has been precipitated, and calculated to alarm
and TO terrify the country. But the country has
been long preparing for this conflict 1t is now
ready for the fray. It is my candid judgment
that the great masses of the people will indorse
and support this brave struggle for their rights
and for the relief of their bondage. Our people
are becoming more and more Intelligent day by
day. Information is better disseminated, and
our action here is subjected to daily scrutiny
which would not have been dreamed of twenty
years ago. A generation of young men is rising
up about US who are to control the destInes of
The Republic They are its pride and it's hope
t,o bile places OF power and posi-
they TO be taught that the
password to their future advancement is
Equality Before the Law They are to
realize their obligations TO country. but they
70 realize and cherish we'll the obligations OF
country to them. The child of labor and the |
child of fortune, linked in a common destiny,
bound by the ties which should know no break |
ing. are to go on together, guided by the spirit |
OF our institutions and inspired by the genius of
our countrys freedom: These are to constitute |
the men of the Republic"
Mr. Sherman congratulated his friend from |
West Virginia st having proclaimed the fact |
that the ranks Of the Democratic party were |
closed. and that distinct issue was to be pre- |
sented to the people That party had been in |
possession OF power in the House of Represent |
Atlves for more than ten years, and not single |
proposition measure as to the |
tarin question had been presented to |
the Judgment of the American people
IL the Democratic party had, Mr..
kenna declared, closed up its ranks, and if |
there was to be fair aud manly contest be- |
tween the two parties this great public
question he would be delighted; but he did not |
believe that the issue would be presented. Let
he Democratic ranks be closed. Let its propo- !