New-York tribune., 1890-08-08
THE RIVER AND HARBOR BILL.
SENATOR FRYE AGREEING TO POSTPONE
CALLING Ut UP UNTIL NEXT FRIDAY.
THE DEMOCRATS oBJECTING TO DELAY-sIx
MORE PARAGRAPHS OF THE METAL
SCHEDULE OF THE TARIFF BILL
TRY xELEonAru TO TIE rRIDUxE.1
DISPOSED OF


the Tariff bill up to O'Clock. After that hour con-
ference reports the 6undry Civil and F0rncalons
Appropriation bills were taken up as privileged busi-
ness and the Tariff bill went over According 10 the
agreement made last week between the Finance Cons
mittec and the Committee on Commerce. the River
and IIarbor bill was to displaee the IaJin Dill TO-
morrow and remain before the Senate continuously
Until disposed Of. Mr. Aldrch has succeeded how
ever in convincing Mr.. Frye who has charge Of the
River and HarhOr bill, that the abandonment, even
temporarily, of important party measure as the
Tariff BILL in the interest Of routine piece Of legisa
tien which has little other recommendation than that
there is money in IT," would be exceedingly Dladvised
and unfortunate In the present condition Of things In
the Senate and the River and arbor bill will not be
called ND for at least week longer, II Mr.. Frye can
help 1t.
The southern Senators naturally more than
anxious to get chance at bill which offers so much
to their section In the way OF local expenditures ana
they entered feeling protest to-day against any fur
ter delay In apportioning the spoils. 1t is plain that
the Republican managers could make no greater pol
cal blunder than to allow the River and Harbor bill
20 come up now II the present system Of rules is to
be retained, such measure might be used advan-
tageousIy as n lever to push through the Tariff and
Election bills. To pass il at once would be to throw
away gratuitousy distinct political advantage; for
with the "divideo accomplished, the Democratic Sen
atcrs would further interest than to block all
A few Western Republicans, however, seem TO be as
much absorbed in securing appropriations for rivers
and harbors In that part of the country as the South
ern Democrats and they may go to the length Cd
sacrificing the general party advantage for the sake
of local interests Mr.. MITCHELL OF Oregon, announced
pretty plainly to-day that he considered the River and
Harbor bill even important than the Tariff bill,
and Mr. Plumb and Others will probably take the same
view of the case. Their votes may be able to force
arly action on the River and Harbor bill But whether
II will be taken up or not next Friday will depend
largely upon the progress made upon the TariH Dill
between now and then. Mr.. Edmunds SAID TINS aier'
noon that he strongly opposed TO laying aside The
Tariff bill for any whatever and he announccd
that he would vote against any such action lie
still obstructs however, the adoption OF rule by
means of which the Tariff, the Election and the Rvel
and Harbor bills could all be passed at this session
without delay and without friction
Six more paragraphs of the metal schedule were dis
posed of during the four five hours which inc oei'
ate spent upon the bill to-day. Various amendments
offered by Mr. Mcpherson, Mr. Vance and others were
rejected after liberal discussion, generally by party
vote. one change in the text was made In Par'-
graph 131, which imp6s7d duty OF e-1O OF q ceh'
per pound on structural shapes Of. iron and steel
beams girders, josts, etc, the Finance ComInlttee
struck off ITO of cent at the suggestion OF Mr. Pad
dock This leaves the duty at S-1O OF cent Inc
present rate is cent and quarter Paragraph io4'
which increases the duty on cotton ties 10 mare
correspond with that Oh other forms Of hoop, band
and scroll iron was left unacted upon at adjournment
The pending question was on Mr.. Vances amend
m.nt to reduce the duty pig iron paragraph 12S)
from 3-iO Of cent to S5 per ton.
Mr. Edmunds presented a letter received by him nom
Mr. Weaver, acting Commissioner OF tho Department
of Labor diving the figures OF the cost Oh oirect
labor in the several processes OF converting 'ne
natural elements into pig iron, steel ngots, ana steel
ls-the total being Gil so for ton of steel rails
out OF a total COST Of S25 IT. or at the rate OF As
nor cent for direct labor, from beginning to end.
Mr Reagan remarked that that estimate was only Que
half of Mr. Hewtt's estimate. which was 80 per cent
Mr.. Edmunds explained that Mr.. Hewitts state
ment included all the labor cost. while that now
presented applied to only the direct labor cost.
Mr. vance's amendment was rejected-yeas, II
nays, 81.
The next paragraph Q29) taxes bar iron round iron,
fats and square iron, from $40 Of cent to cent
per pound (according to classlfcation).
Mr. Mcpherson stated that the average duty In the
paragraph 010 of cent per pound and that
the duty on a ton Of such iron lin equal quantities.
would be $40 1G per ton. The iron referred to was
iron of the lowest qualuty-not charcoal iron
He moved to amend by st:ihing out the
rates per pound, and inserting uni
form rate of so per cent , ad yaSrem: iSr ~: tn he
scrptons and qualities and said that the duty pro
posed in the bill was equal to from 6o to so per cent
ad valorem ,-,. s
Mr.. sherman questioned MI. McfhcrsoHs idctS any
After further debate, Mr. McPhersons amendment
Mr. Vance moved to reduce the rate in paragraph l9l
DEANS grders aad other S structural nt shapes Of iron
Mr.. Gray asked TO be informed why the duty on
structural forms of steel and iron used for sdps and
be entirely renewed. he said, such structural forms
as were to be used in vessels intended for foreign
because no vessels for foreign commerce were being
constructed in the United States.
Mr.. Aldrich remarked that q provision for that
purpose made in another paragraph
Mr.. Paddock appealed to Mr.. AdTch in the interest 81
Of agriculture, 10 agree TO reduction OF at least lilo
cent per pound on structural iron
Mr. Aldrlch consented TO this and on o5 his motion N
vance's amendment to make it e-1o having been re
TIE next paragraph d3a, applies to boiler iron or
classification from cent per pound to lilo cents
per pound-the duty the highest class TO be 40
Mr.. Vest, after argument controvcrtng the pro:
tectioust claim that low prices are the result Of tariff
legislation, moved TO reduce the various specific rates
in the paragraphs to so per cent ad valorem Re-
Paragraph 1874 applies to hoop or band or scroll, or
other iron steel taxing II according TO sizes with
provso that cotton ties shall pay 2-1o Of cent per
Mr. Coke moved to make the duty on cotton ties
ss nd hs Of a and
Mr. Vest alluded to the fact that, IN regard to the
sS % psaSss ms rssssr IN rA ss es ana % s sSs
were legissted, against in the S Bill Pint % that he
trbuted nothing but their votes 10 the Republican
party The cotton tie manufacturers OF Pittsburg
had not asked for any increase Of duty yet the bill
increased 10 200 per cent
The discussion was continued by Messrs. Berry,
Reagan and Jones. OF Arkansas.
Mr. Frye. referring to the notice heretofore given
that he would ask the Senate omorrow TO take MP
the River and Harbor bin gave notice that he would
not do SO tomorrow but that he would Friday OF
next week.
upon the River and Halbor bill being then taken up
and c0nsdered-so that they might make their ar
rancemepts accordingly. They had made their ar.
ranscnens on the supposition that the Senate would
take up that bill tomorrow and he regretted that IL
could not be done
Mr. FRYE said that II he consulted his own wishes
alone tho River and Harbor bill would not he taken
mn until after the Tariff bill had been disposed Of.
Consulting others. however, he said that the hill
would be taken up on Friday OF next week, II the
Senate shOuld determine.
Mr. AIdrch expressed great gratlfcaion that the
Mai had docidni 10 nnstnOne The RYcr