The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-24
BRYAN OFFERED NO BRIBE.
SENATOR ALLEN DENIES PROF.
BATEMAN'S CHARGE.

His Offer of $1,000 to the PopuIist
National Committee Not Condition
al on the Taking of No Action
Against Fusion by the POpuIist
National COmmittce-Senator But
Ter Explains His Connection With
the Incident-The Senate Then
Continues the Debate on the Wool
Schedule.
Washington, June 2S.-After a contest
lasting throughout to-day. the Senate
completed the paragraphs of the wool
schedule relating to raw wool and advanc-
ed into the features relating to manufac-
tured wooden goods. The day was devoted
largely to a discussion of the effect of
tariff rates on the price of wool, and the
speeches were on technical lines in the
main.
Mr.. Quay made a strong effort to have
the House ad valorem rates on third class
wool adopted, but he was defeated, 10 to
a.
The committee rates were then agreed
to- viz, &c per pound on third class wool,
valued at Toe or less per pound, and &c
per pound on third class WOOL valued
above 10c per pound. The schedule was
completed up to paragraph 1854, relating to
cloths knit fabrics, etc.
Immediately after the prayer Mr.. AL
len of Nebraska rose to question of per-
sonal privilege in connection with the
conduct of the last campaign. There was
much interest in the statement, as Mr..
Allen was chairman of the populistic ma
tional convention. Mr.. Allen read a pub
lished press dispatch from Lewiston, Me-,
stating that Prof. l.. C. Bateman, candi-
date of the peoples party of Maine for
governor, last year, was out in an at
tack on William ]. Bryan, to the effect
that Mr.. Bryan's gift of $500 TO the pop
ulist national committee was with the dis
tinct understanding that no action against
fusion should be taken by the populistic
national convention. Mr.. Allen made
sweeping denial. He said Mr.. Bryan had
determined to divide the royalties on his
book, and in doing so, he allotted $3.50
20 the populist party. The draft was sent
to Mr.. Allen, but the chairman of the pop
ulist national committee Senator Butler
of North Cardinal declined to accept it.
Thereupon, at the suggestion of Mr..
Bryan, Mr.. Allen invested the amount to
be used in the interest of bimetallism.
r.
that any agreement existed as to the fu-
sion, in Connection with the gift was an
absolute and unqualified falsehood."
There has never BEEN he declared, an at
tempt to fuse the parties, either nationally
or locally. Mr.. Allen also specifically de-
Fled the statement that Mr.. Bryan forged
his (Allen's) name to the list appended to
the letter Of notification. The senator
closed with a high tribute to Mr.. Bryan
and an arraignment of Prof. Bateman.
4 Mr.. Butler stated briefly that the offer
was made to him, but he felt mpelled to
decline it. He approved Mr.. Bryan's mo-
tive, but felt that the acceptance might
be open to misconstruction. The offer mad
been made, he said, without any condition,
express or implied.
The consideration of the wool schedule
of the tariff bill was then resumed.
Paragraph aE, relating to third-class
wool, was taken up. There was consider
abe opposition to the proposed rates, the
debate being largely on technical lines rel
ative to grades of wool
Mr.. Quay moved to disagree to the COM
mittee amendment to paragraph 357. The
= House rate was 30 per cent. ad valorem
on third class wool, valued al l3c or less.
The committee rate was 4c per pound on
. third class woods valued at 10c or less.
The effect of Mr.. Quay's motion would
be TO go to the House rate of 80 per cent.
ad Valorem.
AZ lHlS punt MI. morgan Oh AldDdlLd
secured recognition for the introduction
of a bill to regulate the annexation of
Hawaii to the United States. Without
comment the bill was referred to the COM
mittee on foreign relations.
Returning to the wool debate, Mr.. Hoar
pointed out that there was not a majority
in the Senate favorable to that doctrine
of protection supported by the republi-
can party. 1t became necessary, there
fore, to secure the cooperation of those
who had supported a man for the pres-
dency who. If elected, was pledged to
veto a tariff bill.
Mr.. Mantle replied that he had never
known that the silver candidate for the
Presidency was pledged to veto a tariff
bill.
Mr.. Hoar said Mr.. Bryan's record in
the House of Representatives would throw
some light on the subject. He was sup
ported by nearly all the free traders in
the country" added Mr.. Hoar. 'and if
the party did not pledge him, he pledged
the party"
Mr.. Mantle further stated that notwith-
standing his interest in the wool schedule,
he had never desired TO lay any obstacle
in the way of the tariff bill as a whole.
Mr.. Allen said the statement of Mr..
Hoar as to the silver candidate for the
Presidency should not go unchallenged.
There was nothing in what Mr.. Bryan had
Faid justifying an assertion that he would
have vetoed a tariff bill. If it had been
bill of oonhscation, doubtless he would
have vetoed it.
Mr.. Hoar brought forward copies of the
record, showing Mr.. Bryan's course on the
tariff. He had voted in the House to put
wool on the free list; he had carried out
In triumph Mr.. Wilson, who had de-
nounced protection as robbery; he had
himself denounced protection as robbery.
II have a good deal of respect for Mr..
Bryan" continued Mr.. Hoar. His char
acter has impressed me very favoraby,
and have never Joined in any criticism
upon him, but II he would not veto a tar
1T bill after such utterances, would not
have much respect for him"
Mr.. Stewart of Nevada thought the crlu-
cisms OF Mr.. Bryan were most unfair, for,
said the senator, an examination OF Mr..
McKinley's record would show him to
have voted for the free and unlimited
coinage Of silver. Mr.. Stewart stated that
during the consideration Of the Bland-All.-
son act, Mai Mckinley advocated every
proposition now ADVOCATED by the most
radical of silver men, Even as late as 1890,
AK fa1a haH af