The morning call., 1892-02-26
CONGRES SIS.
THE SENATE.

Debate on the Question Of Reciprocity
With Mexico and South America.
WAsHINGToN, Feb 25-In the absence
of Vice President Morton to-day, the Sen
ate was presided over by Manderson.
The report on rainfall experiments. called
for by Sherman's resolution yesterday, was
presented and referred to the c Committee on
Agriculture.
A Grand Army post in Illinois protests
against tie free coinage of silver, and one
in Colorado petitions for further pension
legislation.
A resolution giving Clagett, the contestant
for Dubois seat the right TO occupy seat
in the Senate during the discussion, and to
speak to the merits of his right. was agreed
to, with an amendment limiting Clagetts
tim6 for speaking TO two hours
Hale's resolution calling on the Secretary
of the Treasury for copies Of the reciprocity
agreements under the last tariff act was
taken up and Vest moved the following
amendment: And that the Secretary OF State
also inform the Senate whether any steps
have been taken by our authorities to negO-
tiate a reciprocal commercial treaty with
Mexico, and If such has been done, with
what results; also, that the Secretary in
form the Senate, If the negotiations inaugu-
rated for the purpose aforesaid have been
unsuccessful, what has been the cause OF
the failure.
Vest addressed the Senate in reply to
Hale's speech on the resolution. He argued
that the discussion of the question would
become a leading issue in the approaching
national canvass. The Democratic party
had been represented by Hale as being
opposed to the policy Of reciprocity. Vest
denied this assertion and declared that the
Democratic party was only opposed to sham
reciprocity. The arrangement with Brazil
did not benefit the American farmer. No
act of Congress could change the ineXorable
law of supply and demand which prevented
an agricultural people from purchasing az
ricultural products The market for Amer
lean agricultural products was in Great
Britain, Enot in South America Why stop
with South American sugar? Why exclude
shoddy and clothing? Genuine reciprocity
was free trade.
Hale said what the Democratic party
wanted and believed in was "simOn pure"
free trade. Hale read a newspaper para
graph showing the increased imports into
Cuba OF American -four since the reciprocity
arrangement went iutO effect, and said that
the -four of Spain had been driven out Of
that market Reciprocity" said Hale,
'has been made Republican policy. 1t
would go before the American people in the
next campaign, and there is not a miner,
laborer, farmer or shipper who is not in
terested in its success"
Vest replied that the fundamental doc
trine of the Democratic party was freer
trade and larger Intercourse with the
whole world. The increase Of the imports
Of American flour into Cuba proved that the
Democratic party was right, and that when
the duties were put down the exports in
creased. The Republicans in inserting the
reciprocity section in the Mckinley bill had
attempted to get out of its difficulty by
stealing a portion of the Democratic doc
trne. The tariff discussion closed without
action on the resolution or amendment, but
with the intimatiou that several other Sena-
tors would take part in the discussion.
The Idaho election case was taken up and
after an argument by Vance in favor of
Clagett the Senate adjourned.