Morning journal and courier., 1894-05-22
SENATE AND THE TARIFF.

CONFEDERATION OF the Metal Schedule
Begun - Senator Aldrfch Draws u
Statement from Senator Mills.
WASHINGTON, May 21.-When the senate
met at 10 o'clock this morning only twelve
senators were present, and an order direct
ing the sergeant-at-arms to request the at
tendance of sbsentees was necessary to Sc
cure q quorum. In about ten minutes the
necessary forty-three senators were In the
chamber, and under the agreement the re-
manning fifteen minutes before 1899 were
spent In the consideration of bills on the
calendar.
At 1890 O'Clock the tariff bill was laid
before the senate, and the metal schedule
was taken up. The frat amendment was
that reported by the finance committee
placing duty of forty cents per ton on
iron ore, including manganiferousi iron ore,
also the dross or residuum from burnt
pyrites.
Mr.. Aldrich, rep. of Rhode Island, called
attention to the anomalous position In
which he claimed the proposed duty on
iron ore placed the democratic party In
democrats of New England had fought
their campaigns on platforms demanding
free raw materials. Three years ago Mr..
Mills had made q stumping tour of Mssss-
chusetts. Everywhere hs had taken free
raw materials "a his text. he had held up
the glowing promise of free coal and free
iron ore when the democrats obtained con-
troll of sill branches of the government.
What had become of the promises held out
to Now Eoglsndi He was not commits
stoned to speak for the democrats of New
England, but he knew that the people
some of them-had been dsluded by these
promises.
When Mr.. Aldrich was speaking Mr..
Mills entered the chamber and the Rhode
Island senator called upon him to "toe the
line and champion the cause he had SO
earnestly espoueed in Massachusetts,"
"SIncs the senator is talking of consis
tency," ssid Mr.. Vest, intsrruptiDg Mr..
Aldrich, 'let me ask him if he would vote
for free iron oref"
Gin a measure which placed all indus
tries on equal terms" replied Mr.. Aldrich,
al should not vote for free iron ore, butin
a nondescript bill like this-which be-
lieve should be defeated by any meAns-I
should not hesitate to give any vote which
would contribute 20 that end"
Mr.. Plstt, rep, of Connecticut, offered
an amendment to increase the rate on iron
ore from 40 to 60 cents per ton.
Mr.. Chandler, rep of New Hampshire,
Joined Mr.. Aldrich at this point in the task
of prodding Mr.. Mills and they at last
brought him to his feet.
Mr.. Mills spoke but briefly. He had
long given up all hope of converting his
republican colleagues, he said. Past ex
psrience had taught him that after sll
arguments had been brought te-besr they
would still believe the lie and be damned"
He saw no hope for them.
do you see any hope for the conversion
of your democratic associated" asked Mr..
Hosr, rep, Of Massachusetts.
Mr.. Hswley presented the relation q
duty of 75 cents a ton on coal had to the
cost of the production OF the thousand ar
ticles made from iron and steel. He de-
clared himself against free coal and against
free iron ore.
Mr.. Vest, dem, of Missouri, was asked
by Mr.. Aldrich why the finance committee
proposed to puts duty of forty cents ton
on iron ore.
Mr.. Vest replied that with the feeble
democratic msj 1rity, democrats could not
hslp themselves. There were democratic
senators who were unwilling to support q
bill with fres iron ore and free coal.
Mr.. PETER, pop, of Kansas, offered
free iron ore amendment.
At Mr. Hsle's suggestion q vote was tax
en- on Mr.. PETERS amendment to put iron
ore on the free list. The amendment was
rejected-yeas 4 (Allen, Hill, Kyle and
Peffer); nays 46.
Mr.. Plstt renewed his amendment to In
crease the forty cents q ton on iron ore to
forty six cents and made q speech on 1t.
Mr.. Platt had not concluded his remarks
ri bo "a a1innrne1