The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-04
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.

Edmunds and Evarts Speak Strongly
Against Reciprocity.
WASHINGTON CRY, Sept 3.-In the Sem
ate Gail offered a resolution, which was re-
ferred to the committee on foreign rela-
tons, declaring the murder of General
Barrundia, on the steamer Acapulco, by the
authorities of Guatemala, while under the
protection OF the flag of the United States,
TO be an insult to the people of the United
States. and demanding prompt action for
redress.
The tariff bill was then taken up, the
sugar schedule being under consideration.
Edmunds addressed the Senate. He re-
ferred 10 the assertion in Vance's speech
laat evening that the farmer bore all the
burden Of customs duties. while he had no
benefit from them. Edmunds went on to
mention mica, tobacco. rice. pitch. tar and
turpenline, the tax on which benefited the
farmers of North Carolina. Vance had de-
clared that there is nothing on the free
duty has been reduced. Coming
to the question of reciprocity.
Edmunds recalled the history and the
practical operations. injurious to the United
States, of the Canadian reciprocity treaty
of 1874. He was opposed to placing sugar
on the free list. and as to reciprocity with
Central and South America he said the de-
mands of the country for commodities did
not depend as much upon numbers as
upon the state of its society, its wealth and
its civilization. When he looked at any
Central American or South American state
he thought (speaking with reserve and
conservatism) that any 100 average people
in North America had during the
last year consumed more of the prod
ucts, merchandise. food and clothing
that go to make up the comfort and luxury
and happiness of mankind than any 1,o0o
average people in the Central or South
American states. Therefore the expecta-
ton of the United States being able to dis
pose of the large increase of its products
there was in his opinion one of the great
illusions that brilliant men and sober
statesmen had lately fallen into He did
not mean by this. however. that he was
not willing and glad to try it on the plan
of receiving any of the products of those
countries which the United States did not
produce. and giving to them products
which they did not produce.
Morgan addressed the Senate in support
of the amendment heretofore proposed by
him as substitute for Aldrich's reciprocity
amendment. 1t provides for duty of 8
per cent ad valorem on corn. wheat, rye,
barley, oats. hay, straw. potatoes. cotton.
live domestic ANIMALS. and erases mules
and horses; and that when such articles
are exported a premium of per cent. be
paid on their value to the owner.
VOORHEES, addressed the Senate. Most of
his speech was devoted to a vivid and
picturesque denunciation of the McKinley
bill as the anti-Christ of all preceding
legislation.
Evarts spoke of the various reciprocity
amendments, and criticised them as being
Objectionable under the favored nation"
clause of international treaties. He con-
cluded by saying:
Make your tariff as you think right Let 9TH
ers make theirs as they think right. and when
you reach, as England has reached. q position
where you can devour the substance of other
nations better by free trade than you can pre-
serve your own substance by protection, then
change your laws.
Gray complimented Hale on his amend
ment, which means nothing less than
absolute free trade throughoutthe Western
hemisphere.
Hale corrected the statement as to
Canada. and said he never had any inten-
ton of including that country. A recess
was then taken.
There was but small attendance at the
evening session. which was occupied by
Pierce in a speech advocating reciprocity.