Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-05-30
TEST VOTE ON TARIFF.
Teller Offers a Resolution to Deter
mine the Feeling on the
OuoStinn


mine the Feeling on the
Question.
Washington, d. c., May 23-Mr.
Teller moved to lay the tariff bill on the
table. Mr.. Teller's motion was made
to test the sense of the Democratic
majority and see if the bill was to be
the bill which the Democratic party
intended to pass. Messrs. Hill, Irby,
Allen, PETER and KYLE voted against
Ieller's motion. The motion was de-
teated by strict party votes yeas to
50 nays.
Announcement that Senator German
would speak upon the tariff had the
effect Of bringing out a larger at
tendance than usual. Senator KYLE in
troduced resolution declaring for nom
Intervention in Hawaiian affairs, which
went over until tomorrow, and then,
the tariff bill was taken up. Senators
Jones and Plat discussed the ''Iv' rail
amendment tor a time after which
Senator German, pale from his recent
illness, took the floor. He spoke
slowly and in low tone of voice. Mr.
German rehearsed the difficulties that
had confronted the Democratic party in
dealing with the question of tariff re-
form. He claimed that action by the
present Congress had not been unusu-
ally delayed. In answer to the charges
by the Republicans, Mr.. German
asserted that the bill had been con-
structed on the Democratic theory of
tariff for revenue with such incidental
protection as could be given consistent
ly to the industries of the country.
Senator German denied that any trust
had dictated any part of any schedule
Of this bill.
T
The most interesting part Of Senator
Germans speech was his reference to :
the income tax rider to the tariff bill.
Upon the subject Of the income tax Mr..
German said: Sin the matter of in
ternal revenue | will say that person
ally l am in full accord with the senti-
ments SO ably and so eloquently ex-
pressed by the senators from New
York and New Jersey Hill and Smith,
regarding the income tax. Like them,
I consider it served it's purpose as war
tax and has no fitting place in our fiscal
system in time of peace.
could not, say frankly vote conscien-
tiously or consistently with my judg-
ment and convictions to make this
method of taxation part Of our set.
tied policy, but, much as | deplore the
fastening of an income tax in any form
upon our tariff bill, [ cannot ignore the
fact that large majority of my Demo
cratic colleagues differ from myself in
this matter and are so confident OF the
soundness of their position that they
are willing to subject it to the test of a
few years, thus enabling the people to
see Its actual workings and to pass upon
it directly.
When German concluded and Teller
arose, Republicans and Democrats alike
felt as he spoke that some move was i'm
pending He was interested, Mr.. Teller
said, to learn from Mr.. German that a
majority of the Senate would support
the compromise bill. He was also in
terested ON learning that the Demo-
cratic party was standing not on the
Chicago platform, but upon Mr.. Cleve-
lands platform. He had known that
the party had abandoned the Chicago
platform as far as silver was concerned
at Mr. Cleveland's dictation, but he had
learned for the first time to-day that
Mr. CIeveland's utterances took prece-
denee over the plank of the party
platform On the tariff. Still, even
he was In doubt as to the
condition of the other side. The Mary
land Senator had not said that all the
Democrats would support the bill. He
had said that Q majority of the Senate
would support it. How many Popu-
lists were counted on by Mr.. German to
make up majority of the Senate, and
were there any backsllders among the
Democrats were interesting questions,
and in order to make every senator
show his colors he would move to lay
the tariff bill ON the table. Mr.. Teller's
motion was like a bombshell. 1t Gre
ated CONSERVATION on both sides. The
bells rang and pages were sent scurry-
ing through the corridors to drum up
every available senator in order that
the whole strength might be polled ON
the vote