The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-02
PLUMB MAKES A BOLT.
Millionaire Senator Bitterly
Attacks Tariff Bill.
DEMOCRATS CHEER HIM ON.
Senator Paddock. of Nebraska, Also
Woes Against His Party.
The House Unable to Secure Quorum,
Hence snndry Civil Bill Goes Over
Small Public Debt Decrease in
July.


WASHINGTON CRY. Aug. LIN the Senate Ed
munds moved TO correct the journal of yester-
day by making it state the names of the Sena-
tors present when the roll was first called. There
was general opposition to this motion, which
was defeated.
Blair offered resolution instructing the COM
mittee on rules to report within four
days rule for the calling of the
limiting and closing debate in the
parliamentary procedure of the Senate, and
asked for immediate consideration. An objec-
tion being made on the Democratic side the res
olutions went over until tomorrow.
The House joint resolution to permit Captain
George w. Davis, of the United States army. to
accept position in the Nicaragua Canal Con-
struction Company, was passed. The Senate
then proceeded TO the consideration OF the tariff
bill, resuming it under the head of lead pro-
duets. The articles litharge and nitrate of lead
were allowed, and the Senate passed without
comment to the third article, orange mineral, at
81 cents per pound.
Mr.. Vance offered an amendment reducing
the rate to 2I5 cents per poune.
In the course of the discussion Vest expressed
himself in favor Of reducing all duties on lead
and its products. although his own state wRs
the greatest lead producing state in the Union.
an Eastern man, was the principal stockholder,
and he had declared yearly dividends amount
ing to 20 per cent, but the wages of employees
had not been increased one cent; so that the
claim that high protective dHties were for the
benefit of the workingman was fraud and
! heat from the beginning. 1t was notorious
hat there was great lsad trust in existence,
and If the senator from Ohio (Sherman) had
been consistent with his declaration he would
\ fov Sf n Irtu 1oaA md
ali its products.
The question then arose as to whether the re-
duetion of duties increased or diminished
prices TO consumers, and this phase OF the con-
troversy devolved particularly on Morgan and
Edmunds, quinine beirg the article round
which the dsputants revolved In the course
of the debate Morgan spoke of the tax which
the Republicans had placed on the surplus,
drawing it all off and making it inevitable that
the government would be q borrower before the
end of another year.
Aldrich asked unanimous consent on the re-
manning paragraphs in the chemical schedule,
none of them being specially important.
The depate proceeded under the fve-minute
rule.
MCPHERSON objected snd spoke of the lead
trust which controlled the en- ire lead trade OF
the country He told of having met not long
ago, in New York bank parlor, the owner of q
offered to purchase his interest
''How much is your plant WORTH" McPher-
SON asked.
Il could duplicate it for 100000" was the
answer.
.And how much does the trust offer your"
"a million dollars"
"And how is the trust able to pay you 81, ,00o,-
oc0 for what is only worth 5000, 900 and pay divi
dends?"
az. ,~ox,.o. t<, ioo-aaso .ha ,r;oa ,s <ha x,~<
duct
The offer has been accepted, said McPherson.
a. the price has been increased to an extent to
enable the trust to pay dividends on any amount
OF capital it fit to fix; and yet in the con-
gress of the United States there is great polit-
icel party claiming to be first in intelligence,
first III patriotism and first in justlce and in
right, voting to put rate of duty on these lead
products that is absolutely prohibitory, and that
will enable this trust or combine to fix any price
ii pleases and rob the people to any extent it
pleases
Finally the discussion came to an end, and q
vote was taken on vance's amendment 1t was
rejected by party vote; yeas 81, nays %.
An amendment offered by Vance to reduce
che duty on red lead from cents to cents per
pound met with the same fate.
The paragraph taxing white lead cents Der
pound was, on motion of Aldrich, amended by
lead" Vance moved to make the duty on white
lead ,cents per pound instead of 3; rejected.
Yeas II, nays q.
There was no suggestion as to the paragraphs
as to PHOSPHORUS and bichromate ands chro-
mate OF potash.
Paragraph sixty mine was amended, on mo.
ton Of Aldrich, making it read ''caustc or hy-
drate of potash, refined in sticks or rolls, cent
per pound instead OF IA cents
Carbonate and sulphate and potash and
sponges were placed on the free list
The duty on sulphate of soda was changed
Lilo cent per pound to Il per cent ad valerem.
Finally schedule was reached, which refers to
earths, earthware and glafses. McPherson's
motion to reduce the duty on fire-brick failed to
carry.
Plumb voted with the Democrats, the first
break In the solid party vote. Plumb, having
thus started in on his career of independence of
party allegiance so far es the tariff was con-
cerned. began 10 take Mcpherson place in offer.
ing amendments. His first two amendments
were TO reduce the rates of duty on enamelled
tiles aud hydraulic cement After discussion
thev were voted down by tie Republican nsjor-
ity, the Democrats of course voting for them.
ON the hydi auic cement amendment Pad
deck joined Plumb in voting with the Demo
crats.
Mcpherson moved to reduce the duty on COM
ad yalorem; rejected. yeas u. nays 20
Paddock voted with the Democrats and Plumb
did not vote. The next question was on para
graph 100, relating 10 china, porcelain and
croekery ware the finance committee recon-
mendirsg reduction OF rates in the ii use bill
from 66 to IS per cent on decorated articles. and
from IS TO 50 per cent on plain white and un-
decorated ware
Two members OF the finance COMMITTEES sher-
n sod
Senate amendments, and Allison supported
them.
Vest moved to make the rate IS and 40 per
cent respectively.
Then Plum took prominent part in the de-
bate. inyeighing against the exorbitant de-
manss of high proteetionists The American
ptonle were entitled to have cheap goods if
cornpetition could bring tha; about When, he
asked. was the time coming when the people
of the United States would get the same benefit
from the establishment OF home industries?
lmst as fast ss the point arrived at which lower
priees might be expected the manufacturers
came TO congress and said they wanted more
duties whereby the downward progress
az prices might he arrested He
haa no idea that Whist he might say was gong
10 affect the vote OF fhe Senate He could con-
ceiye. and he could see that the cohorts of pro-
lection were so orsanized that the bill Was to 80
through substantially as il came from the
finance COMMITTEES. He believed in disfTibut-
ing the duties necessary for the purpose OF
raising revenue for the sapport of the govern
nent in such a way as 10 equslize the condi-
lions existing between the manufactures OF
this country and thcse abroad. II he were in
aonh, he would resolve the doubt in favor of
American manufacturers. tnt II he knew the
exact conditions he would put home
aud foreign manufacturers on the same
iootiug precisely. The Senate, be continued,
owed soEae duty 10 the American people as well
- TO the manufacturers. The Democratic party