, 1890-07-31
FRIDAY.
An Interesting Debate on the Tariff
Question.

WASHINGTON, July 25.-ln the senate
to-day Mr.. Blair presented memorial
from the headquarters of the Grand
Army expressing abhorrence at the ac.
tion of congress in allowing pension
agents q fee of $40 in each case under the
recent dependent pension act. and en-
closing a circular of Washington claim
agent offering to active men half of the
lee in all cases sent to him. He said
that he coneurred with the memorial in
its expression of abhorrence.
Mr.Cockrell presented memorial from
st. Louis, protesting against the passage
by the senate of the federal election bill,
stating that the masses of the people
were so dazed by the outrage that they
had not found words to express con
demnation.
Other memorials against the election
bill were presented.
Mr.. Ehrman Offered resolution in
structing the committee on printing to
report whether any abuses exist in
printing matter in the Congressional
Record that ought not to be printed
therein, and to report such bill or regula-
tions as will limit such printing to the
actual proceedings in both houses; also,
whether it is expedient to edit the
debates of congress by the omission OF
such parts as are immaterial, and of
such papers as are already printed as
public documents.
The resolution gave rise to some dis
cussion, but was finally referred TO the
committee on printing.
Mr. Morrill, moved TO proceed to the
consideration oil the tariff bill.
Mr.. Gray antagonized the motion
with one TO resume the consideration Of
the house bill to transfer the revenue
marine service TO the navy department.
The latter motion was agreed io-ayes
80, noes -, and the revenue marine bill
was taken up.
After some argument, and without
action, the bill went over and the tariff
bill came up as unfinished business.
Mr.. Vance proceeded to address the
senate thereon, He said that the result
OF the bill might be to reduce tho reye-
nue. to certain extert but not TO re-
duce the taxes. What the people
desired was n common sense
reduction of the revenue and
a corresponding relief from the pay ment
of taxes. The Mckinley bill was an
outrage on human patience, and an In.
suit to the intelligence of mankind. II
neither reduced tho revenue, in the
sense of reducing taxation, nor equalized
the duties on imports. On the contrary,
II increased taxation, and made the
duties more unequal by imposing
heavier burdens on the poor than On the
rich, and by SO settling tho taxes on the
necessaries OF life rs to shock the moral
sense of every just man.
Mr.. Vance wen. on to arraign the re-
publican party for the evils which he
claimed protection had brought upon
the country. He quoted from Mr..
Blaine's letter to Mr.. Frye, and said
that the unmistakable wisdom of what
that distinguished man had said
| illustrated the wisdom of what he had
lett unsaid. II IL were important to
extend American trade to Central and
South America, It could not but bo i'm.
portsnt to extend 1t to the European
continent, which in wealth and popula.
ton was ten times greater. II free
trade with the people of the Latin race
was desirable and profitable, no reason
could be shown that free trade with the
people of Teutonic blood was not desir-
able and profitable.
Mr.. Plumb said that before proceeding
TO consideration of the bill by para
graphs lie would like TO know what the
finance committee believed would be the
effect OF the bill on revenues.
Mr.. Mcpherson said that the almost
unanswerable speeches of the senators
from Indiana and North Carolina (voor-
bees ana vance, seemed to preclude
the necessity of any further defense of
the democratic position. and now the
senator from Kansas tPlumbl, in the
simplicity Of his nature, inquired from
his Own committeesome information on