The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-04
TALK ON THE TARIFF.
Senator Allison Objects to Too
Much Speed.
There Is a Tendency to Pass the
Wilson Bill Without Suf-
ficient Debate.

WASHINGTON, April 3-Tbe general
public aid not seem to have as much in
terest in the Senate to-day as yesterday.
and the attendance did not Indicate that
the second day of the tariff debate was TO
excite as much interest as the first. At 2
O'Clock she tariff bill came up. and Senator
Allison addressed the Senate. In his
opening remarks he complained of the
methods pursued in preparation of the bill,
of the incomplete hearing in the commit
tee, and of the difficulty experienced by
the minority of the committee in getting
information as to the bill. He reviewed
the course of the tariff bill TO show the
leisurely manner in which Democrats had
hitherto pushed it, The House of Repre-
sentatives elected in 1892 favored a change
of tariff policy, but the President did not
regard this policy as Of sufficient impor-
tance to call an extra session. He did,
however, call Congress together in special
session for the consideration of other mat
tiers. The Committee on Ways and Means.
which was primarily charged with the
consideration of questions of revenue. was
appointed at the extra session on Decem-
ber 19, 1898. only few days after the con-
veniHg of Congress. and reported to the
House what is known as the Wilson bill. .and
which passed through the ordinary stages
of the House, appeared in the Senate on
February 2. 1894. and was on that day re-
ferred to the Committee on Finance. 1t
was not reported TO the Senate until seven
weeks afterward.
And say" exclaimed Senator Allison.
"hat this bill was never considered line
by line and paragraph by paragraph. l
state what is known to every Senator.
So it is worth our while for US TO consider
what sanction is TO be given to the report
of a committee that brought it into the
chamber, it being practically the cOnclu-
sions of only three men. 1t came to the
Senate as minority and not as majority
report / may say" went on Allison.
9TH I am embarrassed in the examina-
tion OF this bill by the fact that we have
not yet been supplied with the necessary
statements and points of the bill, to con-
slider it as great bill ought to be consid-
ered."
There was not an Industry in the country
which would not be injured by the bill,
while many OF them would be strangled to
death. Allison went on TO argue against
the feature Of the bill changing the duty
from specific to ad valorem, and showed
the difficulty of getting just appraise-
ment. He gave notice that at the proper
time he would offer an amendment pro-
viding that the values in the bill be fixed
by prices in the homo market instead of
abroad.
Senator Call here asked Senator Allison
to yield for motion to go into executive
session. This was signal for very
lively debate. which came upon the Senate
with the suddenness of a cyclone and in
which Senators Harris and Frye played
the leading roles. The former said he
hoped Senator Allison would ontinue his
speech and finish 1t to-day.
The Vice-Presdent interrupted the dis
cussion to read the following message from
the President: II transmit herewith a
rapport of the Secretary OF the Treasury in
closing the final report of the agent of the
United States before the Paris tribunal of
arbitration. Also the protocols thus far
received and other papers relating to that
matter"
Senator Frye then entered into the dis
cusson with caustic remark about rail-
roading" the bill through the Senate. and
a reference to Senator Harris two notices
In one day of his intention to drive The
bill through. After further colloquy the
incident closed, and the motion of Call to
proceed to the consideration of executive
business prevailed. After a session Of an
hour and quarter the doors opened, and
the Senate. at 5:25 p. NJ, adjourned.