The record-union., 1897-06-03
Democrats Do the Principal Amount
of Talking.
Messrs. Jones and Vest Urge Numer-
Gus Amendments, EmbOdying in
the Main the Wilson Rates, But
All Were Rejected With Single
Exception, the Tariff on Rails.

w WASHINGTON, June Zine Seildle
made greater progress on the tariff than
on any day since the debate opened,
completing more than half of the inn
portant metal schedule. The speaking
was by the Democratic Senators, the
Republican Senators taking no part in
the debate, except at rare intervals, to
answer questions which would expedite
the advance of the bill. Messrs. Jones
of Arkansas and Vest urged numerous
amendments, embodying in the main
the Wilson rates, but these were re-
jected, with one exception. This ex-
ception relates to rails, which Mr.. Vest
secured a reduction on from to IA
cents per pound. It was the first
change made without the assent of the
committee, and it was due mainly to
the listless manner of many Senators
voting. Early in the day MIR. Tillman
of South Carolina secured the adoption
of a, resolution directing the Judiciary
Committee to inquire into the recent
decisions against the South Carolina
dispensary law, with a view to report
ing such legislation as might be de-
sirable.
In the Senate to-day Mr. Tillman Of
asked consideration of a resolution re-
citing the circumstances of the enact
ment of the South Carolina dispensary
law, it's effect in reducing intemperance
and the recent decision of a Federal
Judge in overthrowing the law and re-
quiring the State to reopen the bar
rooms"
The resolution then directs the Ju-
dietary Committee to consider and re-
port what legislation is necessary to
restore to South Carolina it's right to
regulate the liquor traffic in it's own
way.
MIR. Tillman spoke briefly in support
of the resolution, saying the public inn
preston that the dispensary law was
a money making device was erroneous,
and that it had accomplished much
good in regulating the liquor traffic.
There was objection to the preamble.
Finally Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts,
Chairman of the Judiciary Committee,
proposed a substitute emitting the pre-
amble and simply directing the Judi
ciary Committee to consider and re-
port by bill or otherwise what legisla-
ton, if any, is necessary to carry out
the statute of 1890 relating to COM
merce between States.
Mr.. Tillman accepted the substitute
and it was agreed to.
The first formal notice of a tariff
speech was made by Mr.. Mantle (Silver
Republican, of Montana, who said he
would address the Senate ON Friday on
the wool schedule
The tariff bill was then taken I'D.
Mr.. Aldrich, who had been in charge
thus far, was not present and Mr.
Allison of Iowa and Mr.. Platt of Con-
necticut sat together and directed the
course of the bill.
Mr.. Stewart (Pop.) of Nevada preced-
ed the debate by offering an amend
ment proposing the maintenance of a
treasury reserve of S125, 10000 and the
retirement of bonds out of the surplus
above 100000 Mr. Stewart said
that a previous amendment offered by
him might lead to injecting the silver
question into the tariff debate. so he
preferred to strip the question of every
thing beyond a regulation of the treas
ury reserve.
Consideration of the metal schedule
was then begun. The first paragraph
on iron ore, etc, went over at the re-
quest of Mr.. Quay. The paragraphs
on iron pigs and on bar iron were the
same in the House and Senate bills.
Jones of Arkansas took occasion.
however, to make a statement to show
the absurdity, he said, of keeping up
the taxes on these products when the
American producer had absolute con-
troll of the market and shipped large
quantities abroad
Jones reviewed the dissolution of the
street railway combination. This re-
duced the price of steel rails so per
cent, he said, and why should a law
protect producers who could. by COM
bination, double their prices on steel
rails? He spoke also of the effect
of this combination, and on wire nails.
in raising the price to American con-
sumers, while the same goods were be-
ing sold at lower prices to foreign con-
sumers. 1t was a. condition, he as
serted, which should arouse the people
from ocean to ocean until they stamped
to pieces these combinations.
Caffery Cd of Louisiana also spoke
generally against the rates of the metal
schedule. He maintained that our
manufactured iron goods were being
shipped abroad in enormous quantities.
and that the tariff on raw material en-
barrassed this trade. Caffery then
branched into a general speech against
the bill, reading from manuscript. In
the main his speech was a protest
against an increase of duties on neces-
stiles of life, and on raw materials. He
did not mention the sugar schedule.
Progress on the bill was then re-
sumed, and the paragraphs were agreed
to on round iron in coils and rods.
beams, girders, ETC., boiler or other
plate iron or steel, iron or steel anchors.
etc.
A discussion arose on paragraph 125.
relating to hoop, band and scroll iron.
including the bands used in baIing cot
ton. Mr.. Vest pointed out that the
Mckinley rate was / 2-10, the Wilson
bill made cotton ties free, and the
Senate bill now proposed to make the
rate 1-10c per pound. Cotton was so
depressed that the restoration of the
duty was not warranted. Vest said
Mills of Texas also opposed the rate,