The record-union., 1897-07-03
Those Were the Phases of the Tariff
Bill Yesterday.
Both Provisions Were Agreed to After Long
Debate.
Allison Endeayored to Secure an
Agreement on the Time for a
Final Vote, but Did Not Garry
His Point-Senator Wellington
Rose to a Question Of Privilege
in Relation to His Remarks in
Committee.

Committee.
WASHINGTON, July 2.-Reciprocity
and retaliation We're the two phases
of the tariff bill to occupy the atten-
tion of the Senate to-day to the ex-
clusion of all other subjects. Both pro-
visions were agreed to, although the
debate on the reciprocity clause was
protracted to o'clock. Shortly be-
fore adjournment, Allison endeavored
to secure an agreement on the time for
a final vote, but Teller would not con-
sent to fixing the time until all pro-
posed amendments had been submitted
to the Senate. AS Allison was not
prepared to submit these amendments
he withdrew his request and the time
for the final vote was left open, al
though there is still hope that it will
be reported tomorrow.
The retaliatory clause provides that
whenever any country bestoWS an eX-
port bounty. on any article, there shall
be levied in addition to the duties pro-
vided by the Act, an additional duty
equal to the amount of the bounty.
The clause was agreed to-33 to 19-
the two Democratic Senators from
Louisiana, Caffrey and McEnery, vot-
ing with the Republicans in the affir-
NATIVE. The reciprocity clause en-
powers the President, with the advice
and consent of the Senate, to make
reciprocity treaties giving 20 per cent.
reduction in duties on designated ar
ticles, or placing articles on the free
list. The amendment brought out
much opposition, Senators Mills, Vest,
Pettus, Teller and White saying that
it invaded the constitutional right of
the House of Representative to par
ticipate in measures affecting revenue,
While Senators Morgan, Gray and
Chandler defended its legality and pro-
priety 1t was agreed to-30 to 1S-
two Democrats, Gray and Morgan, vot-
ing with the Republicans in the affir-
NATIVE.
Early in the day Wellington, Re-
publican, of Maryland, rising to a ques-
tino of personal privilege, vehemently
upheld his Senatorial prerogatives on
the matter of Federal appointments.
Senator Wellington rose to a question
of personal privilege soon after the
opening of the Senate to-day, and in
a vehement voice referred to a publi-
cation concerning a conflict said to
have taken place yesterday before the
Committee on Commerce in relation to
the appointment of B. H. Warner Jr.,
as Consul to Leipsic. The Senator de-
clared that the publication was unjust,
and sought to embroil him in con-
f1ict with the President of the United
States. Wellington said he understood
the committee meetings relative to ap-
pointmentS were secret and sacred,
and he could not believe that any
members of the committee gave the
information. Under the circumstances,
who, he said, could have inspired this
report but that creature present in
the committee room yesterday" 1t
was alleged that he had attacked
President Mckinley, but this, too, he
declared a falsehood. He was free
man and he reserved it to himself to
'criticise any appointment. He had
done so yesterday in a respectful man
ner, and should the occasion arise he
would do SO again.
IF the price of patronage is to be
servile obedience, then | refuse to give
it," exclaimed Wellington. He spoke
again of the creature responsible for
the report and closed with an emphatic
statement as to his prerogatives. If
these prerogatives were to be inter
fered with then he proposed to make
war
"I will remain right here exclaimed
Wellington, striking his desk a re-
sounding blow. mo man ever struck
me a blow that did not return it with
interest, and they will find me on deck
if the struggle is to begin.''
After this incident the tariff bill was
taken up. White (Cal). in behalf of the
minority of the Finance Committee,
asked Allison as to the programme on
tea, beer, the antitrust amendment
and other important questions.
Allison responded that an amendment
relating to the increase of the revenue
to be derived from the bill would be
brought in later in the day. AS to
other questions, a little more time was
desired
Teller of Colorado inquired what the
committee or caucus contemplated do
ing on the question of tax on distilled
spirits.
Allison answered that the question of
distilled spirits had been gone over.
Personally he believed a lower tax
would be productive of greater revenue,
but he thought it unwise to go into
the complex question in connection
with this tariff bill.
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 / will discuss what should
be done in decreasing the tax on spir-
it's I will show that the committee
is giving away S2,O00,0 700 a month to
the detriment of the consumers who
bear the tax burdens and to the detri-
ment of honest dealers in distilled spir-
it's
The consideration Of the bill then
proceeded. The parag graph relating to
nickel was changed making the rates
on nickel ore 3 cents per pound on the
nickel contained therein: nickel matter
cents per pound nickel and nickel
oxide allowed, etc, s cents per pound
This brought the Senate to the retail
iatory clause, so-called, providing that
wherever any country pays a bounty on
any article then on the importation of
that article into the United States there
shall be levied in addition to the duties
otherwise imposed by this Act an ad-
ditional duty equal to the net amount