The herald., 1894-04-04

ing the secretary of agriculture to reply
within two days to the resolution passed
by the senate about six weeks ago. call
ing for statistics as to wheat produc-
tion.
The resolution offered a short time
ago by PETER, directing the finance
committee to prepare bill for the re-
peal OF all laws which give the secretary
OF the treasury authority to issue inter
est-bearing bonds, was laid before the
senate. Sherman moved that it be re-
ferred TO the committee on finance. as
1t was very important. Stewart opposed
the reference of the resolution to the
finance committee and urged lis imme-
date adoption.
The resolution went over till tomor-
row in order to give way for the intro
duction OF a bill to carry out the awards
OF the tribunal on the Bering ses quss-
tion. The bill was passed.
Harris gave notice that after tomor-
row he would ask Immediately after the
transaction OF routine morning business
that the tariff bill be considered.
AT 2 O'Clock the tariff bill came up,
and Allison addressed the senate. In
bis opening remarks he complained of
the methods pursued in the preparation
Of the bill, OF the incomplete hearing in
the committee and OF the difficulty ex-
perienced by the minority of the com
mittee in getting information as to the
bill. He reviewed the course of the
tariff bill to show the leisurely manner
in which the Democrats had hitherto
pushed it. The house oil represen tatives
elected i'll 1892 favored a change of tariff
nOli0u hr1t tho nroo:dont did ~ rI
this policy as OF sufficient importance to
call an extra session. He did, how
ever, call congress together in special
session for the consideration of other
matters. The committee on ways and
means, however, which was primarily
charged with the consideration OF ques-
tions of revenue, appointed at the extra
session on December 10, 1898, only q
few days after the convs ming OF con.
gress, 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
referred to the committee on finance. 1t
was not reported to the senate until
seven weeks afterward, land l say, "
exclaimed Senator Allison, "that 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, being practically the conclu-
sions OF only three men. 1t is most
plain by the proceedings in this cham.
ber, as regards the feature OF the bill
involving a revenue OF $4,000. 600, it
came to the senate as a minority and
not as a majority report. Only five out
| of IL members of the committee gave
their support to that feature"
81 may cav" weat on Mr.. Allison
"that / am embarrassed in the examina
tion of this bill by the fact that VS. have
not yet been supplied with the necessary
statements and points OF the bill, tc
consider it as a graat bill, as it ought tc
be considered. There is not an industry
in the country which would not be in
jured by the bill. while many of them
would be strangled TO DEATH"
Allison went on to argue against the
features OF the bill changing the duty
from specific to ad valorem, and show
ing the difficulty of getting a just ap.
praisement of their value. He gave no.
tice that at the proper time he would
offer an amendment providing that the
value OF an article be fixed by its price
at o home market instead of abroad
Call here asked Allison to yield for q
motion to 90 into executive session.
This was tho signal for a very lively
debate, which came upon the senate
with the suddenness of cyclone and In
which Harris and Frye played the lead
ing roles. The former said he hoped
Allison would continue his speech and
finish it today. The vice-presdent in
terrupted the discussion to read the fol.
lowing message from the president:
IT transmit herewith report of the
secretary of the treasury, enclosing the
final geport OF the agent of the u nited
States before the Paris tribunal of arbi-
tration; also the protocols thus far re-
ceived and other papers relating to that
matter"
Fry here entered into the discussion
with cAustic remark about railroad
ing" the bill through the senate and a
reference to Harris two notices in one
day of his intention to drive the bill
through.
After further sharp colloquy, the
incident closed and the motion of Call
to proceed to the consideration of exec
utive business prevailed. After ses-
sion of an hour and quarter the doors
were opened and the senate adjourned
at 5 80.