The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-10
CRY or DISTRESS
Mills utters it in the Senate
When Tainted by Aldrich.

WAsnNaroN. May 10--Yesterday was
turbulent day in the senate. The "era
ef business" so long predicted. was at
last sntered upon after six weeks general
debate on the tariff.
One amendment. that to levy duties on
goods In bond on the date when the bill
goes into effect. was agreed to. and Mr.
Lodges amendment TO impose double
duties against Great Britain until that
country should acquiescs in an interna-
sional agreement for tho coinage OF sill
yer was defeated.
This was not a very lively pace, as some
thing over 1000 amendments are pending,
but, nevertheless, il was progress.
Work on the tariff bill was preceded by
two hours debate upon the Allen reso-
luton for the appointment OF special
committee TO investigate the alleged po-
lice clubbing ourrages on the steps OF the
Capitol.
Mr.. Allen made vigorous speech in
support. Mr.. Ahern of Ohio replied to
Mr.. Allen in a very temperate manner,
npholding the constitutionality of the
act, denying that there had been any at
tempt 20 abridge the right OF petition,
and predicting that the commonwealers
would soon find that they did not repre-
sent in any degree the sentiment of the
country, and that in a short time the bet
ter Judgment of the people would pre-
vail, and the present excitement would
fade away.
Mills Furnished a Sensation.
The sensational feature of the tariff de
bate was Mr.. Mills denunciation of the
surrender made to the conservative Dem
0crats.
He wanted to repel the idea that he was
In any way responsible for what Mr.. Aid
rich had termed the Democratic sur
render. A Few days ago. he began,
he had described his own position as be-
tween the devil and the deep sea- the Me-
Kinley bill being the devil. Since that
time, a change had come over the situa-
tion. He was nearer the devil and had
not so much sea room as before. He now
found that the bill before the senate, as
modified by the amendments introduced,
had no resem mblancc to the Wilson bill. IL
ought. he said, to bear the name OF Mr..
German or Mr. Brice.
No man, declared he. impulsively. could
torture him into an admission that this
bill was response to Democratic pledges.
He had said that taxation should be
levied upon value; that it was the only
Just system; that taxation should not be
imposed as under the specific system of
the Mckinley bill. so that the goods OF
the rich would escape with the same tax
as was levied upon the cheaper articles
Of the poor. There he had stood, and
there he would continue to stand. lie
rose TO say that he did not stand for "A
single one or the amendments carrying
change to specific duties. Ir was hu-
initiating enough to have to endorse the
system of robbery contained in the Nc
Kinley bill without bowing down in
modification to accept the very badges
Of protection.
The first amendment made the sur
render; il was continued throughout the
bill, until it was now question between
the Mckinley bill and a Democratic sys-
TEN of protection, with very little margin
Sn favor OF the Democratic measure.
sBut I'll vote for st." said he, emphati-
cally, "rll vote for it If il cortains only
tper cent reduction Of taxation"
Tarif For Revenue Only.
The Democratic party in 1892, he con-
tinued, had declared protection "A fraud;
had declared for tariff for revenue only.
There is where he stood, and he did not
intend TO 20 step backward. He would
have reduced the duties below the point
set in the Wilson bill II he had the power.
He would have given still more raw
materials To relieve those who were COM
lug to Washington to tell of their dis
tress produced by protection. He would
vote for the senate bill, but he did not in
tend TO help make IL rs bad as it possi-
bly, could be.
II want to file this caveat," he con-
cluded, ito Il. the Democrats of the
country understand where / stand. /
would like TO see those who have de-
manded these changes, who have forced
the Democrats of the senate to surrender
their platform, to stand out in the glare Of
the daylight and take the responsibility.
wave of applause swept over the
galleries when the Texas senator took his
seat. which was quickly checked by Vice
President Stevenson.
All eyes were turned upon Mr. German,
whom Mr. Mills had specified by name as
mainly responsible for the Concessions"
but the Maryland senator did not move a
muscle.
Mr.. Brice was not in the chamber at
the time. The pending amendment was
then agreed to.
The senate in executive session, just pre-
vious to adjournment, followed up the fa-
vorable action by the committee on foreign
relations on the treaty defining the limits
of seal fishing in Russian waters by rati-
flying 1t. The committee report was ac-
cepted without question, aud the commit
tees recommendation was unanimously
favored.
In the House.
The naval appropriation bill was under
consideration in the house. but as a rule
that bill received very little attention at
the hands of the speakers, the debate
soon switching off to the tariff question.
An agreement had been reached in the
morning to limit general debate to seven
hours, three and a half hours TO side,
1.x,f tb q a., ,o,ftv ~ fha ,,,a,, hor. sho,,od