The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-05
SENATE FLOOD OF SPEECHES.
ONLY TWO PAGES OF THE TARIFF
BILL DISPOSED OF.

Urging an increase In the Rates
on WOOI-Mr. Butler of North Cnr-
Olina Talks In Favor of En-
acting an Income Tax Law-Mr.
Butler soon Involved In "A lively
COIlOquy With Mr. CuIIom over "A
Reference 20 Indecent Haste In
Connection With the Railroad
Pooling Bill.
Washington, June 4.-Irhe Senate had a
period of speech making to-day, and. as
a result, little progress was made on the
tariff bill. The advance covered about two
pages. or seven paragraphs, and brought
the Senate up to the wood schedule the
first item of which was considered, but
not completed.
Mr. Mantle, rep. of Montana spoke for
two hours on the wool schedule, urging
an increase in the rates for the wool
growers. and Mr.. Butler of North Car
DINA made a speech in behalf of an in.
come tax.
The Senate met at II o'clock to-day,
with view of expediting the tariff bill,
and Mr.. Mantle was recognized at the
opening of the session.
the republican side of the chamber, and
Mr. Hanna, who was referred to during
the speech, sat by and listened attentively
to him.
Mr.. Mantle closed at las O'Clock, and
Mr. Butler followed Immediately on the
subject of an income tax.
Mr.. Allison showed some Impotence at
the delay of the tariff debate, but was as
sured by Mr.. Butler that he would not
speak long.
Mr.. Butler had no sooner started than
he was involved in a lively colloquy with
Mr.. Cullom of Illinois. The North Caro-
lima senator referred at the outset to the
recent supreme court decisions on the in
come tax and on the antitrust law. He
added an expression of surprise at the in
decent haste with which the pooling bill
was being urged before congress, imme-
diateiy after the decision of the supreme
court on the antitrust law.
This aroused MIR. Cullom, chairman of
the interstate commerce committee now
considering the pooling bill to a spirited re-
ply. The senator from North Carolina
was making statements about which he
knew nothing, said Mr. CuDom. The pool
ing bill Mad been before congress for
months before the supreme court decision
and it sought to strengthen the interstate
law. He resented the statement of "in-
decent haste" and said such a character
ization was a misrepresentation of the
facts.
MIR. Chiffon. dem. Of Texas, another
member of the interstate commerce COM
mittee, here took a hand In the contro-
versy, joining issue with Mr. Culom. Mr.
Chiffon said he had been on the commit
tee for two years, and he had never known
Of the pooling bill being pressed until
after the recent supreme court decision
against railway pooling. He differed In
toto, he said from the chairman of the
committee that the pooling bill sought to
strengthen the law. In his judgment IL
would destroy the interstate commerce
law, and the passing OF the bill would be
a fake experiment.
Mr.. Butler resuming, said Mr. Chilton's
statement had fully justified his original
assertion. and he would leave II to the
public to judge whether there was indie
cent haste. He would, he said insist on
the consideration of measure authorz-
ing an income tax before any pooling bill
was brought before the Senate. He de-
clared that the pooling bill was i'm the
interest of the most gigantic trust I'm ex-
istence. compared with which all other
trusts were pgmies.
The senator then spoke on the merits of
an income tax. He pointed out the Unequal
tiles Of our present system Of taxation and
declared that the tariff bill when enacted,
would impose It's burdens on % per cent. of
the poorer people who were least able to
bear il, while il benefited 2 per cent. of
those who did not need assistance.
Mr.. Butler declared that IL this question
H. Co. \
people then IL was time they should know
it in order that they might adopt the
remedy of a constitutional convention to
right existing wrongs. lie warned the ele-
ments Of wealth that the income tax was
but small part Of the demands Of the
people and that If driven to constitu-
tional convention there would be a su-
preme effort to go back 10 the first prin-
eiples of a government by the people.
The consideration OF the tariff bill by
paragraphs began at o'clock. Lead ore
lead dress and metal mineral substances
Q79 to 1871 inclusive) were passed over The
mica paragraph, QS2) led TO a contest.
Mr.. Pritchard Of North Carolina, propos-
ed an amendment fixing the rate on rough
mica at IS cents per pound and on cut
mica at 30c per pound.
After a lengthy discussion the mica par
agraph went over, as did also that on
nickel.
In paragraph 1872 covering timber hewn
sided or squared, or round timber used
for spars, or in building wharVes, Mr.
Allison moved a committee amendment
increasing the rate from 1 cent to IN
cents per cubic foot.
Mr.. Gray asked why timber was taken
from the free list. TO which Mr. Allison
responded that the first reason was TO
raise revenue, and the incidental reason |
was to afford protection to a vast in
dustry.
Mr.. Gray answered that the millionaire |
owners Of timber lands were not mendi. |
cants. and there was no reason they |
should receive a toll, wrung from the |
American home builders. He protested |
against II. also because IL placed a prem |
ium on the destruction Of our own for |
ests. particularly our white pine.
Mr. AllsOns amendment was agreed 10. |
but the paragraph was not finally dis |
posed Of when the bill was laid aside
The House amendments TO the bill 10 |
prevent collisions on the inland bays and /
waters OF the United States, except the /
Great Lakes, were agreed 10.
AZ $40 o'clock the Senate held a brief |