The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-22
A FEEBLE OPPOSITION.
Senators Raise "a Point of Order and
Then Retire.

WASHINGTON, July 21--The Senate con-
cluded the formal reading OF the tariff con-
ference report to-day. The debate was
spiritless in the main Early in the day
Mr.. Jones, of Nevada, made a contest
against the conference committee on the
ground that it had exceeded it's authority in
so amending the paragraph relating to
printing paper as to place a retaliatory
duty against the countries paying an ex-
port bounty on wood pulp. His point of
order was debated at much length and
finally overruled by Vice President Hobart.
This removed the only obstacle thus far
encountered by the report. The reciprocity
amendment and the amendment of the
stamp tax on bonds and stocks developed
much criticism. When the Senate adj
journed to-day the understanding was gen.
eral that the final vote will be taken on
the conference report on the tariff bill not
later than Friday, but there was no formal
agreement to this effect. Both Senators
Jones and White, who have been leading
the opposition to the bill on behalf of the
Democrats. expressed the opinion that the
vote would not be postponed beyond this
time Senator Allison also stated that
while he still considered a vote possible to-
morrow he felt very confident that it would
event of a vote on the tariff Friday final
adjournment is generally predicted for Sat
urday.
The tariff conference report was taken up
this morning 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 given to identifying num-
bered amendments with the text of the SEN
ate bill The first contest to-day arose
over Amendment $50, relating to printing
paper. The conference reported retalia-
tory proviso as follows: THAT if any coun-
try or dependency shall impose an export
duty on pulp wood exported to the United
States, there shall be imposed on printing
paper when imported from such country or
dependency an additional duty of 1-10 of
cent per pound for each dollar of export
duty per cord so imposed, and proportion
ately for fractions of a dollar of such ex-
port duty"
POINT AGAINST THE REPORT.
Senators Vest. Jones of Arkansas and
Teller vigorously protested against this
amendment saying it was a new provision,
not acted on by the Senate or House and
beyond the power of the conference COM
mittee Mr. Teller characterized such a
COM as an OutldSGi tto lile COlHIuilLce
acted arbitrarily and came before the SEN
ate saying in effect: What are you going
to do about it?"
Mr.. Jones finally made a direct issue
against the conference committee, making
a point of order against the retallatory
clause, on the ground of its being new mat.
ter He said he would ask for ruling FROM
the chair on the regularity of the confer
ence action.
Mr. Chandler, of New Hampshire re-
ferred to the broad latitude given the con-
ference committee in the practice of both
houses of Congress. He raised d laugh by
telling Mr. Jones that he had swallowed
two tribes of Indians" on a conference re-
port on one of the Indian appropriation
bills.
Mr.. Aldrich, one of the conferees, de-
Tended the retaliatory clause saying 1t was
strictly within the rights of the conferees
as the general subject was in difference
between the Senate and the House. The
conference report must be accepted or re-
iected as a whole, said Mr.. Aldrich and the
main question could not be diverted by ap-
peals for ruling from the chair
Mr.. White of California, referred to the
secret sessions OF the Republican conferees