The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-26

lima occupied chair quite close TO Mr..
Vance and seemed much interested. Mr..
Aldrich also occupied a chair on the dem
cratic side. The only other republican sem
ators present during much of the time were
Messrs. Morrill,, Dawes, Hoar, Evarts and
Dolph.
PLUMB WANTS A STATEMENT.
Mr.. Plumb said that before proceeding to
consideration of the bill by paragraphs he
would like to know what the finance com
mittee believed would be the effect of the
bill on the revenue. If there ever was
time when congress and the country were to
know that fact it was now. He
should not, if he could help it, enter into
discussion of the items of the bill until
disclosure of that kind on the part of the
committee, or some one authorized to speak
for 1t, was made.
ASHAMED TO DEFEND IT.
Nobody arose to enlighten MIR. Plumb.
and Mr.. Murchison took the floor in opposi-
tlon. He said the newspapers had for days
past been full of reports. 1t had been re-
solved, not only by the finance committee,
but the republican caucus, also not to
attempt any defense of the pending bill.
If the bill could not be defended it could not
be passed. He therefore, in order to ex-
pedlte business, wonld move that the pend
ing bill be recommitted to the com nittee
on finance with instructions to report at
the earliest possible moment a bill
to reduce the revenue and to
equalize duties on the basis
that the average rate of duty should not
exceed the average ad valorem war tariff
rate of 1864. He said that after the able
exposition Of the views of the democratic
side of the Senate by Messrs. Vest and
Vance it would seem that there remained
but little to say, at least until the other side
was heard from, but he nevertheless occu-
pied the floor during large part Of what
remained OF the days session, debate being
kept up between himself an Messrs. Aid
rich, Allison and Sherman, with an occa-
slonal interjection from Messrs. George,
Butler and Morgan.
PLUMB REPEATS HIS INQUIRY.
Mr.. Plumb again inquired as to the effect
on the bill on the revenue, and complained
that no statement had been made as to the
effect that would follow the passage of the
bill If there should be deficit in eighteen
months it would be serious. He thought
the Senate ought not to err on the side of a
deficit but ought to be perfectly certain
that, having made tariff rates, it would
not be necessary to disturb them in
the next congress. Gong on to enumerate
the expenses for the next year, he gave it as
his opinion that the number of applications
under the dependent pension bill would
reach 100000 within a year. Mr.. Plumb
went on to speak Of the expenditures of the
government, referred to the possibility of
there being next year a deficit of nearly
$50, 900, which would have to be made
up by lew taxes, and gave notice that he
would offer amendments to the bill to in-
crease the revenue from other sources.
ALDRICH GIVES AN ESTIMATE
Mr.. German asked Mr.. Aldrich to give a
fair statement as to the probable results Of
the bill if passed.
Mr.. AldT1ch said in reply that if the i'm
portations for the next fiscal year were of
the same amount as for the last year the
revenue would be reduced about $40, 90 0 900.
He could not figure as to the expenditures.
OF course the members Of the finance CON-
mittee did not propose to reduce the
revenues below the expenses. They did not
intend to create a deficit knowingly: and
they did not believe that would be the re-
suit. They believed that they could safely
reduce the revenue $4,000, 600, $50,
100000, $40, 100000 or $50, 900, ,OOC
without that result. He was sure that
whenever the chairman of the committee on
appropriations had prepared his statement
of the expenditures, and of the probable
receipts the finance committee, would take
into consideration whether the Senate could
afford to make such q reduction on sugar
After some further discussion, and without
action on MIR. McPherson's motion, which
is pending, the Senate at 6 o'clock ad-
iournad