Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-26
IN THE SENATE.
Halo and Vest Discuss Free Trade and
Reciprocity.

Reciprocity.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-In the absence
of the vice-president today, the senate
was presided over by Manderson.
The report on the rainfall experiments,
called for by Sherman's resolution yes
torday, was presented and referred to
the committee on agriculture.
The resolution giving Claggett, the
contestant for Dubois seat, the right to
occupy a seat in the senate during the
discussion, and to speak to the merits of
his right, was agreed to with an amend
ment limiting Claggett's time for speak
ing, to two hours.
Hale's resolution calling on the secre-
tary 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
shall also inform the senate whether
any steps have been taken by our au-
tborities to negotiate q reciprocal COM
mercial treaty with Mexico; and if 30,
what has been done and with what re-
suits; also that the secretary inform
the senate if negotiations inaugurated
for the purpose aforesaid have been un-
successful, what has been the cause of
the failure.''
Vest addressed the senate in reply to
Hale's speech on the resolution. He
agreed with Hale that the discussion of
the question would become a leading
issue in the approaching national cam
yaHs. The Democratic party had been
represented by Hale as being opposed
TO the policy of reciprocity.
Vest denied the assertion, and de-
clared that the Democratic party only
opposed sham reciprocity. The ar
rangement with Brazil did not benefit
the American farmer. No act of con-
gress could change the inexorable laws
of supply and demand, which prevented
an agricultural people from purchasing
agricultural products. The market for
American agricultural products was in
Great Britain, not in South America.
Why stop with South America and
sugar? Why exclude shoddy and cloth
ing? Genuine reciprocity was free
trade.
Hale said what the Democratic party
wanted and believed in was Simon
pure free trade. Hale read a
newspaper paragraph showing the
Increased imports into Cuba of
American flour since the reciprocity ar
rangement went into effect, and said
the -four of Spain had been driven out
of that market. Reciprocity, said Hale,
had been made Republican policy. IT
would go before the American people in
the next campaign, and there was not a
miner, laborer, farmer or shipper who
was not interested in its success.
Vest replied that the fundamental
doctrine of the Democratic party was
freer trade and larger intercourse with
the whole world. The increase of the
import of American -four into Cuba.
proved that the Democratic party was
right, and that when duties were put
down exports increased. The Republi-
cans, in inserting the reciprocity section
in the Mckinley bill, had attempted to
get out of its difficulty by stealing a
portion of the Democratic doctrine.
The tariff discussion closed without
action on the resolution or the amend
ment, but with the tntimation that sew
eral other senators would take part in
the discussion.
The Idado election case was taken up
and after argument by Vance, in favor
of Claggett, the senate adjourned.