Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-28
T HE TARIFF F BILL.
Mr.. Harris Compelled to Make q
Statement of His Position.
URGED TO THIS BY SENATOR HALE.
It Will Be the Result of Compro-
mise and Concessions.
ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.

The opening of the Senate proceedings
today was a repetition of that Of yesterday.
Before the reading Of yesterdays journal.
Mr. Frye remarked, sarcastically, that such
an important document should not be read
in the absence of the Senator from Ten
nessee (Air. Harris) and a quorum. The
roll was called and at seven minutes after
IL a quorum appeared, and the reading
Of the journal was completed.
The Senate passed House bill for the re-
lief Of George w. Barnes.
House joint resolution authorizing the
Secretary of the Treasury to make partial
payments on vessels constructed and re-
paired under the control of the Treasury
Department to the extent of IS per cent
of the value of the work done was reported
by Mr.. German and passed.
Mr.. Aliens Request Refused.
A request by Mr.. Allen for unanimous
consent for the consideration Of a private
bill was refused by Mr.. Hale on the ground
that the rules provided that the morning
hour should run for two hours and that af-
ter the routine morning business the cal
endar could be taken up If a majority would
agree to do SO.
A few minutes afterward the Vice Presi-
dent announced that the routine morning
business was concluded, and Mr.. Harris, at
IL 80 O'clock moved to take up the tarin
bill
Mr. Allen asked permission to consider
the calendar, but Mr.. Harris. stated that the
tariff bill was more important than all the
bills on the calendar put together. and he
therefore felt impelled to insist on his mo-
ton.
The yeas and nays were demanded. and
the motion was agreed to. BIB.
Before the actual consideration OF the
UaV IA
next Monday he would address the Senate
on the pending bill.
The fact that many amendments were to
be proposed to the tariff bill. making q
compromise bill, was again the prominent
feature Of the early hours of the session. and
was brought out by Mr.. Hale Of Maine.
Mr.. Hale Prods Mr.. Harris.
He began by speaking briefly Of the pend
ing amendment-the change of date for the
taking effect of the bill-and said that the
Senator from Tennessee. who had charge Of
this bill affecting the industries Of the
whole country. proposed now to decide that
on the 30th of June-only s. days ahead-it
should take effect and that every reduction
of duty. every change affecting Industries.
should then become a law. Now" he went
on, II appeal to the Senator from Tennes-
see to let this part of the bill-the date
when 1t shall take effect-remain unacted
on until We have more daylight. until We
can see through and know what is likely to
be done. Why, Mr.. President l do not be-
| lieve that the Senator from Tennessee has
the slightest conception of what this bin is
| likely to be when 1t passes IL II ever does
pass. do not believe the Senator from
Tennessee knows what Is going on In cor
ners and holes in the wall to fx up a bill
which will be acceptable to the majority.
There Is some plan. some scheme anoat to
secure the votes OF a majority of democrats.
Six weeks ago the Senator from Ohio tMr
| Brice) threw some light on what was go
ing on"
The Interview With Mr.. Brice.
Mr.. Hale had read the interview with Mr.
Brice to which he had referred. and in
which Mr.. Brice was reported to have said
that compromise measure mad been agreed
upon. and would be presented to the Senate
as amendments to the pending bill, and that
| the income tax. with certain notifications,
would be retained. Most of the Sena tors
ne said, who were reported to be at work
on the substitute bill had gone to the con-
fessional, but there was one Senator who
had not been to the confessional (Senator
Brtce), and the shrewd. clever Senator from
Ohio knew the ground on which ne stood.
No man who was engaged in making I'D
this new proposition had seen fit to deny IL
and as the Senator from Rhode Island had
said yesterday, no matter how many. de-
nials were made thirty days. perhaps less
time than that, would disclose to the coun-
try the secret proceedings which were
going on.
Did aEy one doubt he asked, that the
sugar sehedule would be fixed up to suit
the refiners. and that the sugar producers
OF Louisiana and Nebraska would be ground
between the upper and neither millstones?
Did not the Senator from Tennessee know
that the stock Of the sugar trust had risen
from IS to 1O3 as a result of the proposed
compromise. Did the Senator doubht that the
whole metal schedule was to be torn and
dismembered and distorted until he. with
his clear eyes, would never recognize II as
the child of his paternity? He could say,
in spite Of whatever denias had been made
that the whole bill was to be reconstructed,
friendly mood toward il, and who had.
early and late. made known their an
tipathy to II, were to be propitiated in or
ger TO gain their votes. This meant that
Senators like the Senator from Tennessee
who were honest in their convictions, We're
to be overslaughed and made to vote
against their firm beliefs in order to get
votes to pass some kind of a tariff bill
He would like to see Jackson or Jefferson
or even Jefferson Davis attempting to make
up a tariff bill in holes and corners of the
Capitol. And the newspapers say" con-
tinued Mr. Hale, that under these condi-
tons the leaders appear to be more cheerful,
cheerful, Mr.. President cheerful when bar
gaining and selling is going on instead of
honest tariff legislation. Cheerful when
jugglery and skullduggery take the place
of open discussion, cheerful when 1t is the
cheerfulness of a dying man. when decom-
position has already set in and numbed his
faculties"
As to Mr. Mills "Kicking."
He referred to another newspaper article
which had just come to his notice, which
stated that owing to recent developments
mills was kicking like a steer"
WELL" said he, II don't wonder that the
Senator from Texas. who has given so much
time and thought to the subject. and who
in the other house drew up a tariff BILL
don't wonder that he is kicking like a steer
don't wonder that he is kicking, when
three four men, who have never been In
sympathy with his views (for he was a
straightforward and honest mani, were al
lowed to frame bill which was not in
sympathy with his views. / doubt whether
the kicking will avail him anything. When
they report this bill, when the party lash is
applied, then we will behold the spectacle
of men who have held one view all
their lives voting for bill which will mur-
der and slaughter all their beliefs"
MIR. Harris Reply.
Mr.. Harris. replying to the remarks OF Mr.
Hale, which were mainly directed at him,
said:
1.-The Senator from Maine has compli-
mented me in a manner which shows no dis
position on his part to spare my modest
bushes but think 1t may be necessary
that 1 should very briefly define my posi-
ton in regard to the pending bill, and 1
promise to be as brief as usually am. To
begin with, l undertake to assert, with alb
solute confidence, that there never was in
the history Of this government a tariff bill
framed by either party, there never will be
tariff bill framed by either party, which
has not been and will not be the result Of
compromise between the conflicting parties.
Nv ODiufona ara p0rhana n little mora