Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-02
RIVER AND HARBoR BILL IN THE HOUSE.
The Senate.

By Mr.. Hale-In favor of including in the
next census statistics of surviving soldiers Of
the late war.
BY Mr.. Manderson-In favor of woman suf-
frage in the territories.
By Mr.. Chandler-From Midway South Caro-
lima, asking Congress to take steps to amend or
abolish state laws of registration affecting the
right OF citizens to vote for federal officers.
Mr.. Hoar offered a resolution (Which was
agreed to) calling ON the President for copies
OF correspondence with the government of
Great Britain in regard to the right of fishing,
taking seals, or navigating in Behring's sea or
the adjacent waters, and to the seizure or re-
lease of British vessels. Also. copies of regu-
lations. rules, or directions in regard to the
same, and whether any rules or regulations
concerning such fishing or taking of seals are
enforced against the subjects or vessels Of other
countries.
Mr.. Daniel offered a resolution (which was
agreed toy calling on the Secretary of the
Treasury for a statement as to whether the ac-
count of Edmund Randolph, formerly Attorney
General of the United States, has ever been
settled and paid in full, and as to the condition
of the account.
THE TARIFF BILL.
The Senate then resumed consideration of the
tariff bill.
Mr.. Allison, going back to paragraph 1874, as
to chains, moved to amend it by reducing the
rate on chains "less than three-eights of one
inch in diameter" from to 2E cents per
pound. He stated that this was the rate under
existing law.
TRACE CHAINS.
Mr.. Vance asked whether the proposed reduc-
tion included trace chains, and what the equiva-
lent ad valorem rate was.
Mr.. Allison conceded that it did, and said
that the equivalent ad valorem rate was 44.37
per cent at the present price.
Mr.. Vance moved to amend the amendment
ol col
and he read letters from New York importing
houses stating that the present rate (25% cents
per pound had been practically prohibitory
for many years. He suggested that the only
motive for fixing the rate SO high was to give
American manufacturers of trace chains q
chance to put up prices by excluding foreign
competition.
Mr.. Allison said that the amendment which
he had proposed was the existing law, and that
under 1t quite a number OF chains were inn
ported. but obably only the finer chains.
MIR. Vance amendment was rejected-yeas
10; nays, 81; and MIR. Allison's amendment was
agreed to without division.
THE COTTON CLAUSE.
The bill was then taken up at the point where
it had been left when last before the Senate
Schedule !, "cotton manufactured, the ques-
ton being on the amendment offered by Mr..
Vest to reduce the duty on cotton thread, yarn
warps. de-, valued at not exceeding Is cents
per pound" from 10 cents per pound to IS per
cent ad valorem.
MR.. VESTS VIEWS.
Mr.. Vest repeated the statement made by
him before the recess that the effect Of the
changes he proposed by substitute was to in
crease the duty ON all the higher-priced cotton
fabrics, both as to thread (Which were the raw
material of the manufacturers) and as to cot
ton cloth in a finished condition. He had
made that statement on cursory examination;
but an examination during the recess had con-
frmed him in what he then stated Like the
omon,
"THE HALF HAD NOT BEEN TOLD"
On examining the cotton schedule he found
that the artistic hand Of his friend from Rhode
Island (Mr. Aldrich) was evident in almost
every line. He referred to the increase in the
cotton schedule in the tariff bill of 1888,
and said that that was the act Of the
conference committee without vote on it
by either House. 1t was notorious fact, he
country were in more prosperous condition
to-day than any other class of manufacturers
in the United States.
MR.. ALDRICH DENIED THE STATEMENT
that the conference committee in 1888 had in
creased the rates on cotton manufactures, and
declared that the reduction on cotton manu.
factures made in the tariff bill of 1888 ranged
from 40 to 60 per cent
The action Of the conference committee on
the act Of 1883 was discussed at considerable
length by Senators Vest, Aldrich, Allison and
Vance. Then Mr.. Vest came down to the ques-
tion of the necessities of high duties for the
protection of American labor, without regard
to American capital, and in that connection he
read from the
TESTIMONY TAKEN BY THE BLAIR COMMITTEE.
He quoted that of Robert Howard, former
mule-spinner in Fall River, former member
of the Massachusetts, legislature, and then the
paid secretary Of the mule-spinners' organize
ton, to the effect that the English mule-spin-
ner is in far better condition than the Ameri-
can; that the weavers are not paid so much per
and that he never knew or heard
Of an instance wherein the man.
ufacturers voluntarily increased wages
when there was rise in the market. The wit
ness having been asked as to the physical con-
dition Of the Fall River operatives, replied
that it was a very unenviable one; that the work
was very hard and the wages very low, and
that the hard, slavish work to which girls
were subjected in the cotton mills drove
them into saloons, As to- the .'roseate
land workingmen, which the Senators from
Vermont and Massachusetts, Edmunds and
Hoar) had presented, Mr.. Vest read from the
testimony of the same witness, giving very
0ruerent ana opposite view; and showing that
not ten per cent of the workingmen save any
thing because ''they are so overworked that
they spend their money to keep up their physi-
cal condition"
THE MAN WHO GAVE THE TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Aldrich stated that the man whose testi-
mony Mr.. Vest had been quoting from was .
professional politician and democratic free-
trade agitstor, who had not done any work for
many years except as an agitator.
Mr. VEST SUGGESTED
that If the Senator from Rhode Island could
have his way he would disqualify every frse-
trade democratic workman a. . witness or :
juror. The result Of tariff legislation was
always Che said) to increase duties, either
by Qualification or by direct provi1ion,
and always enured to the benefit Of the
manufactures, without regard to the consumer.
In fact to paraphrase familiar quotatlon:
.protection's battls. once begun.
One Nomination To-Day.
The President to-day sent the Believing
nomination to the Senate: Leslie Oullosn, q
Tennesse, 10 be collector Of customs Ahe Tie
district of Puget Sound, n the stato u Oreron
and Iezzitoxy Of Washington. S