Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-07-20
FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, July -.
SENATE


tors began 10 flock into the Senate
galleries IS eagly IS II O'Clock this
morning: and when the chaplain's
opening prayer IVES begun. at noon,
the galleries were well filed. though
10, crowded.
The reading Q: yesterdays journal
was dispensed with. Many memorials
were presented and referred, among
them one from the business men OF
Chicago. asking for immediate action,
OF some character, on the tariff bill. In
th= absence Of the vice president, the
chair was occupied by Mr.. Harris.
Al 1870 the message from the House
asking further conference on the
tariff bill was laid before the Senate, on
motion OF Mr.. VOORHEES,. He eontented
himself with these few words Mr..
President, the confe-rees on the part OF
the Senate now await further action on
this bill
Then Mr.. Smith said that be would
vote for further conference. He ey-
pressed the hope that tariff bill might
yet be evolved which would De enacted
into law by democratic votes. Il wss
folly 10 deny, he said, that the country
was low confronted by the danger OF
10 tariff legislation al this session. II
that should be the result. the response
bility could be fixed only BY the people
Whether it should rest on the House OF
Representatives. which mad repudial
ed, in an unprecedented manner. the
deliberations OF the Senate. or upon
the President, whose fears OF depar-
rure from democratic principles had in
duced him 70 offer suggestions before
the bill came technically before him. OF
on the Senate which had chosen 10
harmonic wide differences OF opinion
by mutual concessions, was question
which could only be determined by the
great mass OF voters whose Interests
were at stake. What ever might be
the attitude OF his colleagues. he would
accept the verdict OF that tribunal Is
Just and correct. Referring TO the
Presidents letter 10 Mr. Wilson, Mr..
Smith said that democratic Senators
had been accused ofyiolating democrat
ic principles because they mad not
| placed raw materials on the free li=t.
The word .perfdy.' ne sale, had been
used in that connection. Personally he
believed in the principle OF free raw
materials. But ne coald ROT be
li=ve that now, when ii was
barely possible for miners to
obtain living wages, was the time Of
taking the risk OF striking that great
industry and robbing thousands and
thousands of miners OF their means OF
livelihood. As to the income tax. he
said that was proposition taken from
populistic platforms and incorporated
into democratic revenue bill. On the
question Of sugar Mr.. Smith said that
sugar refining was one Of the greatest
industries OF New Jersey, and that the
reduction OF duty proposed in the Sen
ate bill on sugar was as large reduc
ton as that Industry should be called
upon to bear under present conditions.
He declared for himself and he thought
for his colleagues that there would not
be the slightest change in his position
on the bill He had supported the in
come tax in a modified form from a
sense Of duty to his party but he had
done so with the greatest reluctance
TIE House democrats appeared to sup
pose that the democrats OF the Senate
were not sincere, or else they were will
ing to see the bill defeated. If the for
mer, he had only to say that they had
mistaken their men: if the latter, they
would have to answer to the people for
thu defeat OF bill which should satisfy
all reasonable expectation. If he were
member Of the conference committee
he would say to the House conferrees
Gentlemen, this is our bill. 1t is the
result Of great labor and infinite pains.
1t has met the approval Of this body
thu free trade and the protection ele-
ments of our party. 1t is adapted to
conditions, not theories. 1t is not per-
feet, but it is as nearly perfect as We
can hope to make it in this session. In
any event, such as it is, there it lies.
You are at liberty to take it or to
leave it.
Mr.. Hill then moved to put coal and
iron on the free list and said The the
DRY OF the democratic party is that in
the enactment Of tariff legislation free
raw materials should always be an es-
sential and conspicuous element. The
best interests of the manufacturers as
we'll as the consumers of the land de-
mand the recognition of this wise dis
elimination. We are committed to
this side of the question and We cannot
retreat and we cannot retract. Until
recently thought the democratic party
was in favor of the doctrine of free raw
materials; not simply "freer" raw mate