Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-04
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3.
Senate.

with an amendment in the nature of q sub
stitute. 1t was placed on the calendar and
ordered to be printed He said that the
majority and minority reports TO accom-
pany the bill will be filed tomorrow or Fri
day and gave notice that he would call up
the bill for consideration Monday.
Sherman said that he would be compelled
to leave the city this afternoon and would
like to make few remarks on the tariff bill.
Unanimous consent vas given and he CON-
plimen;ed the sub commItlee on the work it
mad done. He had quickly come to the con-
clusion that the House bill vas total
ly inadequate, that it was not
revision Of the tariff laws but only an
amendment Of them, that it only affected
portion of the paragraphs of the tariff laws
and did not aim to be 4 revision and that it
only cut here and there Che was almost to
say at random) at various provisions of ex-
listing laws. When the House bill came to
be examined in detail it was found to be
full of incongrulties and Inconsistencies;
taxes, for instance, were to be levied in
some cases on raw materials at higher rates
than on finished articles. In his judgment
there would be few defects found in the
Senate substitute. 1t would be found to be
very perfect bill. Among other things was
u VI tht pEONlslous
for the collection of internal revenue and
customs duties. 1t contained positive and
unquestionable reduction of revenues to the
extent of S73 ,6so 900. The reduction was
ON few articles and the tax on sugar was
reduced one half on S27 ,0O0, 900; there was
an entire removal of tax on manufactured
tobacco, except as to cigars; the reduction
of revenue there being $24, 100000. OF the
tax on alcohol used in arts, GAPS 900, was
repealed, but he doubted very much whether
the project could be carried out without
giving rise to extensive frauds, and on other
articles there was a reduction of S., 100 900
The Senate bill enlarged the free list by ad
ding to it certain articles which couldn't
be produced in this country. The House
bill went on different principle and placed
on the free list some of the most important
products of the United States (stlch as wooD
thus bringing them into immediate competi-
tion with foreign products. There was not
a singleitem in the Senate bill which dis
criminated as the House bill did between
sections of of the country, although it did re-
duce the duty on sugar from 50 per ct. to Al
per cent and rice from over 100 per cent. 10
over so per cent. There was a slight in
crease of duty on wool, but he "hoped
against hope" that the increase would be
made larger by the Senate. The duty on
tin plate had not been touched but in his
judgment tin plates should be put on the
same footing A. any other industry. He be-
lieved that the Senate bill on the whole was
the best revenue bill ever introduced in Con-
gress, and that if it could be taken up free
from party asperities and prejudices and
considered and debated and amended, it
might be made the most perfect revenue
measure ever put on the statute books.
The issue was now fairly made before the
people and was to be tried by them. 1t was
plain that it was fair, square issue between
q "tariff for revenue only and tariff for
revenue and protection" 1t was 4 question
whether the articles necessary for human
life should be made by American labor or
foreign laborers; whether the wages I Am
erican laborers should depend on the wages of
European laborers or should depend on the
American policy of protecting all forms of
labor and production.
The Senate at one o'clock resumed the
consideration of Hale's resolution calling on
the Secretary of War for an explanation of
General Benets circular as to the discharge
of republican employ yees in United States
arsenals and armores. Cockrell began the
discussion, opening his remarks by reading
from the Jay Hubbel circular issued during
the Presidential campaign of 1880 calling on
the government employees to contribute to
the republican campaign fund, the circular
having been signed by Messrs. Allison, Hale,
Aldrich and Hiscock. He also quoted Gar
fields letter to Dorsey 'of somewhat star
route notoriety," asking him to have Brady,
second assistant Post Master General.
called upon for aid and one from Levi Z.
Morton to Dorsey, stating that he had con-
tributed $50, 900. He read these letters, he
said, to refresh the memory of the senator
from Maine (Hale). and to show the depth
of degradation to which the civil service of
the government had been brought under the
republican administration in 1880 and 1888.
1t could never sink into lower depths than it
sank then; it had become so utterly degraded
that the republican party was forced to take
up and pass the Pendleton civil service bill.
The position now occupied by Hale under
the pretense of defending that law was
(Mr. Cockrell asserted) 1.-the stab of
pretended FRIEND Cleveland's admins
traIion had enforced the civil service Law,
and in his (Cockrell's) judgment, it, spirit
had been too strictly adhered to, and Cleve-
land had redeemed and sacredly kept every
pledge he had made in relation to said law.
Hale said that Cockrel the thick and
tUiu uSieHutl ol ltit dIUllnlstr2tiOn uAu not
been able in his two hours speech to say
one word in defence of the rough order in
which the war department had proclaimed
war and determination on women and child
rem. The reason was that nothing could be
said in defence of it and yet nobody would be
called into account. He arraigned President
Cleveland for his hypocrisy. If the Presi-
dent had not attempted to set up standard
With no other President had ever set up he
would not have been subjected to such
strictness. If Cleveland was the sincere
reformer he was claimed to be, somebody
ought to be punished for violating every
single principle which he had advanced as
would guide and rule his administration.
Hale moved to amend the resolution by
adding to it instructions to the secretary of
war to transmit copies of any further orders
on circulars relating to the employ ment Of
persons in his department since March 4,
1855, and copies of any correspondence
with subordinate or other person relating to
the politics of any employe.
Without action on the amendment or reso-
luton the matter went over till tomorrow.
The Senate at 5.35 adjourned.