Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-06-25
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, June %
SENATE.

SENATE.
In the Senate to-day the resolution
of Mr.. Hale, relative to restricting the
privileges of ex Senators on the floor OF
the Senate to those not interested in
legislation and claims, was referred
without comment to the committee on
rules.
The consideration of the wool sched-
ule was resumed and the tax on au-
busson, administer, moquette and che
mile carpets was fixed at 623 cents per
yard and 40 per cent. ad valorem.
Mr.. Vest moved to strike out the
specific rate, leaving only the 40 per
cent. ad valorem. The vote was II
"a, four short of quorum. There
was some delay in announcing the re-
suit, owing to the anxiety to secure 8
quorum, but Mr.. Vest insisted on q
speedy announcement, remarkiDg that
the suffering country could not wait
while republican Senators mustered a
quorum. When the want of quorum
was announced Mr.. Vest derisively
said: "And this, with the country just
wallowiug and dying while the bill
waits"
1.-THE Senator is out of ORDER" inter-
posed Mr.. Chandler jocularly.
"And SO is the country" added Mr..
Gray.
A call of the Senate brought SO Ssna-
tors to the chamber, and Mr.. Vests
amendment was then rejected.
The tax on saxony, wilton and tour
nay velvet carpets was agreed to, with
au increase in the specific duty from so
10 60 cents per yard, the nd valorem
being left at 40 per cent; on brussels
carpets, figured or plain, the specific
duty was increased from A to IS cents
per square yard with 40 per cent. a1
valorem in addition.
Mr.. Vest criticised the rates, saying
it was the evident purpose to prohibit
the importation of cheap mattiDgs and
cheap carpets, thus making it impos-
sible for poor man to cover his floors
except with higher priced American
carpets.
Mr.. Gray submitted an estimate that
on Il room 16 feet square the tax on o
brussels carpet would be $2430.
On velvet and tapestry velvet carpets,
the specific duty was increased from 40
to Al cents per square yard, with 40 per
cent ad valorem in addition.
Mr.. Vest again moved to strike out
the specific rate. This drew brief but
emphatic protest from Mr.. Tillman.
He disliked to differ with the distin.
euished democratic leader he said,
"but," he continued, ''it's perfectly clear
we're beaten On every one OF these
items, and, well-its just waste Of
time, that's ALL"
: Mr.. White and Mr.. Vest criticised
the rates as excessive.
The Senate then entered upon the
silk schedule.
At the outset Mr.. Vest tested the at
titude of the Senate by moving to strike
out the specific rate on thrown silk.
The amendment was disagreed to with
out division and the consideration of
the schedule proceeded rapidly.
There was halt, however, when the
paragraph on woven silk fabrics was
reached. After Mr.. Allison had perfect
ed the paragraph in minor particulars,
Mr.. Jones spoke in opposition to the
rates, saying they ran from 70 to 700
per cent, were excessive and prohibit
tory and most burdensome on the
cheap silks. He exhibited samples of
japanese and Chinese silks, which, he
sad, would be barred from this country.
Mr. Mantle said that while he be-
ieved in good stiff protective tariff,
Is or 100 per cent if necessary, yet he
entirely sympathized with this opposi-
ton to excessive rates on Chinese and
Japa iese silks. He would oppose them
on the same ground that he favored
putting strawmattiDg on the free list,
for he did not believe in this manner of
meeting the competition OF the orient.
Mr.. Platt, replying to Mr.. Mantle,
referred to the plaintive appeals that
had come from the Pacific coast against |
oriental competition.
Mr.. White declared that the silk
schedule was one which "for complica-
ted popularity is the most remarkable
in this most wonderful bill"
Mr.. Teller said be was willing to vote
for fair duty but not for a 700 per
cent duty. As to the statement that
Japan had gone to the gold standard,
Mr.. Teller said this had been done
merely by cutting their yen, or coin, in
two, and that the standard was prac-
ticaily unchanged. He could not
vote for 700 per cent duty against
Japanese, Chinese or any other goods.
He wanted this to be republican tariff
bill, although he said he considered the
Wilson bill about as good protective
MEASURE as some that bore the repuoll-
can label.
Mr.. Jones moved substitute scaling
down the duties on all lines of silk fab
RIGS; rejected, % to 26, Messrs. Mantle,
Pettigrew aud Teller voting With the
democrats in the affirmative.
COURT OF APPEALS.