Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-21
coNGRE SIGNAL.
IN THE SENATE.

WASHINGTON, May 20th.-The Ways and Means
Committee this morning gave short hearings tc
the representatives of several industries which
seek to have amendments made to the tariff
bill.
The maltsters of New York State protested
against the proposed increase from 10 per cent.
to 80 in the duty on barley.
Stanford introduced a bill for loans on public
lands, and announced that he would hereafter
address the Senate on the subject.
The Senate then proceeded to consider the
original package bill.
Wilson of Iowa, who introduced the BILL ad-
dressed the Senate in explanation and adyo-
cacy of it, stating that it was made necessary
by a recent decision OF the supreme Court. II
was in response TO suggestion contained in
that decision that Congress could permit the
exercise OF restraining the power OF State, and
it was for the purpose OF giving that permission
that the bill had been introduced and reported
The effect would be to leave each State to de.
termine for itself what its policy should
be in regard to traffic in intoxicating
liquors. At the present time original package
saloons were being organized in his State II
was to put a stop to such practice, and recog.
nizing in each State the power to regulate its
own internal policy that the bill was reported
Vest said that he was not able to agree with
the majority of the committee in reporting the
bill, because it would sweep away the exclusive
jurisdiction of the United States over interstate
commerce. The Supreme Court had decided
emphatically that alcoholic stimulants were an
article of interstate commerce. and the power
to regulate commerce among the States and
with foreign nations was an exclusive power
vested in Congress by the Constitution. The in
tmation that Congress mightidelegate to State
that power was contained In a mere 0biter dictum
of that decision. He Vest contended that il
could not be done. The Supreme Court had de-
cided that the power of Congress over interstate
commerce was exclusive. lift could be delegated
in regard to one article of merchandise (alco-
hol) it could be delegated to any other article
wheat corn, rye, oleomargarine etc. Was the
Senate going to make that new departure Was
M a m n m
tear down the barriers of the Constitution? The
real question, he said, was whether Congress
could delegate power vested IN it by the Con-
stitution 10 any State or number of States. He
believed it could not. 10 do SO would be to
destroy the interstate clause of the Constitu-
ton and all purposes for which it was enacted.
So far from having any uniformity. there would
be in that case diversity and hostility. Missouri
would shut out one article, Kansas another and
SO on, until there would be chaos from one end
OF the Union to the other.
At O'Clock the silver bill came up as unfin-
ished business, but was laid aside informally.
Vest then continued. He said that if this bill
was passed it would open an opportunity for a
successive series of such bills just as the emer-
gencies or opinions of the different States might
call for that sort of legislation. How long
would 1t be, he asked, unit another demand
was made upon Congress to give permission to
all States to exclude something else-tobacco,
fol, instance?
Hoar argued in favor of the bill. Unless what
was proposed in this bill, or something equiva-
alent, could be doue, it would be the law of the
United States for all future time, unless there
was constitutional amendment in that respect;
any person living in another State or foreign
country could send intoxicating liquors into
any State and dispose of it there through agents
and it would not be competent for any State au-
thority to prohibit it.
Edmunds remarked upon it as q curious and
interesting circumstance that condition of
things had been reached when according to
debate and according to the Judgment of the
CQlrt the States had RI
deal with the subject. and Congress had no
power to deal with it. The result was that
there was in every man in one State an in
herent individual personal right to carry into
another State what that State might consider
injurious to its safety, there to sell it, and that
Congress had no power to stop it, and that the
States could not stop 1t unless Congress gave
them that power. 1t was only necessary to
state such a proposition to show that some
where, either in the Supreme Court or
the Senate, there was fault in the
logic of somebody. He did not feel en-
barrassed by the fact that the Supreme Court
had taken the longest step ever taken within a
hundred years of the republic towards centrali-
cation of power somewhere, either in the Su-
preme Court or in Congress. He did not believe
1t decentralization of power. In speaking of the i'm
portation of Intoxicating liquors into State,
Edmunds claimed that once that. they got there
they were whether in the hands OF natives or
the Supreme Court would come to within the
next twenty years.
