The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-03-08
FIFTY.THIRD CONGRESS.
SENATORS MAKE DENIALS TO
NEWSPAPER STATEMENTS.
But Public Opinion Remains Just the
Same-senator Hilrs Method of
Meeting the Dehcit-Silver
Controversy Sprung.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, MdrCll IA RUNE
what amusing episode enlivened thu
senate proceedings today, inaugurateC
by Senator Berry's personal explana
ton. A New York newspaper had in
cluded him in a group OF portraits Of
nine Democratic senators whom il
charged with being obstructionists tc
the tariff bill. Mr.. Berry denied that
he had ever been anything but al
earnest advocate of the bill, and on al
occasions had urged its speedy report
TO the senate without modification.
His explanation was followed by ex
plantations from Senators Faulkner
Call, McLaurin and Morgan, which
led to much amusement in the senate
chamber. The main interest of the
day ceutered about the discussion as to
the disposal of the bill. Mr..
Stewart gave notice that tomorrow at
9 O'Clock he would move to take 1t up
and make it the business before the
senate until disposed Of. MIR. Teller
also spoke on the same subject.
There was evidence during the prog
ress of routine business in the senate
this morning of purpose on the Re
publican side of the chamber to dis
place the Ia if question with a silver
discussion over the bill and seigniorage
hin. There we're but few Democratic
senators in the chamber when the vice
nresideDt's gavel fell. Mr.. Hill
awakened interest by Offering the fol-
lowing resolution, and asked its refer
ence to the committee on finance:
Whereas, the secretary of the treas
ury has announced Il deficit of $7S,-
OO0. 600 of the current fiscal year.
Whereas, house bill No. 1864,
known as the Wilson bill, proposes to
discard $40, O00 600 revenue from pres
ent tariff taxation and to meet the
double deficiency by new internal and
direct taxation, therefore,
Resolved, That the senate finance
committee fame amendments to said
bill, emitting the said Internal and di-
rect tax newly proposed, and instead
thereof make provision for sufficient
revenue by tarit1ing other foreign i'm :
ports and otherwise revising the tariff
without creating..a deficiency
The silver stormcloud, which had
been lowering all the morning, broke
over the senate when Mr.. Harris OF
Tennessee moved the second reading
of the bill and the seigniorage bill. In
doing so lie stated to the senate, es e
pecially to the senator from Nevada
(Mr. Stewart that the latter was not
a more earnest advocate of silver coin.
age than he. But he (Harris) believed
that there was question which
should take precedence over these, and
without any breach of confidence he
could state that the finance committee
was on the verge OF reporting the tarllt
bill to the senate. He therefore Cd
iected to further proceedings on the
seigniorage bill and under that objec
ton it would have to go to the calen-
dar.
Considerable discussion followed, in
which Senators Allison, Hale, Mander-
son and Stewart took part. The last
named gave notice that after the ex'
piration of the morning hour, at 2
o'clock, he would move to take up the
bill and have it made the unfinished
business before the senate until vote
could be taken.
Mr.. Berry of Arkansas rose to a
question of personal privilege. he
read the headlines of an article in a
New York paper, which he character
lied as "infamous, without foundation
and thoroughly unjust"
Mr.. McLaurin of Mississippi, who
was one of those named in the article,
=. I'll l,a NICfr nj a
passage of the Wilson bill for protec-
ton purposes. He had never heard OF
any coalition between disaffected sena-
tors until he read it in a Washington
paper. II am not in favor of tariff for
protection" he declared, but only for
revenue"
Amid the laughter of the senate Mr..
Faulkner of West Virginia. and an al
legged obstructionist, arose to perSo1'
al explanation.
Mr.. Morgan of Alabama caused
some amusement by falling into line
with the other conspirators mentioned
in the newspaper article. The SEN
ator from West Virginia" he said, lis
not guilty as charged. But ! want to
say that | am not nearly as bad as he,
and therefore l am not guilty"
Laughter,
Mr. Call of Louisiana said that this
statement made in the newspaper was
absolutely false so far as he was con-
cerned, and he believed they were so
far as other senators were concerned.
Mr.. Allison of Iowa, referring to Mr..
Berry's statement that he had not
asked any member of the finance COM
mittee to favor an increase of duty on
any article, humOrously said that he
could vouch for the truth of Mr..
Berry's statement as far as he (Allison)
was concerned. Mr. Berry had never
asked him to favor an increase on any
article. daughter. Becoming more Sc.
sious Mr.. Allison said. Has it come
to this in the history of tariff leGisla.
ton that the senate is obliged to take
bill as it comes from our coordinate
branch without the dotting of an ~
or the crossing of st" We may as
well lay aside the idea that this i'm
portant bill is to be railroaded through
the senate
Senator Teller, in whose time and by
whose courtesy these explanations had
been made, then spoke on the question
before the senate. the reference to the
bill and seigniorage bill. He urged
that the bill be Immediately taken NJ
and kept before the senate until dis
posed Of
The morninC,hour having expired