The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-27
PATCHING UP THE TARIFF
THE SENATE IN THE MIDST OF THE
PRELIMINARY SKIRMISH.

Senator Sherman's Effort to Dodge
the Presentation of Comparative
Statement Headed Off-Mr. Reagan
Also Puts in a Little More Work for
the Finance Committee.
WASHINGTON, May 2G.-In the Senate
this morning Mr.. Plumb offered resolu-
ton instructing the finance committee to
prepare and report Gn connection with the
tariff bilD a statement showing the duties
levied under the existing law. the duties as
they would be under the House bill, and the
duties under the bill to be reported by the
Senate committee. such duties to be stated
in parallel columns; and especially,
II the committee should recommend new
duties or an increase of the existing duties,
TO state the reasons in each case for such adj
dition or increase. In the course of the dis
cussion Mr.. Sherman suggested the diff
Guilty, and even the impossibility, of the
committee on finance giving reasons for its
recommendation in each of the 5000 items
covered in the bill. The reasons might be
given generally, but not in regard to every
item. He moved to strike out of the reso-
luton the words 'in each case.n
PLUMB STICKS TO HIS POINT
Mr.. Plumb opposed Mr.. Sherman's
amendment. He would rather have the
whole resolution disagreed to. He knew
that the statement would require a good
deal of time, but it had been given out
that the present revision of the tariff would
last for ten or fifteen or twenty years. The
report of the finance committee,
therefore, ought to be ample
in every individual case, to explain the
position of the committee $50 as to satisfy
~ o,1f.r zfr, in loC 1xxrst1
the protective idea. which the bill is sup
posed to represent, and to enable us to ex-
plain why we voted to increase duties when
the expectation was that we would vote to
reduce them.n
Mr.. Harris favored Mr.. Plumb's resolu-
tion as absolutely necessary for intelligent
discussion of the subject matter.
Mr.. Sherman's amendment was dis
agreed to.
REAGAN SUGGESTS A CHANGE.
Mr.. Reagan moved to amend the resolu-
tion to require Gn the cases of compound
duies, specific and ad valorem), column
showing the equivalent ad valorem amount
of the duty.
Mr.. Morrill, stated that the clerk of the
committee was engaged nights and Sundays
in preparing the statement called for in the
first part of the resolution, but as to the
information called for by Mr.. Reagan, that
department than by the finance committee.
MIR. Allison moved to insert in MIR.
Reagan's amendment the words: "Where
practicable"
Mr.. Blair-And where not practicable,
the committee can give us a reasonable
guess.
Mr.. Reagan's amendment, modified as
suggested by Mr.. Allison, was agreed to.
The resolution was further amended, on
motion of Mr.. Hawley, by making it apply
also to reductions of duties, and, as thus
amended, it was agreed to.
TAXATION ON BANK NOTES.
Mr.. George from the judiciary commit
tee, reported a bill subjecting national
bank notes and treasury notes to state taxa
ton. 1t was placed on the calendar.
NO NEED FOR BATTLE SHIPS
MIR. Cocl1rell held to the opinion that it
was not wise, eXpedient, judicious or polite
to engage in the construction of great battle
ships. There was no necessity for it in
order to protect the national honor. The
American flag was perfectly safe in every
part Of the earth and among all nations,
kindreds and tongues. The United States
could rely on securing justice without
manifestation of physical or visible force.
He trusted, therefore, that his amendment
would be agreed to, and that the provision
for three battle ships would be struck out.
NEEDED TO ENFORCE THE MONROE DOC
TRINE.
Messrs. Reagan and VOORHEES, supported
MIR. Cockrells views.
Mr.. Stewart argued that if the United
States were to maintain its policy in con-
nection with the Monroe doctrine it must
possess navy that would enable it to pro.
tect the weaker nations on the Western
hemisphere and to enforce the DEGREES of
arbitration that might berendered. Either
the Monroe doctrine would have TO be
abandoned or a navy would have to be
built up.
THE FOOLS PARADISE.
Mr.. Gray, while quite agreeing that the
strength of the United States depended
largely ON the fact that the nations of the
world had become familiar with the power
of the republic to get ready when an emer-
gency arose, did not think that reliance on
that power was exactly opposite to any
thing involved in the amendment. The
United States could not go on forever liv-
ing in the fools paradise" relying on its
ability to get ready for fight 1t would
not do for the United States to fold its arms
and believe itself competent to maintain its
honor and dignity unless it had at least a
beginning from which preparations could
De made when an emergency arose.
BUTLER FAvoRS A NAVY.
MIR. Butler opposed the amendment to
strike out the provision for three battle
ships. He had supposed that the policy to
go on and construct respectable navy had
been fixed and determined upon. He would
not only vote for an appropriation for the
three battle ships and cruisers, but he re-
GREETED that it was not In his power to vote
for eight battle ships instead of three,
as he should do without hesita-
tion.. While he did not look for
war between the United States and Great
Britain, it should be remembered that there
were some delicate and difficult questions
pending between the two governments He
hoped that they might be settled by
negotiation or by arbitration; but, SO long
as human nature was as it was, it was un-
sale to assume that the United States was
IN no danger of collision with foreign
powers.
BLAIR's CHILDISH SIMPLICITY.
Mr.. Blair moved to amend the provision
ior three battle ships by inserting the fol-
lowing: But this provision shall not be
available until the government of Great
BBrltaln p shall have been requested by the
PRESIDENT to withdraw all her naval forces
from American waters and to dismantle her
naval stations in both North aud South
america, aud in adjacent islands; and shall
nave declined, or shall have neglected for
one year to do sou
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