Evening star., 1897-05-29
PLATE GLASS DUTIES
Thsy Azouss a Spirited Discussion
in the Senate.
DEHOCRATs >DEbOONCE TRUST
Mr.. AIdrich Defends the Rates of
tie Bill.
DENIAL OF A COMBINE

The Senate resumed its work at noon
today with the usual calm prevailing. not
withstanding the stormy events of yester-
day.
MIR. Mills Cfex) secured consideration for |
a joint resolution authorizing the Secre- |
tary Of War to use ratons for the relief |
OF destitute persons in the district over |
flowed by the Rio Grande river near Ell
Paso, Tex. and appropriating $4,000 for
this purpose. Mr.. Mills read telegram
from the mayor and city officers of FL
Paso, saying that 500 houses had been de- |
stroyed. that 5000 people were destitute
and that the condition was beyond the
power of local relief
The joint resolution was then passed.
The bill was considered from the point
reached yesterday, viz, paragraph 100. An
agreement was reached striking out the
provision that all fluted. rolled. ribbed OF
rough plate glass, when ground or other
wise obscured. shall be subject to the same
rate of duty as finished cast polished plate
glass unsilvel ed.
On the paragraph as to unsiivered cast
polished plate glass size, Mr.. Jones (Ark.)
moved to reduce the rate from cents to
5 cents per square foot.
In this connection Mr.. Jones declared
that the increase of duty on all classes OF
plate glass was astounding. In one case, he
said the rate was Increased 81 per cent
above the high rate of the Mckinley act.
which, he asserted, had been repudiated by
the people because of its high rates. This
was an attempt to raise the price OF mir
rors used in cheap furniture for poor peo-
pie, while the large size glass by people OF
wealth had its rates reduced This IVES
the peculiarity of the whole bill, though
mind the old proverb, ITO him who hath
shall be given. and to him who hath little
shall be taken away
When Mr.. Jones. referred to the enor-
nous dividends declared by the plate glass
trL Z Mr.. Platt of Connecticut stated that
no dividends had been declared in the last
three years.
Mr.. Vest of Missouri added that the en-
tire plate glass trade, with a few trifing
exceptions, was controlled by the combine
which met annually at Pittsburg. fixing
rates, etc. H.
Mr. Jones presented statement showing
that the plate glass combination had profits
of about s2,5GO,OO0 in twenty-five months.
on capital of $2.OO0,OOO.
Mr.. Quay of Pennsylvania read a letter
from the Pittsburg Plate Glass Company,
declaring that any statements that 1t was
trust combine in restrain. OF trade
were untrue.
The debate aon rnlato glass and the exist
ence of trust became prOtracted. Mr.
Jones read a nHNber of letters complain
ing of the methods of the Pittsburg COM
pany, and he declared emI'ha ticaily that
! can and Outrageous
Mr.. Aldrich defended the rates of the bill.
| 1t was not rf,re,EAe said, that the rates ON
| plate glass were to be increased. as as
serted by Mp. Jones. or that plate glass
! was an article of necessity to the common
| people. Plate glass was not an article of
Changes proposeaI simply a rearrange-
ment of the .Tates,,in the Mckinley and the
! Wilson actsNThs senator from Arkansas
| (Jones) had talten.oH of the items and had
hat ifoyrN
J though 1t anRlied to all of them. Comment
! ing on MIR. Jones Statement that the Pitts
i burg Plate Glass COMPANY Was the largest
| of it's kind in the world, Mr.. Aldrich de-
| ciared that this was evidence of American
energy and enterprise, and: was no cause
| for raising or lowering duties.
/ But are they Justified IN coming here
! and pleading the baby act?" demanded Mr.
! Jones.
There's was no such plea. Mr.. Aldrich re-
| sponded. and the rates proposed were no
| more than equitable and just
| Mr.. Lindsay OF Kentucky asked If the
| existence of a trust. to control the trade
was not good reason for Withholding
| protection.
/ II deny most emphatically." Mr.. Aldrich
replied, that there is any combination to
| oCntrot prices or to limit production or to
/ do anything else that is generally under
| stood as a restraint of trade
Mr. Vest pointed out what he considered
| q peculiar feature of the readjustment,
that the rates were increased on the grades
| in common use and decreased on grades
used by the favored class.
| The proposed rates were so high as to
| be absolutely prohibitory. and the adyo-
Gates Of this bill seemed to be inspired by
the hope of Carey. the apostle of extreme
protection. that an ocean of fire could keep
from our shores every ship bearing for
eign goods.
| Mr. Caffery Ga) spoke against the COM
mittee rates. The answer of the Rhode
Island senator tAldrich) to the criticism of
the rates was eS weak. Mr. Caffery said, rs
his explanation of the sugar schedule. and
like that: the more you look a. it the
Mr. Chiffon of Texas also spoke against
the committee rates.
The debate on Mr.. Jones's first amend
ment to the plate glass schedule lasted
| over two hours, and then on a yea and nay
vote. the amendment was defeated-21-29
Moved to Adjourn Over Monday.
Senator Quay, made motion this after
noon to adjourn over Monday in honor OF
Decoration day.. The motion was discussed
at some length, number of republicans
saying they thought the tariff bill should be
pressed.
The democrats supported the motion
Senator Morgan said he regretted thai
the republican House of Representatives
was compelled to meet on Monday by the
autocratic rule Of that body which worked
like doorkeeDer who, under direction OF
the Speaker. pufled a string and opened
and shut the doors.
Senator Frye called Mr.. Morgan to order
for speaking that manner Of co-ordina te
branch of the government. but the Ala.
hama senator continued and mentioned the
various public measures passed by the Sen
. ate which had not been acted upon in the
! House.
Senator Morgan criticized the House fo,
not considering the Cuban resolution and
disregarding the action OF the Senate. He
said the present method in the House
kept Congress m state of disorganixation
Mr.. Morgan said that the House of Rep
resentatives rkasicompelled to obey the die
tates of one man, and Congress was dis
hcnoring itself BY being subject to the mine
Of one man. TT hf.
l IA Permit Issued.