Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-18

who are il. charge Of 1t have left their seats
ASSUME that they have nothing to say in
defer Sc OF this schedule. 1 expect to hear
them come in with the old threadbare plea
that the finance committee have been bull
dOzed into imposing this duty coal. II
SO. l should Ike TO know who bulldozed
them. Let the men who took them by the
taroat be named 1t ought not to require
any argument in a democratic Senate" Mr.
Hill went on. TO induce democratic Sena-
tors to vote for the amendment. Why
should the democratic platform be repu-
dated and the democratic party be brou ut
into Tidicule?"
. Was free wool to be the only triumph Of
democracy? 1t was already decreed Mr.
Hill said, in conclusion, that the amend
Icent should be defeated, but ne expressed
the nope that the little band who had stood
together for free raw II aterials, whether
there were TWO. three. four or five. would
stand together now for the principle In
volved
Mr.. PETER supports Free Coal.
Mr.. PETER followed Mr.. Hill in support of
Tree coal. although on a different line. He
raised laugh at the outset by saying that
he had a much stronger reason for advo-
eating free coal than the demand of a
democratic platform.
Il have no more respect" said he. "for
the democratic platform than the democrats
themselves have"
Mr.. Aldrich Or. ~ suggested rather in
geniously that, in view of the differences
which existed on the democratic side of the
Chamber with regard to the duty on coal.
that the democrats be allowed to settle the
question for themselves. This suggestion,
as well as the sting in Senator Hills re-
marks. brought Mr.. Vest (Mo) to his feet
Mr. Vest Sarcastic.
Mr.. Vest attacked Mr.. Aldrich for the Do
oition he took. Because II seems to his
(Aldrichs) political advantage said he, he
now proposes TO put aside his duty as
Senator and quietly sit in his seat. Il can
not congratulate him. said he. bitterly.
upon the plan upon which he has now
located himself. That is extraordinary
craftsmanship"
New York. he said. turning mis- attention TO
Mr. Hill. Mr.. Hill, he understood, was op-
posed to this bill on account of its income
tax feature. Yet he comes here this morn
Ing and asks who compelled US to place a
tax en- coal. We are here to give informa-
ton, said Mr.. Vest, but not to those who
know as much about this matter as our
selves His purpose. he thought was to
elicit some statement he could use in fight
ing the bill.
Yielded Against Their Judgment.
Mr.. Vest adverted to the fact that he had
under oath before the investigating COM
mittee. as he had on other occasions, In
the Senate explained that the finance COM
mittee had been compelled to yield duties
against their judgment. But for that rea-
SON he did not feel justified in opposing
the bill. He deemed il his duty to look 10
the general result. They were determined
10 supplant the Mckinley law with a bet
ter measure. and when they could not get
Tree coal they submitted to reduction
from 10 to 80 cents ton as the best they
could get. With reference to the alleged
violation of platform pledges involved in
Imposing a duty ON coal. alluded to by Mr..
itii and constantly held before them b.
the other side, Mr. Vest begged to recall
fhe case of the service pension bill
A service pension law had been demanded
by the republican platform Of 1855. Yet
when 1t was brought into the Senate il
was opposed by Mr. Sherman. He had
never, he said. had more respect for a
public man than for the ohio Senator when
he antagonized that bill. On being tainted
by his own side with the statement that he
Vas regulating the platform of his party
lIr Sherman had uttered that famous
sentence:
No political party can govern my action
as Senator Of the United States in max
ing laws for the people"
&lr- Vest declared that ne too would not
hesitate to antagonize the commands of
his party on "a question like this. II the
platform demanded free coal. and he could
get only reduction OF 50 cents, he would
take it.
MIR. Aldrich's Reply.
A sharp exchange followed between Mr.
Vest and Mr.. Aldrich. the latter declaring
that a tragedian used to playing heavy
roles did not make a good impression
when suddenly called upon the stage as a
light comedian
Mr.. Vest. he thought, was out Of place in
his present position. He proceeded to argue
that Mr.. Vest had not made the author
snip OF the compromise features of the
bill as clear as he might. and after calling
attention TO Mr.. Vests testimony before
the investigation committee that the differ
ences existing among certain democratic
senators about the sugar schedule, and
how the finance committee had finally de-
cided TO shut out the indictments and make
the schedule themselves, ne declared that
on the same theory The republicans had de-
cided that il would be a wise thing for the
democrats to decide this question OF free
Coal without their assistance.
Mr. Chandler ON Free Coal.
Mr.. Chandler IN. HI then got the floor
and expressed the opinion that coal would
be on the free list before the bill became
a law. basing his opinion on the serene
confidence" felt by the Nova Scotia syndi-
cate. with which Mr.. Whitney was con-
nected that when the bill came out Of con-
ference coal would be on the free list
There was, he declared, some understand
ing with somebody.
THE HOUSE.