The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-06-19
HILL and VEST IN AN ARGUMENT.
The New York Senator States
Why He Wants Free Coal.
He Makes II Very Sharp and Sarcastic
Arraignment of tho Policy of His
Associates Denies Vests Allega-
lions That He Would vote Against the
Completed Measure.

OF general interest was transacted in
the morning half hour. At 1890 the
tariff bill was taken up-the pending
question being on the first two para
graphs OF the silk schedule (29s and
299), which had been reserved on Satur.
day.
At the request Of Plat Comm the
paragraph went over, without action,
until tomorrow. Schedule M (pulp,
paper and books) was then taken, up.
the first paragraph (3O3) being one
putting duty or 10 per cent. ad valorem
on wood pulp.
The several paragraphs were taken
up amended and passed. This finished
schedule M, and schedule N (sundries)
was taken up. There was no contro.
versy over any item until shoe buttons
were passed.
at this point comes in the amendment
OF the finance committee to insert a new
paragraph: Goal, Bituminous and
shall, 40 cents per ton; coal slack or culm,
such as will pass through hslf.inch
screen, Is cents per ton"
Hill moved to strike out the para
graph and to admit coal free Of duty
he said that he presumed, from what
had taken place in the last two weeks.
that his motion would be defeated bv a
su ostantially unanimous Republican
vote and by the votes Of those Demo
Gratis who seemed to be voting against
that class OF amendments.
Inc country expected, he said, that
democratic Congress in framing a tariff
reform bill would put bituminous coal
on the free list. That was required
substantially by tho Chicago Demo
cratic platform. Every Democratic
orator in the land who had spoken on
tho subject had demanded free coal. If
there was one thing more than another
to which the Democratic party stood
solemnly pledged it was to place raw
material on the free list.
he observed that, since he began his
remarks, the Senators who had charge
OF the measure had left their seats. He
assumed that they had nothing to say In
defense OF duty on coal. He was walt
ing to hear from them the plea that they
had been bulldczed into putting coal on
the dutiable list, and he would like to
know what Senators had stated that
they would refuse to vote for the bill il
coal should be put on the free list.
Let them be named" said Hill, Chat
we may know who they are, If we put
this duty on COAL we 60 back on all
democratic arguments uttered in years
past; we virtually repudiate the plat
form adopted in Chicago; and we are
brought into ridicule at the hands OF
the American people. or course it has
been declared that my motion is to be
defeated. But trust that tho little
band which has stood together, thus far,
in the Senate for free raw material will
stand together now, whether they be
one, two, three, four or five. The prin.
ciple is involved in this amendment 1t
is stated here that for one, If am
alone, propose to stand up for that prin.
ciple.
Vest taking up Hills challenge, said
that Hill "is opposed to this bill, so far
as can understand, because it contains
provision for an income tax, and who
asks for information as to what has
caused coal to be put on tho dutiable
list. We are here" Mr.. Vest continued,
to give information, but not to those
who are as we'll informed as ourselves.
1.-The Senator from New Yark knows
as much in relation to the matter as we
do, and, as matter of course, his in
quiry is not for information but in order
to elicit some statement which would
antagoniZe the passage Of this bill in its
entirety. l have had occasion to say
that there are great many things in
this bill which do not meet my personal
appioval; but deem it my duty to look
to tie general result as to what will be
for the best interest Of the country to
the largest degree.
at ia i'm possible for each Senator to
obtain all he wants in 3 great measure
like this; but, II | obtain the best that l
can get in the right dirtcti (while |
may depreclate and regret that cannot
go farther) | shall not hesitate as to
how far will go. We are determined
II we can, to supplant the Mckinley &C
with better measure; and I am com
PEELED to give up my opinion in favor of
free coal and to take q duty of about
one half OF what is imposed under the
Mckinley act"
Hill took exception to what Vest had
said about his (Hill's) intention to vote
against the bill because OF his opposi-
tion to the income tax. Who" Hill
asked in an angry tone, "is his inform
ant? Whence comes this inform alton
OF which he is the exclusive owner?
What Senator around this circle has
cared to assure him of any such fact?
What Senator has dared to deliver my
vote, at one way or the other, on this
bill? l am opposed to certain features
Of this bill. l am Overwhelmingly
and conscientiously opposed-to that
socialistic and Populistic principle
which had been engrafted on this bill
the income tax Blu. while have op.
posed that portion of the bill no Sena-
tor around his circle has right to say
that he iL><orstands that am opposed
to the whole bill"