The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-19
IN CONGRESS TODAY.
Johnson Amendment to Put
Steel Rails on Free List.
HOUSE GOES AGAINsTIT 70 TO 100.
son Showing That Protected by Pat
ents He Could Well Invite Compete
tion ThatIs Barred by Patent Office.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.-In the house
today the report of the committee on
elections in favor OF O'Neill, the Demo-
cratic contestant in the election cases OF
O'Neill vs. Joy was presented and ordered
printed.
The consideration OF the tariff bill was
then resumed, the pending amendment
being that of Mr.. Johnson (Dem. Ohio) to
place steel rails on the free list.
Mr.. Wilson asked unanimous consent
Tint three hours be set aside next Monday
for the confederation OF the amendments
TO the sugar schedule. This was agreed
Co.
Mr.. Dalsell took up his speech. begun
yesterday, by capitulating the charges he
made against Mr.. Johnson. He had shown
he said that M. johnson manufactured
certain kinds OF street railway rails behind
the protection OF 100 patents. He charged
of winter and starvation into accepting
wages one-third cash and two-thirds
scrip.
II desire to say further" ;" continued Mr..
Dalsell, "that j do dot believe he pays
higher wages than his neighbors. /
have this on the authority of the
president of the Cambria Iron works.
Mr.. Dalsell proceeded to read letter de-
claring that the rail mill used in Mr..
Johnson's works had been imported from
Manchester, as were the men to run il.
Johnson replied to Dalsell in q semi
humorous vein. He said he had been
notified by Dalsell that he was going to
attack the steel rail pool so that he might
be prepared, but instead OF making a de-
fence he made a personal attack upon him
(Johnson).
so long as / have voice here" said
Mr.. Dalsell, "no one shall be allowed
to masquerade as philantropist with
shameless and unblushing effrontery
poised to strike down rival interest" !"
echo when he sat down, then the members
fiocked over to the Democratic side to
listen to Mr.. Johnson's reply.
Johnson's Reply.
s'The question before the committee 10
whether steel rails shall go on the free
list" began Mr.. johnson, calmly. 81
against myse and my partner.
but oven conf,ssing that all he says is
true that offers no reason why the rails
should not go on the free list.
am fighting combine to raise prices
and depress wages because the Democratic
party is pledged to the destruction of
wish to speak briefly of the charges
made against me. The first is that j
am monopolist. plead guilty,
Qaughter), The next Is that / am
manufacturing class OF rails
protected by 1o2 patents and would not
be affected by free rails. We only have 20
or 80 patents on rails; we tried to
perpetuate the monopoly and
control the market but the courts decided
against us. That threw us open to home
competition. My amendment proposes to
put girder rails on the free list so that we
will be open to the worlds competition" ;"
(Applause).
Mr.. Johnson went on to explain that
the alternative wes to reduce wages or
close the mills entirely.
After continuation OF the discussion
the vote was taken.
The Amendment Lost.
The Johnson amendment TO place steel
rails on the free list was lost, 20 to 100.
After the defeat of the johnson steel
rail ilamendment, Representative Henderson
OF Iowa, offered an amendment to sub
stitute the present law for the agricultu-
raj schedule and long debate on agricul-
ture ensued in which Hopkins (Ill.), Hull
(ia.), Springer Qll.), Haugen (Wis.) and
Others took part.