After further discussion the bill went over
without action
the resolutions offered by Cameron out OF re-
spect to the memory of the late Representative
Kelley, of Pennsylvania.
At the close OF the eulogies the Senate. as a
Kelley, adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, May 2Oth.-This morning the
House went into Committee of the Whole on
the ia if bill
Cowles of North Carolina offered an amend
ment repeating the tobacco tax. Rejected.
SayeIs of Texas offered an amendment pro-
viding that iron and steel, cotton ties or hoops
for bailing or other purposes, not thinner than
number Twenty-Five gauge. be admitted free.
After an exciting discussion the amendment
was rejected; 96 to ia.
Breckenridge of Arkansas moved to fix the
duty at 40 per cent. ad valorem.
Mckenns, Republican, OF California moved
an amendment to the sugar schedule, reducing
the existing schedule SO per cent, and retain
ing the dividing inc at Il instead of 10, as in
the present bill He attacked the sugar sched-
ule Ii he Mckinley bill amid greet applause
on the Democratic side. The bill made sugar
contreoand IN protective system. If the
TO other things? Why not apply it to tin plate
llaughter and save it at once? If the com
mlttee Was right, ne was only repeating its rea-
sons in lot Endorsing them. Why not apply it
give people cheap linen to go with cheap tin
and cheap sugar? Laughter. Why not Apply
1t to wool, until the article was produced in
TINS country TO the extent of the peoples want?
Cannon OF Illinois opposed the amendment
1t was the position of the Republican party
touching the protective system to relieve from
duty those articles of foreign production except
injuries, the Ike of which could not be pro.
duced at home. Less sugar was produced in
this country now than thirty years ago The
gentleman from California was not happy when
ne said wool stood on all fours with sugar The
production OF wool last year under the present
import was l0,0000 900 pounds. Twice as much
was produced at home as was imported, and the
nome product was sufficient 10 control the price
at home and regulate the worlds price of wool
Because he was Republican he was in favor OF
removing the revenue leech from the protective
system, placing sugar on the free list He de.
nounced the reciprocity treaty with the Sand
wien Islands, and declared that few men in
California controlled the production of sugar in
that country. Put sugar on the free list and
good bye to $50 coo TO four men OF Californis
Islands.
Price of Louisiana favored the amendment
and opposed the bill as being injurious to tho
interests OF the coiored laborer of the South.
Morrow OF California suppored Mckenna'.
amendment on the ground that il was the onl,
legitimate method of protection, and for thu
other reason that SIS 100000 is derived from
sugar necessary to meet the obligations of the
Mckinley closed the discussion, and Ne
Kennas amendment WAS rejected-ll5 to 1874
Mchenna, MorIrow ONeill (Pennsylvauial
Hammer, De Haven, Bartine, Vandever, Broosey
Kerr iowa., Coleman and Rsyburn voting II
the affirmative.
On motion of Mckinley, a number of amend
ments were adopted reducing the duty on Ger
tam building or monumental stone except m ar
bic, changing the duty on steel ingots. ETC, val
ueu above sixteen cents per pound from forty
five per cent ad valorem 10 seven cents pe,
pound, and placing on the free list fish from
American fisheries and fresh or frozen fist
canght in fresh waters, except salmon
Mckinley also offered an amendment fixin.
the duty on shotguns valued at L ot more thai
SD, at thirty three per cent more than Sl2 fort,
per cent: pistols and revolving pistols thirty
five per cent.
Waller of Massachusetts, protested vigorously
If the amendment was adopted, he said within
five years the business of manufacturing fire
arms in this country would be DESTROYED
The amendment was finally agreed TO, as wa
also one taking bristles from the free list anC
fixing the duty upon them at ten cents pc
pound
Linde of Minnesota complained that he haf
no opportunity TO offer an amendment reduciu.
the rate of duty upon binding twine
Mckinley offered a long amendment Tn,
substance was to impose a tax of FIVE cents pc
gallon upon alcohol used In the manufacture O
vinegar, and putting the manufacturers unde
the superintendence of the Commissioner of In
ternal Revenue.
sawyer of New York offered a substitute ate
three hours confusion and inatteniion durin,
which the amendment was read but rot The st,b