Thomas County cat., 1890-05-15
FlFTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
ON THE OCEAN.

ON THE OCEAN.
Senator Frye, from the committee on com.
merce, said he was instructed to report tvo
important bills. The first was to place the
American merchant marine engaged in for
eign commission on on equality of that of
other nations. This he proceeded to say of
the bill known as the shipping tonnage bill,
mail service between the United States and
foreign states, and to promote commerce.
Senator Vest, as member of the commit
tee making this report, dissented.
FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.
The senate passed the senate bill to amend
the pre-emption and homestead laws: pro-
vidiny for the selection of lands for elauca.
tional PURPOSES in lieu of those appropriated
for other purposes.
THE DEATH BULLETIN.
Senator Harris interrupted the proceedings
and asked that bulletin, which he had just
received. should be read to the senate. The
presiding officer read in a voice betraying
deep emotion the announcement OF Senator
Beck's death.
Senator ingalls, instructed the assistant
sergenat-at-arms.M Mr.. Reed, to proceed at
once to the Baltimore 4 Potomac station, as
certain all the facts, and make proper ar
rangements, and have the senate flag half
maSted. The senate adjourned as a mark
of respect to the memory of the deceased.
AGREED TO THE CONFERENCE REPORT.
Before the announcement in the house of
the death of Senator Beck. and the subsequent
adjournment. Mr.. Perkins, of Kansas. called
up and the house agreed to the conference
report on the Oklahoma townsite bill.
JONES SILVER BILL.
The appointed time coming, Senator
Jones bill, authorizing the issue of treasury
notes on deposit of silver bullion. was taken
up, but owing to the absence of its author il
was laid aside after little time spent in con-
sidering amendments one of which was by
Senator Plumb, that no funds available for
the payment of the public debt, including
such as are kept for the redemption of treas
ury notes, shall be retained in the treasury in
excess of 100000. This was opposed by
Senator Sherman.
THE TARIFF BILL.
In the house, on motion of Mr.. Mckinley,
the committee of the whole commenced the
debate on the tariff bill. In making the mo-
ton he said he should endeavor to close the
debate in three days.
The ways and means committee had pro-
posed to permit the debate to last eight days.
Mr.. Mills, of Texas, thought that the time
allowed for general debate was entirely too
limited. Two years ago the democrats had
conceded twenty three days general debate.
On motion of Mr.. Mills the committee
granted to Mr.. Mckinley the privilege of
speaking without limitation of time, and
similar courtesy was accorded to Mr.. Mills,
on motion of Mr. Mckinley.
Although Mr.. Mckinley was granted un-
limited time in which to present his argu-
ment, he had stated in advance that he would
not OCCUPY much more than an hour, and
the indications are that the speaker who fc..z>
low will also reduce their speeches as much
as possible. Exclusive of the promised night
sessions, which the more notable speakers
avoid whenever possible, there will be In all
but twenty hours of debate. Following the
established custom. the members of the ways
and means committee must each be allowed
an hour, or thirteen hours in all, so that but
seven of the daylight hours will remain for
partition among the remaining 3l5 members
of the house.
woRsTEDs AS wooLENs.
The senate passed the bill providing for
the classification for tariff of worsted cloths
as woolens.
PENSION APPROPRIATIONS.
The senate took up the pension appropria-
ton bill ($97 csc, ,761 for the next fiscal year,,
and left it pending amendments by Senators
Sherman and Washburn to increase tine num-
Der of pension agents from Is to 70 and Il.
FURTHER TARIFF DEBATE.
Mr.. Dockery of Missouri, reopened the
tariff debate.
The present system of taxation yields too
much revenue.
Not in the power of any tariff to raise the
price of any agricultural product unless IL
could be seen that it was brought into COM
petition with foreign article.
If the farmer was to be relieved. II the
mortgage was to be taken off his farm, the
government must speedily reverse its policy
in regard to foreign trade.
Mr.. Burrows, of Michigan, followed.
He defended the tin plate, sugar and wool
sections of the bill.
Free trade, he said meant unrestricted
competition: unrestricted competition meant
cheap goods; competition in cheap goods
meant cheap labor; competition In cheap
labor meant cheap flesh and blood; competl-
ton in cheap flesh and blood was slavery.
Cheap clothing and cheap food were of no
value if human labor was cheaper stlil.
Mr.. Mcmillan, of Tennessee, asserted that
aside from the sugar schedule there was not
a schedule in which the duties had not been
increased.
Bayne, of Pennsylvania, urged speed to
pass the bill; and Flower, of New YORK,
spoke against it.
TWO MORE PENSION AGENTS.
Senator Sherman's amendment to the PEN
sion appropriation bill, increasing the num-
Der of pension agents from Is to ~, was
finally agreed to by the senate, yeas 2, nays
q. Senator Payne voted aye and senators
Allison, ingalls, and Plumb voted nay. SEN
ator Teller, who had voted against the amend
ment on previous vote, did not vote. Tho
bill then passed.
MORE TARIFF TALK.
The house continued the debate on the
Mckinley bill.
Mr.. Gear, of Iowa, said the bill had been
framed in harmony with the verdict OF the
people.
Mr.. Crisp. of Georgia, did not believe that
To the manufacturer protection had been a
beneficial system. As to the laborers in
manufacturing and the farmers throughout
the land, he felt sure the system had been
injurious. The system drove out competl-
ton.
Mr. Payne, of New York, argued in sup
port of the bill; and Mr.. Wheeler, OF Ala
bama, spoke against it.