The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-04-21
TEST ON THE TARIFF.
An Indicative Vote Unexpectedly Reach
ed In the Senate.

An Indicative Vote Unexpectedly Reach
ed In the Senate.
WASHINGTON, April 14.-The first
skirmish on the tariff question occur
red in the senate today. 1t was fol-
lowed by a vote which served as test
of strength of the various elements of
the senate. The vote occurred on a
motion of Mr.. Morrill, (Rep) OF Yer
mont, chairman of the committee on
finance, to refer resolution by Mr..
Vest. one of the Democratic members
of that committee. This made the is
sue between the representatives OF the
two leading elements in the senate.
Aside from this the resolution was In
the nature of criticism of Secretary
Gage and declared illegal his recent
order relative to goods imported after
April 1, when. according to the retro
active clause of the pending Dingley
bill, the new tariff rates are to apply.
Mr.. Morrill's motion prevailed by the
close vote of "a to %.
Prior to the vote breezy discussion
occurred on several phases o. the tar
if. The subject came up first when
Mr.. Mantle presented a memorial from
the wool growers urging ample pro
lection to their industry. He referred
in this connection to reports that Sec
retary North of the Wool Manufactu-
rers' association was acting as secreta-
ry of the finance committee.
Mr.. Morrill, denied the statement,
saying this gentleman had been sum-
moned as an expert to give informa.
ton on the wool question. Mr.. Hoar
of Massachusetts,, Mr.. Hawley of Con-
necticut and Mr.. Gray of Delaware
participated in the debate. Mr.. Nor.
rill succeeded in cutting off the debate
by calling for the regular order. He
expressed the hope that there would
be no premature debate of tariff bill
not before the senate, adding that he
expected the bill would be reported at
an early day.
Debate soon came up again on the
resolution of Mr.. Vest, declaring ille'
gal the recent order of Secretary Gage
to customs officers, relative to goods
imported after April 1. Mr.. Test de-
clared that the duty of the secretary
was to execute the existing law. In
effect the order nullifed the existing
laws. He said that no intelligent law
yer would declare the retroactive
clause of the Dingley bill to be law
full exercise of authority by congress.
It was an act of intimidation against
importers.
Mr.. Morrill, again expressed regret
that the tariff bill was being discussed
before it had been perfected and pre-
sented to the senate. Some of these
provisions now under discussion might
be changed before reaching the senate.
Mr.. Vest answered that he had not
precipitated a tariff debate. 1t was
the secretary of the treasury who pre-.
cipitated the question by his illegal
order. Must the senate remain dumb,
asked Mr.. Vest, while this secretary
"drew his sword and directed it
against American citizens!" 1t was an
unjustifable act against the importers,
MIR. Vest asserted.
MIR. Morrill, moved to refer the reso'
luton to the finance committee. This
precipitated tariff vote. Great inter
ett was manifested in the vote and the
roll call was closely followed. The
vote was as follows:
Yeas Baker, Burrows, Garter, Clark,
Cullom, Davis, Foraker, Frye, Gal
linger, Hawley, Hanna, Hansbrough,
Hoar, Mcmillan, Mantle, Mason, Mel
son, Plat of New York, Pritchard.
RFoTtOr, ROf1;n .+o2ml quay sp00nsr' Warren
Nays-Bate, Butler, Cannon, Chan
dler, Chiffon, Cockrell, German, Gray,
Harris of Kansas, Heitfeld. Lindsay,
McEuery, Martin, Mills. Morgan, Pas.
co, Pettigrew, Pettus, Rawlins, Turn
er, Turpis, Vest and Walthal-23.
The only Republican vote cast
against the motion was that of Mr..
Chandler, while the Democrats voted
solidly against it. They had the as
sistance of all the silver Republicans
and Populists present except Mr.. Man
tie, silver Republican of Montana,
who voted with the straight Republi-
cans. Mr.. Cannon (silver Republican,
and Messrs. Butler and Harris of
Kansas, Heitfeld, Pettigrew, and Tur-
ner (Pop) were recorded against the
motion. Messrs. Teller and Jones and
Stewart of Nevada were absent. Sena.
tor Kyle, whose position is question
of interest, and Senator Allen (Pop)
were also absent.