The record-union., 1891-04-18
Exciting Scenes Witnessed During
Yesterdays Session.
THE DISCUSSION TAKES A POLIT.
ICAL TURN.
The Minority Members of the Com
mittee on Resolutions Charges the
Congress With Being Nothing But
Democratic Convention-The st.
Paul Business Union Delegates
Withdraw
Special to the REcoRpUS1oS.

KANSAS CITY, April 19.-At the Com
mercial Congress to-day the unfinished
programme of yesterday was taken up,
the subject being Transportation and
Improvement of Water ways, Lakes,
Cults and Pacific Ports.''
). a. Thompson, Secretary of the Com
mercial Club of Duluth, Mimi, advo-
Gated the Improvement of Waterways as
affording the cheapest transportation.
Colonel Catchings of Mississippi argued
that an increase in water traffic, however
great, would not decrease the railroad
business, but would rather increase it.
j. NJ. Murphy of Iowa spoke on the
Hennepin Canal.
Colonel a. c. Fisk of Denver delivered
an address upon irrigation. 1t was esti-
mated that there are ,000,0 square miles
OF arid lands in the Western country that
could be made productive by irrigation.
AT the minimum price of public lands,
81 25 per acre, this land had a value of
SS,0O0,000. At $50 per acre, moderate
estimate OF value when irrigated, it would
be worth $4,000, 100000. If these lands
were properly provided with water, one
could scarcely contemplate what an en-
pire Of population and wealth il would
contain. 1t was said that the people of
the regions that desired irrigation should
provide it themselves. Without agri-
culture the lands would never be settled,
and there would be no people to provide
irrigation. The Government should start
the work.
Mr.. Wickliffe, of New Orleans. spoke
upon immigration and the settlement of
vacant lands from the text, America and
Americans" He had been told, he said
that this land is broad enough for all. but
he submitted that the Old World has
made 1t the dumping ground for paupers
and the criminal classes, and he believed
that he spoke for the whole American
people when he said the time has come
that it must stop. There is enough room
for all who want to come here to be one
OF us-but not foot Of ground for one of
those paupers and criminals of the Old
World.
II may feel deeply upon the subject"
added Wickliffe, ''but have lately come
from, terrible object lesson, which
clearly indicates the need of a change of
our immigration laws"
He argued for vigorous action bv the
national Congress.
The majority report of the Committee
on RESOLUTIONS, made to-day, fayors the
tree coinage of silver and the issuance of
sufficient legal tender notes, redeemabIe
III Doth gold and silver, to restore the
equilibrium between money and all
other products; tariff for revenue only:
that the interstate commerce of the conn
try should be controlled by the General
Government; favors the improvement of
the Mississippi River; the construction
OF the Hennepin Canal and other water
ways by the Government: eOualiZation
of taxation, national bankrupt law: sup
preston of trusts and combines; amend
ment OF the immigration laws: reStora-
ton of railroad land grants to the public
DOMAIN and the opening of the surplus
lands to settlement; reclamation of arid
lands; enactment of laws to prevent deal
ing in futures, and commends the Secre-
tary OF Agriculture for his efforts toward
removing the restrictions on our foreign
meat trade; lndorses the deep-water har-
Dor at Galveston; faVors the construction
OF ship canal connecting the Northern
lakes with the Atlantic; declares it the
Judgment of the congress that the Mis-
slsslppl River can and should be made
naVlgable for ocean steamers for a con-
siderable distance above New Orleans.
and recommends the construction OF
leyees from st. Paul TO the Gulf: recon-
mends a system of canals and slack water
navigation TO connect the waters of the
Tennessee with the Gulf of Mexico: also
ship canal from the headwaters { f the
Ohio TO Lake Erie, and from Lake Su-
perlor to the Mississippi River; favors the
construction ofthe Nicaragua Canal as a
distinctly American work, under Ameri-
nonresident alien ownership of lands:
recommends the admission of New Mexi-
co and Arizona to the union of States.
In conclusion, the report halls with de-
light the spirit of fraternity displayed by
the delegates in attendance.
The minority report was identical ex-
cept in regard TO silver and the tariff
The minority report favors the free and
unlimited coinage of American gold and
silver on a ratio established by an inter
national monetary convention, which
shall make silver and gold an equal pur-
chasing power; favors tariff for revenue,
with incidental protection.
The free coinage and tariff resolutions
of both reports were received with APP
plause, as was also that relative TO the
immigration law.
T.. V. Smalley spoke for the minority
silver resolution, General Warner of Ohio,
replying. The silver clause of the min
ority report was then voted down.
The minority tariff resolutions were
then taken up, and Smalley presented the
mlnOrity'S case. He said there had beel
too much politics in the committc,
W hen he accepted the Craftsmanship hu
did not expect that the Democrats would
crowd their party platform down his
throat. He claimed, by inference, that
the convention had been packed in the
interest OF the Democratic party, and that
the congress was really being held for the
purpose of welding together the Demo-
Gratis and Farmers Alliance.
Speaker Niblock of the Indiana Legis-
Iature denied that there had been a parti-
san discussion in the committee, and
Congressman-elect Bryan of Nebraska,
wanted the congress to have the courage
of its convictions.
The debate was participated in by many
otherS, ana became very acrimonious.
FINALLY General Warner of OHIO sub
mitted the following as a substitute for
tariff resolutions of both reports:
I'VE favor neither free trade nor the
exclusion of trade, but favor tariff for
revenue limited TO the actual needs of the
Government, economically administered.
but SO levied as to cover the differences
in the industrial conditions between tbis
and other countries, but not to create and
foster monopolies.'
After a long debate President Francis
ruled the resolution out of order.
Gridley of Minnesota then offered a
substitute for the minority report as a
whole, and the discussion again assumed
violent form.
The minority member of the committee
charged the Congress with being nothing
but a Democratic convention.
The charges caused great tumult
Finally the representatives of the Busi-
ness Union of st. Paul withdrew from
the convention.
The minority report was then voted
down.
The minority report by the California
delegate also failed. 1t was: We OBJ