The Portland daily press., 1897-06-02

| Proposed Amendments Defeated with
| Unfaltering Regularity by Majorities
| of From to Ex-senator smith Denies
That He Has Speculated in Sugar
| Stocks.
Washington, June 1.-The Senate made
good progress on the tariff bill today,
advancing to the important metal sched-
ule. During the day the. paragraphs COW
ering marble and stone, china, glass,
brick and tiles, were completed with a
few minor exceptions. Messls. Vest
and Jones of Arkansas, in behalf of the
minority of the finance committee, pro-
posed numerous amendments which
were defeated by majorities of to a.
The votes were on party lines in the
main, although Messrs. Rawlins and
White, Democrats, voted with the Re-
publicans to increase the rate on ONYX
and Mr.. McEnery, Democrat, voted with
the Republicans against Mr.. Jones's pro-
position for a reduction of the rates on
china AS a sequel to the recent sensa-
tional speech of Mr.. Tillman, Mr.. Smith
of New Jersey, rose to a question of per-
sonal privilege while the tariff debate was
proceeding and made brief, but pointed
denial of all speculation in sugar stock
recently or at any time when sugar was
the subject of legislation. Mr. Tillman
was among those who heard the denial
but he made no comment on it.. Senator
McLaurin of South Carolina was sworn
in early in the day, raising the member
ship of the Senate to 80.
Washington, June 1.-The Senator from
South Carolina, John j. McLaurin, who
succeeds the late Senator Earle, was
sworn in at the opening of the session
today. This establishes the personnel of
the Senate as it will remain for some
time. viz: Republicans, 43; Democrats,
"a; Populists, Z; Silver Republicans, g.;
vacancy, 1 (Oregon); total, 80.
Mr.. Mason, Republican of Illinois, SUBJ
mitted petition from the National Busi-
ness league, urging immediate and effec-
tive action upon the pending tariff bill,
and stating that this was the general sem
timent of business interests. Il
The tariff bill was taken up immediate
ly after the disposal of the routine bust
ness.
Mr.. Aldrich, in charge of the bill, re-
turned to paragraph 80, relating to china,
proclaim, ETC., and Withdrew the pro
posed committee amendments leaving the
rates as reported by. the house, viz:
Decorated, 60 per cent ad valorem, un-
decorated, 55 per cent.
Mr.. Jones of Arkansas moved to reduce
these rates to 35 and 80 per cent, respec-
lively. Without debate vote was taken
and the proposed amendment were de-
feated, yeas 23 nays 81. Messrs. McEnery
and Cannon voted with the Republicans
in the negative, and Messrs Harris of
Kansas, and Heitfeld with the Democrats
in the affirmative In other respects the
vote was on a party line.
The paragraph was amended to omit
clock cases and then agreed to.
The committee amendments were with.
drawn also as the paragraph covering
"All other china not specifically provided
for" leaving the House rates at go for
decorated and IS for undecorated
Mr.. Jones again offered an amendment
similar to his former one He supported
it in a speech stating that at the rates of
the present law, the producers claimed
to be doing prosperous business.
| Mr. Sewall, Republican of New Jersey,
answered, reading a statement showing
that many potteries failed and large
number of pottery workers were out of
work as result of the present low rates.
| The Jones amend ments was again de-
feated. Nays 80, yeas 81.
| Mr.. Heitfeld voted in the affirmative
with the Democrats and Messrs. Cannon,
and McEnery in the negative with the
Republicans.
The committee offered a substitute
which was agreed to, on the paragraphs
covering tiles, glazed or unglazed 1t is
practically the same as the House para
graph.
Paragraph 80, covering articles COM
posed of earth and mineral substances
was taken up and Mr.. Caffrey of Louisi-
| ana offered an amendment reducing the
rate from 35 to 20 per cent on undecorat-
| ed ware.
The Caffery amendment was defeated,
10 to 20, Mr.. Heitfeld voting with the
|
Jones of Nevada with the Republican in
the negatives.
| The committee amendments to the
paragraph were then agreed to.
The paragraph covering gas retorts,
lava tips, etc. heretofore passed over was
agreed to as reported.
On paragraph 81, covering plain green
| flint or lime bottles, Mr. Vest proposed
an amendment reducing the rate on bot
ties holding more than one pint from rs
cent per pound to 3-4 cent.
| Mr.. Vests amendment was disagreed
to- yeas s1;, nays 80. The paragraph was
then agreed to as reported
The consideration of the bill then pro-
ceeded from the point reached at the last
session, viz: Paragraph 1o5, relating to
spectacles, eyeglasses, goggles, etc
Mr.. Vest opposed the proposed rates,
saying they ranged for 65 to 1SO per cent
on articles of necessity
Mr.. Platt of Connecticut, urged that
the low priced foreign goods were SO poor
ties up to 300 per cent if need Be.
Mr.. Aldrich argued that low priced
spectacles from abroad were so poor
| that it would be of ADVANTAGE to exclude