Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-21
CONVERSATIONAL
Powers of the Committee Declared to
Be Exceeded.
TARIFF DISCUSSION IN TEE SENATE
A Point of Order Not Sustained
by the Chair.
SENATOR MORGAN SPEAKS

The tariff conference report was taken up
in the Senate today after routine business
was disposed of. and the formal reading of
the report proceeded.
During the early hours the discussion was
purely formal most of the time being Civ
en- to identifying the numbered amend
ments with the text of the Senate bill.
The first contest arose over amendment
60. relating to printing paper. The con-
ference committee had added a retaliatory
clause for an added duty of one-tenth of 1
cent per pound for each 81 of export duty
paid on printing paper by a foreign coun-
try.
Senators Vest. Jones (Ark.) and Teller
vigorously protested against this amend
ment, saying 1t was a new provision, not
acted on by the Senate or House, and be-
yond the power of the conference commit
tee Mr. Teller characterized such confer
eDce as an outrage, as the committee acted
arbitrarily and came before the Senate say
ing in effect: What are you going to DO
about it?
Mr. Jones finally made a direct issue
against the conference committee, making
point of order against the retailatory
clause, on the ground of its being new mat
ter. He said he would ask for ruling
from the chair the regularity of the
conference action.
Mr.. Chandler IN. HI referred to the
broad latitude given conference committees
in the practice Of both houses of Congress.
He raised a laugh by telling Mr.. Jones that
he had swallowed two tribes of Indians
on conference report on one of the In
dian appropriation bills.
Mr.. Aldrich (R. ID, one of the confereeS,
defended the retaliatory clause. saying it
was strictly within the rights Of the con-
fereeS, the general subject was in diff
ference between the Senate and House.
The conference report must be accepted or
rejected as aEwhole. said Mr.. Al;lrich, and
the main question could not be diverted by
appeals for a ruling from the chair.
Mr.. White (Cal) referred TO the secret
sessions of the republican conferees, and
ironically read Mr.. Chambers 'emarks on
the Wilson bill, wherein the New Hamp-
shire senator declared that the bill had
been brought forth in the dark, and should
be blasted by legislative lightning.
Mr.. Chandler good-naturedly answered
that while his anathema on the Wilson bill
had not brought lightning blast against
1t, yet 1t had doubtless in part inspired
democratic President to deaounce that
measure as one of ''pertidy and dishonor'
CHANGING across the aisle where Mr.. Nor
gan (Ala-) had a stack of books on his
desk. Mr.. Chandler said ne observed that
the Alabama senator was ready to make
q short speech" on this point of order
A long discussion followed on the DOW
ers Of conference committee. Mr.. Nor
gan argued that the committee had ex-
ceeded its powers, and that it could not ar
rogate to itself the right to originate new
amendments
The senator branched off to the PARTISAN
ship of the bill. The man who would lif,
the tariff out of politics would be another
Thomas Jefferson as a benefactor to his
country. The present bill was framed on
purely partisan lines. declared Mr.. Nor
gan. and 1t was designed to give benefits to
party favorites.
The senator reviewed in detail the action
M 1harr Of he
ana means committee. of the finance COM
mlttee end OF the conference committee in
excluding democratic members.
Mr.. Morgan was involved in several
sharp colloquies with Mr.. Gear of Iowa,
VINO pointed out that the Wilson bill had
been considered in the same way
Mr. Morgan referred to the reports that
tne splendid and ponderoas Speaker of
'he Rouse OF Representa- tives mad secured
a House victory en- the sugar schedule
The senator thought there must be some
mistake about the Speakers success for
Eotwithstanding his ponderosity the hard
t! ne Sits DOWN on thing, the higher it
rises: Notwithstanding his sitting down
on the sugar schedule, I'D go the nrices
II ne can't work the safety valve hetter
than that he had better ratire go, 80,
ties ii p"ii
Vice President Hobart then announced
ms oeclslon on the point of order holding
mat II was not well taken. 1t was not for
-; t.ie enair 10 determine whether the matter
rel
eVant- All such questions we're for tho
senate itself. as on the question of accent.
ing or rejecting the report
me reading of the report proceeded
=" men the amendment relating to hides
va was reached Mr.. Allen (Neb) asked WHY
lne conferees had provided a rawbacL ~
outy on leather exported made from i'm
ported hides Aioiii iii
M MI. Aidrich explained that the House had
INSISTED on the proviso, and he felt that the
drawback was payable under the law. with
out reference to this provision He thought
ABOUT $JoWO to $75O.OO0 Of revenue would
De yielded from the duty on hides. and
prooabiy about half of this would DE paid
In drawbacks. w p"iu
Mr. Allen spoke against the bill as q
whole. and incidentally referred to the
present coal strike, contrasting it with the
promises of prosperity. The strike would
be arbitrated. he said. and arbitrated in
put one way. namely, in favor of the coal
baron and against the miner; and If the
miner protested he would be met with the
baton Of the policeman or the bayonet of
the tin soldier