Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-20
READING THE BILL
Tariff Conference Report Taken Up
in the Senate.
ANIMATED DEBATE ON LUMBER
Mr.. Teller Denounces the House
Provisions.
THE COMPETITOR PRISONERS

The tariff struggle was removed to the
Senate today, but there was little evidence
OF an exciting contest when the session
opened Several of the senators who have
been absent from the city were back again
anticipating that every vote might be
needed.
Inc gallery attendance was greater than
| usual although there was no crowd. On
the desk before Mr.. Allison Qowa) in
charge OF the tariff bill, was the ponderous
manuscript Of the tariff conference report.
Immediately after the prayer message
from the House announced the agreement
OF that body to the conference report. Con-
siderable routine business was disposed of
before The tariff report was called up.
a resolution by Mr.. Morgan (Ala) was
agreed to. asking the President as to what
indemnity, if any, had been asked of the
spanish government for the arrest and SUBJ
sequent expulsion of Samuel I. Tolon an
American citizen. from Cuba.
Mr.. Allison then formally presented the
conference report and asked for its cOnsid-
GRAFTON.
Mr.. Berry Ark) interposed the request
that the pending resolution empowing the
President to take steps for the release OF
Ona Melton and other Competitor prison.
ers be considered. He urged that it was
more important to protect American citi-
zens unjustly held by Spain, than to pass
tariff bill If this resolution was not con
sidered now, the tariff discussion would
cut it off
With some reluctance Mr.. Allison agreed
to let the resolution be considered, with
the agreement that there should be de-
bate and an Immediate vote. The import
ant resolution was then put it's final
passage, and without comment and by
unanimous vote was passed without a roll
call.
The Vice President announced in re-
Spouse to an inquiry by Mr.. Allen tNeb. }
that the pending Union Pacific resolution
was the unfinished business, and would
come up at pm unless displaced. This
drew from Mr.. Morgan statement as to
the purpose to have full discussion of the
pending question. 1t was intended. lie said,
to discuss the tariff report in all its po-
liticai financial and historical bearings.
Aside from this it was proposed to secure
consideration for the Union Pacific resolu-
ton. either by itself or during the tariff
debate. If this became essential. 1t was
not an orderly practice, but. said Mr.. Nor
gan, when men We're tied up and dashed
over the back they were not disposed to
stand on the niceties of procedure. 1t was
more important. he said. to save so. 100000
by the Union Pacific resolution than to
pass the tariff bill.
Mr.. Allison mildly suggested that there
no disposition to cut off all reason
able consideration of the report. 1t was
too important. however, to give way to
other questions which might be brought
forward.
Conference Report Read.
The conference report was then read in
detail. When the first clause was read
Mr.. jones ark made an earnest protest
against proceeding on the technical report.
without Intelligent explanation its
meaning There had been no opportunity
for the democratic ConfcrccS to consider it
in committee, 1t had been rushed through
the House in a siagle day. without time
for preparation TO discuss ii there. 1t was
due to the American people, he declared,
that some explanation be given.
The reading of the long conference report
then Proceeded rapidly. There were fire.
Guen. inquiries by Mir. Jones and brief eX-
plantations from Mr.. Allison, hut these did
not cause material delay. Seven pages of
the printed report, covering thirty eight
pages OF the bill, We're disposed of in the
first half hour.
When the item of window glass was
reached Mr.. Jones read telegram just re-
ceived from leading window glass dealers
of New York, saving the restoration of the
Dingley rate would place duty equivalent
to lao per cent on this article, which would
he prob bitory and would stop all revenue
from this source.
The lumbe" amendments led to a long
debate.
Mr.. Teller and Mr.. Vest commended that the
clause against Canadian logs in effect per-
ptted q double tax. Mr.. Teller declared
that the whole thing was conceived in the
interest Of a few mill men of Michigan, Min
nesota and Wisconsin, by which they would
be enabled to raise the price of pine So to
81 per thousand.
Mr.. Pettigrew SD severely criticised
the conference amendment, making per-
sonal references to the Michigan senators.
He said the 81 was designed to benefit a
few men who own what standing pine there
is in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
One Michigan lumberman was worth $lO,-
o9oGOO, and prominent in republican
politics. He is the man who "manipuates
the election of senators in Michigan as
serted MIR PcttiSrcw.. This condition made
the lumber amendment an important one
to the Michigan machine" This one lum-
berman'S S!o,tsm40oj counted against the in
fucnce and votes of 10@0,WW men of ordi-
nary means. The conference report ought
to be rejected on This one lumber item. 1t
was full Of tricks, he said.
Commenting on newspaper clipping as
to a gathering of lumbermen in Mr.. Bur-
rows room. Mr.. Pettigrew said it showed
that the pine amendment would take over
$4,000, G;I out of the pockets OF the people
and put it in the pockets of this little
group of lunbcrmen gathered in Burrows
rocm." While the bill was full Of such
tricks, Mr. Pettigrew asserted that the
lumber rate was one of the worst and most
h.: tricks of the whole hill