New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-03
ADOPTED BY THE SENATE.
ALMOST A TWOTHIRDS MAJORITY FOR The
CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION BILL
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE LOYALTY SUSTAINED
THE EvARTs PRoPOsITIOS-wHAT
THE BILL MEANS.

bill passed the senate THIS afternoon u, WV vi "
TO Is one short of twothirdS majority NY I"9"o
~ Ohio ,vas the only Democrat who had the courage
70 support 10 the end measure Which lad Oech feoo
rcndcd by a unanimous vote of the Finance Oohihuoc
and which has the Endorsement of the late secretary
Manning and other high Democratic authority O'ici
Democratic Senators lodged the vote however as tIo
normal Republican majority in the senate Is only w.
while thc majority on the passage OF the bill was L.
The Democratic opposition 10 the measure mas Dech
In fact as in many other bills. uncertain ana SCAT
tering the party strength being polcd on no slAeie
amendment offered by the enemies OF the bIiI. Inc
minority simply made another showing OF ITS own
feebIeness Of Judgment and lack Of cohesion Tho
Finance Committee carried its point with flying coors
every time issue was made, and so strong was tie
sentiment developed against any change in the com
nttecs programme that even senator ENait>s prop
esition to add some features Of jury trial in the
Circuit Court thrown overheard, although one OF
them got the votes of five Republicans The bill DC
cordingiy stands in material respect just as IL
reported by the committee.
The question of most interest in the voting the
amendments whether the EvartS propositions
would be accepted in whole in part. Alter ycstcr
days getting together the Ncw-lork senators ad
a good deal of confidence that the modified amend
mcnt allowing additional evidence in the Circuit Court
and trial by jury difficult questions Of fact, both
at the discretion OF the judge would be adopted by Tho
Senate. The modified amendment never came TO
vote, however. The Finance Committee, having OK
amined IL carefully this morning. decided not to
support II and 1t was then withdrawn by Mr. EvartS
himself. In its stead the senior New-lork senator
offered two separate propositions. The first was that
the appeal having reached the Circuit Court. ana Tie
appraisers having sent up the record of the case tho
trial should then proceed according 10 law MI
Evarts held that this would imply the participation OF
jury. The vote against the amendment was de-
cisive one, however--aO TO 49, Senators Harris Nc
Pherson and Payne sided with the Finance Com
mittee, and senator Evars the only Republican in
Mt, tlo limo n he can
much nearer This provided that to the
record handed In TO the Circuit Court there might be
added subsequently, in the court such evidence the
Judge might deem necessary 70 the ends OF justice
Senator Allison. the chairman of the Finance Commit
tee. announced that he had objection = The pro
vision, and he and MessTs Blair. kdmunds and
spooner voted with Mr.. Evars. The amendment was
beaten by four votes-27 3l-hc only close contest
during the whole discussion
Immediately after the bill had been passed, Mr..
Allison, in anticipation Of Inconvenience by the
House in the senatcs amendments, moved that the
Sena:e insist upon its changes and asked fOr com
mittee of conference, which tho NiCcIresdent Will
appoint If necessary
The general features of the Customs Administration
bill are pretty well known already It, chief pur-
pose is to prevent INTERPRETATIONS and to insure
promper and satisfactory settlement Of all dis
puted questions that arise under the laws for
the collection Of revenue taxes. IL PROVIDES, ia ne
seyerer penalties for frauds in importation The
old system of local appraisers Is abandoned ana hhe
general appraisers are To- he appointed ~ iaties OF
$500 year. Three of them are to be on. dutS a.
board at the port Of NewYork. III decisions Of
assistant appraisers. Of officers acting as
such. 10 value may be carried on appeal 10 one
general appraiser, and from him again 10 board OF
is to be final aS 10 all questions of value:
amount Of duties are those which have caused the
discussion and aroused the most opposition on
tabshed in New York. If the importer IS di SAT- lied
with the Collectors rating. he must within ten day
civ Motto of nntt The 700
board of three general appraisers. IL another appeal
Is taken ,b me ease goes Sa G D m the board
10 be laid before II. and may also appoint one ol Ie
the original record shall constitute record Of the
court. The judge then decides upon o." law ana thc
TACT before him. ard his determination is final unless
he chooses 10 allow another appeal to the supreme
Court. The Attorney General may tale an appeaL
do So The bill finally provides that Tr'ppings, car,
IONS. etc. shall be duable at me same rates rd 40
vaorem their contents. The act Is to take eject
on July 1, 1850.
TIE PROPOSED PROTECTED CRUISER.
Washington, May 2.-Crulscr No. Il, for which
sealed proposals will be received BY the Navy De
partment up to June TO- is twin-scrcw steel pro
teced cruiser Of about 300 tons displacement OF the
following dimensions: Length mean load water
line $50 feet; breadth. extreme, % feet; drdueht %
water. mean, 81 feet inches; displacement on
normal draught, $500 tons: indicated horsepower
1880; speed, 30 knots. The vessel IS designed on
the cellular system Of double bottom, and the hull Is
to be constructed Of mild steel The protective deck
is four and tireequarer inches thick on the slopes
and two inches on the fat the machinery space
and three Inches thick on the slopes and two inchc, on
the fat Of deck forward and aft. The main deck is
plated with ten pounds plate and the berth deck
plating is Of seven and one half pounds. Both the
main and auxiliary steering gear are located below
the protective deck. and be operated either by
hand steam. There two steel masts with
double military tops, the search lights being mounted
In the upper tops Coal protection is afforded 10
the machinery by the location of the bunkers along
the side below the protective deck and above the
The hull plating is increased In thickness IN wake Of
eight inch or ten four inch brccchloadnc rifles. The
fire OF all the forward and after guns respectively cen
be concentrated upon an object the length OF the
vessel directly ahead astcrn. The secondary bat
terry consists Of eight SIX Founders six pounGcrs
and fourteen machine guns. The torpedo Oulnt con
ssts Of six launching tubes for Howell automobile tor
two training tubes on each broadside.
THE DATE OF OPERATION OF TIE TARIFF BILL.
Washington. May "a large number of inquiries
have been received By the Republican members OF the
Ways and Means Committee respecting the date Of
the PROBABLE passage Of the TaIif bill The date
fixed in the bill for the beginning Of It's operations is
July /. and from the statements in these c0mmunica-
tons IL appears that the business Of the country is
In an unsettled condition, in anticipation OF I'M
lookedfor changes in the tariff. IL is stated that the
sugar trade. in particular is depressed disturbed
To these inquiries the reply j, made that the senate
cannot possibly pass the bill finally before the l.,
of July. which fact, I'm itself would make necessary
q change In the date fixed in the biz and the prob
abilities that the change 10 be made Will provide
that the bill shall take effect before the beginning
Of the next calendar year, and possibly not until
July l, 1891.
The committee was in session this morning, trying
to reach an understanding respecting the time be
allowed for the consideration OF the bill in the House
The Democrats wanted three weeks at lcast-two OF
them t. be devoted t. general debatc-wie the Re
publcans desired Ia limit the general dcbate ono
week and the detailed consideration Of the bill t.
another week No agreement has vet been reached
and IL may yet remain for the Committee Rules b.
arrange the programme.