The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-07
SENATORS TALK TARIFF
The New Member from Mississippi, Mr.
McLaurin, Makes n Good Old Demo
cratic speech-seignioraGe Bill

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. March 6.-WhiIe
the chief clerk was reading the Journai
Of Yesterday in the Senate this morning
there was a good deal Of quiet consulta-
ton going on between senators on botn
sides q the chamber, presumably over
| supposed combination between the pro-
tecuonist senators and the senators from
the silver States. to precipitate fight
this morning over the second reading
and reference Of the seigniorage bill. Mr.
Aldrich (Rep.. X. H.. was noticed as be-
ing remarkably active in negotiation with
the senators from the silver States.
Mr.. Hn offered the following resolution
and asked it be laid on the table for
the present.
Whereas, the Secretary Of the Treasury
has announced a deficit OF S7SO0),OO for
the current fiscal year. and that whereas
the House bill, known as the Wilson
bill, proposes TO discard S76.O000O dollars
revenue from present taxes and 10 meet
the doubled deficiency by new internal
and direct taxes:
Resolved, That the Senate Finance Com
mttee frame amendments to the said bin
omitting the said internal and direct
taxes, newly proposed and. instead there
by taxing other foreign imports, and
otherwise revising the tariff without
creating deficiency.
Mr.. Harris thereupon moved the second
reading Of the seigni0rage bill. which had
had its first reading yesterday, and said
that there was no more earnest advO-
cate Of silver coinage than himself, but
there was al least one question that
should take precedence Of its consdera-
tion. Without any breach Of confidence
he was able TO state that the Committee
Of Finance was on the very eve Of re-
porting the tariff bill He. therefore, OBJ
jected to further proceedings on the
seigniorage bill. Under that objection he
claimed that the bin would so 10 the
calendar
Mr.. Berry's Personal Privilege.
The Chair held Mr. Harris motion to
| be debatable and Mr.. Stewart took the
| floor. but in few moments Mr.. Berry
ODem., Ark) rose 10 question OF per-
sonal privilege. He read the headlines Of
an article i'm tO-day's New York Herald:
Constructing commercial prosperity. Some
of the senators who demand, for the pro-
lection OF local interests. delay i'm re-
porting the tarin bill in the Senate"
He complained that. among other
names, his name was mentioned. He
spoke OF the article as so Infamous, SO
utterly without foundation. and so
thoroughly unjust that he could not al
low il to pass by without notice. There
was no local interest in Arkansas, he
said. that he had ever asked a duty on.
On the contrary, when he was applied to
by lumbermen for an increase Of the
duty on lumber, he had absolutely re-
fused to ask for il. If II were possible, he
would have every dutiable article In the
bill placed on the free list. He had been
TO every member of the Finance Commit
tee and had urged the reporting OF the
Wilson bill as il had come from the
House. He had urged them 10 defy the
men who were delaying the reporting Of
the bill i'm order 10 protect local inter
est" Tie had said 20 every member Of the
committee that "he would not submit
20 the demand of these men, but would
report the bin and let them take their
stand before the face of the country
lie believed i'm absolute free trade. and
that commercial transactions should be
unfettered by any tariff laws. He be-
lioved that there was a motive behind
this newspaper attack-sOme malicious
purpose; for it was known 20 every Demo-
cratic senator that no one was more
anxious than he to have the Wilson
bill passed. Democrats who undertook 10
defeat for any purpose hc cared not
what "ought not to have, and will have
no place inside Of the Democratic ranks"
Messrs. Voorhees, and Harris correlated
Mr.. Berry's statement Of his position
upon the bill.