The record-union., 1892-02-26
NATIONAL LEGISLATURE.
RECIPROCITY DISCUSSED IN THE
SENATE.
The House in the Throes of Political
Dissension-Quay, Wanamaker
and Dudley Denounced.
Special TO the RrcoRp-un1on.

! Speclal 10 the RECoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON, Feb 25.-In the absence
of Vice-President Morton to-day the
Senate was presided over by Henderson.
A resolution giving Claggett, the con-
testant for Dubois seat, the right to oc-
cupy seat in the Senate during the dis
cussion, and to speak to the merits of his
right, was agreed to, with an amendment
| limiting Claggett's time for speaking to
two hours.
| Hale's resolution calling on the Secre-
| tary of the Treasury for copies of the re-
| ciprocity agreements under the last Tar
! lift 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 negotiate a reciprocal
commercial treaty with Mexico, and if
such has been done, and with what re-
suits; also, that the Secretary inform the
Senate, If the negotiations inaugurated
for the purpose aforesaid have been I'M
successful, what has been the cause of the
! failure"
Vest addressed the Senate in reply to
Hale's speech on the resolution. He
agreed that the discussion of the question
would become a leading issue in the APP
! preaching national canvass. The Demo
cratic party had been represented by
Hale as being opposed to the policy of re-
| ciprocity. Vest denied the assertion, and
declared that the Democratic party only
! opposed sham reciprocity. The arrange
| ments with Brazil did not benefit the
! American farmer. No Act of Congress
| could change the memorable law of sup
! ply and demand, which prevented an
! agricultural people from purchasing ag-
ricultural products. The market for
American agricultural products was in
| britain n
| Why stop with South America and 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 newspaper para
graph showing the increased imports into
Cuba of American flour since the reci-
procity arrangement went into effect, and
said the flour of Spain had been driven
out of that market.
| Vest replied that the fundamental doc
trine OF the Democratic party was freer
! trade and larger intercourse with the
whole world. The increase of imports of
American flour into Cuba proved that the
! Democratic party was right, and that
when the duties were put down the eX-
ports increased. The Republicans, in in
| serting the reciprocity section in the Nc
kinley bill, had attempted to get out of
| its difficulty by stealing a portion of the
Democratic doctrine.
! The tariff discussion closed without ac-
| ton on the resolution or amendment, but
with an intimation that several other SEN
| ators would take part in the discussion.
The Idaho election case was taken up,
and after argument by Vance in favor of
| Claggett, the Senate adjourned.
THE HOUSE.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-Speaker Crisp
was present and called the House to or
| der this morning.
| The House was in the throes of a politi-
cal dissension for five hours to-day, and
! partisan feeling reached fever heat when
| Representative Jayson Brown of Indiana
! denounced Quay, Wanamaker and bud
| ley for their efforts in carrying the cleo
| ton of 1883 for the present occupant of
| the White House. The Craig-Stewart
contested election case was under discus
! sion, and the debate soon took political
range. The majority of the COMMITTEES
find in favor Of the contestant Craig
! democratic
| Brown led the debate in favor of Craig,
and soon turned his attention to the in
| dictment of Republican politicians. He
| dwelt at length OH the blocks of five, con-
! tributions of money from good and
bad OF the Republican party" his re-
| marks being frequently punctuated
with great applause and laughter ON the
Democratic side.
! Brown arraigned Judge Woods for a vi
/ olation of the oath of a high office in in
| terposing TO save prominent Republicans
| from indictment and degradation. yet"
| concluded Brown, ''the President of the
! United States, whose election resulted
! from this criminal scheme, has now in
vited Judge Woods to step higher up into
the temple of judicial glory, even if his
| presence there diminishes its splendor
and casts the mantle of shame ON its
honor" prolonged applause from the
| Democratic side.
Johnston of Indiana, the leading
speaker for the contestee, said he would
not descend to petty discussion, although
! the temptation was very inviting. Dud-
/ ley always denied the charge which had
been repeated to-day, but certain persons
seemed to think it only necessary to re-
| iterate the charge to make it true. The
warfare made upon Judge Woods was
not for the reasons alleged, but because
! he was instrumental in convicting aud
sending to the penitentiary a noted ball
| lot-box suffer of indianapolis, Sim
Coy. Applause on the Republican
SIDE. The gentleman who had been
most active in pressing the charges
against Judge Woods in the United States
Senate, has, when at home, privately adj
mitted that he regretted that party ne
cessity compelled him to take the stand
he assumed in opposing the confirma-
! ton.
After further discussion the House adj
| journed without action.