The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-07-03
Democrats Think It Ignores the
Prerogatives of the House.
THE RETALlAT0RY CLAUSE
Chandler Says He Votes for 1t With Ex-
treme Reluctance - Wellington
Makes an Angry Exhibi-
ton OF Himself

ioIe tne committee on commerce in re-
lation to the appointment of B. II.
Warner. Jr.. as consul to Leipsic. The
senator declared the publication was
unjust and sought To embroil him In a
conflict with the president OF the
United States.
Wellington said he understood the
committee meetings relative To appoint
ments were secret and sacred and he
could not believe any members of the
committee gave the information. I'm
der the circumstances, who. he said.
could have inspired the report but that
creature present In the committee
room yesterday"
Ii was alleged he had attacked Presi-
dent Mckinley, but this, too, he declar-
ed was false. He was free man and
reserved II to himself to criticise any
appointment. He had done SO yester-
day In respectful manner and should
occasion arise he would do so again. IF
the price of patronage is to be servile
obedience then l refuse to give IT," ex-
claimed Wellington. He spoke again
or the creature" responsible for the
report and closed with an emphatic
statement as to his prerogatives. II
these prerogatives were to be interfered
with then he proposed to make war.
After this incident the tariff bill was
taken up. White, in behalf of the min
ority OF the finance committee. asked
Allison as to the programme on tea,
beer, the antitrust amendment and
other important questions.
Allison responded that an amendment
relating to an increase Of the revenue
to be derived from the bill would be
brought in later in the day. As to the
other questions, little more time was
desired.
Teller of Colorado inquired what the
committee or caucus contemplated do
ing on the question Of decreasing the
tax on distilled spirits, in view OF the
letter written by the secretary of the
treasury.
Allison answered that the whole Ques-
tion Of distilled spirits had been gone
over. Personally he thought 1t unwise
to go into the complex question In con-
nection with the tariff bin.
Teller said the letter Of the secretary
of the treasury indicated a desire for
legislation on this subject. Then the
senator added. before this bill is
disposed Of | will discuss what should
be done In decreasing the tax on spirits.
/ Will show that the committee is Civ
ing away s2.0O0.000 a month to the det-
riment OF consumers who bear the tax
burdens and to the detrlment of hon
est dealers in distilled spirits
The paragraph relating to nickel was
changed. making the rates on nickel
ore three cents per pound ON the nickel
contained therein; nickel matte. four
cents per pound; nickel and nickel OK
ide alloy, etc, eight cents per pound.
This brought the senate to the retalia-
tory clause, so CALLED.
White Of California argued that IL
Germany had the right to give the ex-
port duty which In effect operated
against the United States. the United
States should adopt measures To offset
this and he would not even call II re-
taliatory.
Chandler said he would vote for the re-
taliatory clause with extreme reluctance.
lie had been told that Germany would be-
gin course of commercial warfare
against the United States. and he would
make sacrifices to prevent friction be-
tween the empire Of Germany and the
United States. But the senator said he
did not see how this retaliatory clause
could be avoided II the protective charac-
ter of the bill was to be preserved. The
rctaliatory clause was agreed to. 53-l9
Two democrats. Caffery and McEnery OF
Louisiana, and Allen and Kyle voted with
the republicans In the affirmative. and
Mantle and Teller with the democrats In
the negative.
The reciprocity sectibn was next consid-
cred. Allison offering the new provision.
the purport Of which has heretofore been
given, II was changed slightly by provid-
ing that the reciprocity treaty ''be made
by and with the consent Of the senate"
In brief the section authorizes the pres
ident to negotiate commercial treaties. TO
extend more than five years and granting
a reduction of the duties imposed by this
act to the extent OF not more than 20 per
cent thereof or for the transfer during
that period Of designated articles from
the dutable to the free list. being the
natural products OF such foreign couD-
tries and not of the United States.
Mills OF Texas stated in few words
that the proposed amendment sought TO
deprive the hous of representative of its
constitutional right TO originate and par
ticipate In all revenue measures.
Vest took the same view. while Allison
and Hoar contended that the participa.
tion OF the house In the passage Of this
bill was AN authorization OF the treaties
Vest spoke Of the assaults of this bill or
Germany. Japan. Argentina and othei
countries. and declared that not one oi
tntSt want RECIPROCITY
treaty with us after being thus assailed
Lindsay referred to the recent trip OF
South American officials TO cities OF the
United States with a view to encouraging
trade. and said IL would be futile wheT
the American people by this bill turned
their backs on the rest OF the world and
made commerce crime.
Morgan said the United States supreme
court had passed upon the reciprocity
clause OF the Mckinley law and had held
that IL in no way disregarded the right,
of the house. The reciprocity provision. h,
said. reduced the severity OF the bill and
he would support H.
Gray supported the reciprocity amend
ment. saying that the treaties contem
plated were clearly within the treaty
making power. Teller argued that grave
question was involved In taking from th'
house Of representatives the power to co
operate in making reciprocity treaties. i
vas TOO grave a question to be- brought
into the senate during the closing hour
of the tariff debate. The senator said h
wanted TO vote for some reciprocit,
clause, but not for one in violation OF th'
constitution.
The reciprocity clause was agreed TO
Se-ls. two democrats. Gray and Morgan
and Messrs Harris OF Kansas and ileit
[ fxtH h.s F.nulti