Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-27

rs the clouds that foated above the
Capitol. They were in no need Of protection
They were amply able to protect themselves
and to spoiiate the world. And yet they come
to Congress and said that they would shut MP
their mills and cease production unless they
received the additional protection of ls cents
per pound. They were amenable to the law
against trusts. and certainly the Senate should
not legislate in favor OF men under the ban Of
outlawry.
BIG PROFITS
Mr.. Davis showed from figures that the profits
Of the manufacturers Of binding twine were 40
per cent and as it required sl2, ,OOO. 600 worth
Of twine to secure the crop Of the country FOR
the present year. that represented "a 4OO0. 900 Of
profit. There was no reason why such pre-
adamite infant of protection should be fostered
any longer at the nations breast. The evil had
become so unbearable that the state authorities
OK Minnesota were about to set up in the state 8
prison at saltwater machinery to attempt to
manufacture binding twine out Of the fax fiber
grown in that state.
1T WAS STIRLING COMMENTARY
on protection to that industry that the greatest
wheat-producing state in the Union had been
compelled to set up in its penitentiary con-
vict opposition to that all-comprehending. un-
satisfied and extortionate monopoly. Passing
from this special subject Mr.. Davis addressed
uiinseit 10 tne 'ueslraDllty OF unrestricted
commercial relations with our sister republics
to the south" That desirability he said. had
recently forced itself upon public attention
and had received unqualified approval.
The Senate should not fail to use
the power it possessed to open to
American farmers and manufacturers the
foreign markets Of millions of people with
whom American intercourse was now slight
and infrequent. That conception of reciproc-
lty was not new, but it was now appartune.
1t was the conviction of the American people
that other opportunities than the home market
solely should be sought and that the country
should have commerce as well as trade. Eager
ness for foreign market had taken the place
or indifference. There was q general desire
that the American flag should display itself (as
1t had once done) in every land and on every
sea.
THE MOST OBVIOUS OPPORTUNITIES
were at the very doors of the country. The
tariff bill presented the means of securing
the greatest and most enduring reciprocal
advantages with other nations. In this connec-
ton Mr.. DAVIS quoted an extract from the
Presidents message of June 49, 1890 and re-
ferred to the reciprocity amendments offered
by Senators Pierce, Hale and Edmunds. He
would retain the duty on sugar, he said. as an
instrument of coercive persuasion. to the en-
largemcnt of the American foreign trade. by
relating that duty as the considera-
can flour and other products were wholly
shut out from Cuba and Porto Rico. To give
Spain free sugar into the United States under
such circumstances wouid be An act of Quix-
otism which Cervantes could never have imag-
Ined. He would impose
DUTY on COFFEE
to the same end. As to wool, he would give to
the American farmer the fullest protection on
the kinds of wool that he raised, but if it was
found that American farmers could not or
would not produce the coarse woods of the
Argentine Republic, he would put OF
or retain the duty on the coarse woods
negotiation for reciprocity that would create
a market in that country for the products of
the farms and factories Of the United States.
he would adopt the Same policy as to hides,
rubber, cocoa cabinet woods and many other
articles.
RETALIATION AGAINST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.
He would also adopt retaliatory measures
against France, Germany and England for their
exclusion of American meat products. That
would be true protection to the American
farmer. It would remedy many Objectionable
features of the bill. 1t would place
the measure beyond the reach of the charge
that there was not a section or a line
in the entire bill that would open a market
for another bushel of wheat or another bar
rel OF pork. Reciprocity with the Gen.
trail and South American states would
aid American shipping interests more than all
the lavish subsidies could possibly do. II
would aid them upon the unquestionable basis
OF furnishing cargoes for ships to carry. The
Senate was dealing with
THOROUGHLY PRACTICAL QUESTION.
The pending bin would fix the commercial
policy of the government for many years.
Why should the protective policy be limited to
the home market? The Americans could
not forever live and grow rich off
one another. The home market
was so completely possessed that
IN the conflict OF interests the very principle
of protection had been in many instances
self-thwarting and contradictory. Americans
were now prepared to engage in a foreign trade
which would be greater than all they had before
the war, when they we're the foremost maritime
nation of the world. In the presence Of such
practical considerations the theories OF free
trade and protection became scholastic subtle
tics.
Mr.. MPHEEsoS CONGRATULATED Mr.. DAVIS
on his speech and on the very able demonstration
he had given of the effect of the duty on bind.
ing twine. He was only sorry that that Senator
had not gone further and stated the effect on the
farmers of Minnesota of the duty of from 30
to GO per cent on cotton goods and other arti-
ing Of trusts formed in other industries nor
had he noticed that tho Senator had voted
against higher rates of duties in order to
break down trusts and to cheaper products.
Mr.. McPhcrson's substitute for the wood
schedule and some amendments offered by Mr.
Plumb to some of its paragraphs went over
without action, leaving the whole schedule
still open.
THE TOBACCO SCHEDULE.
The sugar schedule was also passed over in
formally, and the tobacco schedule CD was
taken up. The question as to the duty on Su-
matra tobacco was discussed by Messrs. McPher-
son. Vest, Carlisle, ,Pasco and German on the DEM
ocratc side and Messrs. Aldrich Platt and
Spooner on the republican side. In
the course of the discussion Mr..
on several previous occasions. that the extray-
agance of Congress would make an increase of
revenue necessary, so as to prevent .he gov
ernment becoming bankrupt. The duties had
been run up so high in the pending bill as to
necessary to increase the internal revenue tax
alton. The Senate ought, therefore, he said,
to have full statement from the
Senator in charge Of the bill as TO its probable
effect on the revenue, and the bill should be
from that point of view, not merely
from the view of protection.
HOUSE.
After prayer by the chaplain Mr. McClammy
(N.C.) made the point Of order that there was
no quorum present. Tho Speaker directed the
dOOrk ee pers To notify members in tho cor,rn;x