The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-07-09

fort to Fix the Time for . Vote on the Bin
Washington, July a-Reciprocity and
! retaliation were the two phases Of the
tariff bill to occupy the attention of
the senate today. TO the exclusion OF all
other subjects. Both provisions were
agreed to. although the debate on the
reciprocity a was protracted to s
| O'Clock p. M Shortly before adjourn
ment. Senator Allison e~ndeavored to
secure an agreement on the time for a
final vote. but Senator Teller would not
| consent to fixing the time until all pro-
posed amendments had been submitted
to the senate. AS Senator Allison was
not prepared TO submit these amend
| ments. he withdrew his request. and
the time for the final vote vas left open
| although there is still hope tina it will
/ be reached tomorrow.
The r~etaliatory clause provides that
whenever any country bestows an ex-
port bounty on any article, then upon
the importation of such article into the
United States. there shall be levied. in
| addition to the duties provided by the
| act. an additional duty equal to the
mount of the bounty. The debate on
the section disclosed some differences
! of opinion on the democratic side, Sem
| ator Gray. of Delaware. and Senator
Linsay. of Kentucky, opposing 1t. while
Senator Caffery. of Louisiana. support
ed it as a legitimate measure Of self
preservation. Senator Gray dwelt upon
the effect of the clause in evading our
treaty with Germany and Austria. The
clause was agreed to SO to 10. the w
democratic senator's from Louisiana,
Caffery and McEnery. voting with the
republicans in the affirmative.
The reciprocity clause empowers the
president, with the advice and consent
Of the senate, to make reciprocity
treaties giving 90 per cent. reduction in
duties on designated articles, or plac-
ing articles on the free list. The
amendment brought out much oppo-
sition. Senators Mills, Vest, Pettus,
Teller and White arguing that it evad-
ed the constitutional right Of the house
Of representatives to participate in
measures affecting r%evenu while SEN
! ators Morgan, Gray and Chandler de-
Tended its legality and propriety. Late
in the day, the. vote was taken and the
| reciprocity clause was agreed tO-3O TO
IS, two democrats-Gray and Morgan,
| voting with the republicans in the
| affirmative.
| Early in the day Senator Wellington,
republican. OF Maryland, rising To a
question of personal privilege, We
hemently upheld his senatorial preoga-
tives in the matter Of federal appoint
| mertS.
| Senator Teller, of Colorado, inquired
| what the committee or caucus con-
templated doing on the question Of de-
| creasing the tax on distilled spirits. IN
| view of the letter written by the secre-
| tary of the treasury.
| Senator Allison answered that the
| whole question of distilled spirits had
been gone over. Personally, he be-
lieved a lower tax would be productive
of great revenue, but he thought it un-
| wise to go into the complex question in
connection with this tariff bill.
Senator 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 I will discuss
should be lone in decreasing the tax on
| spirits. / will show that the commit
tee is giving away s., 900, 900 a month,
to the detriment of consumers who bear
the tax burdens, and to the detriment
Of honest dealers in distilled spirits"
The consideration of the bill then
| proceeded.
When the retaliatory clause was
Il ItdcItu, SeI1dloI SIldIlultI VI
Hampshire. said he would vote for it
with extreme reluctance. He had been
told that Germany would begin a
course of commercial warfare against
the United States and he would make
sacrifices to prevent friction between
the empire of Germany and the United
States. There were circumstances now
transporting, he said. that would make
it unfortunate hat commercial con-
dicfc ChnII6 oriCo ot fhic time hpf yrnpn
the United states and Germany,
France, England or other countries.
But the senator said he did not see how
this retaliatory clause could be avoided
if the protective character of the bill
was to be preserved.
Senator Lindsay, of Kentucky. criti-
cised the amendment, as pure. undis-
guised protection without excuse as a
revenue measure. The senator criti-
cised his democratic associates. Sena-
tor Caffery, for defending this purely
protective provision.
Senator Caffery defended his position
as consistent with democracy, and the
vote was then taken.
Senator Pettus, Of labama argued
that the reciprocity paragraph disre-
garded the constitutional rights Of the
house of representatives.
enatO Morgan answered the criti-
cism Of his associate (Pettus) and
others by saying that while he shared
this view at one time. the United States
supreme court had passed upon the re-
ciprocity clause Of the Mckinley law
and had held that it in no way disre-
garded the rights of the house Of repre-
sentatives. He said the reciprocity
provision was a modification of the Sc
verify of the bill and he would sup
pert it.
Senator Gray supported the reciproc-
ity amendment, saying the treaties
contemplated were clearly within the
treaty-making power.
Senator Teller. argued that A grave
question was involved in taking from
the house of representatives, the power
to cooperate in making reciprocity
treaties. II was too grave a question
to be brought into the senate during
the closing hours of the tariff bill. He
said he wanted to vote for some reci-
pretty clause. but not for one in viola
ton of the constitution.