Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-22
Excited Discussion During the Tariff
) Debate.
FIGHT OVER DUTIES on WOODS
Contending Parties Reached an
Agreement.
MR.. TELLER'S STATEMENT

| edIhh ny the senate. Inc Struggle That has
been going on under the surface was car
rled into the open Senate and considerable
| passion was shown in the discussion. The
| adoption OF the rates Of 10 cents on the
! first-class and II cents on the second-class
| WOOL was followed by an hours conten-
| ton. Mr.. Allison tried to get the matter
laid over. so that the republicans might
| have chance to settle their differences in
private. Vest and Teller objected But
| meanwhile. under the pressure Of neces-
sity, caucuses were held among the con-
tending republicans on the floor, and ar
agreement was reached on an amendment
providing that third-class woods in condi-
ton to be corded etc. or containing less
tnan per cent of dirt or other foreign sub
stance, shall pay a duty three times the
duty on third-class woods not in so clean a
condition.
The offering Of this amendment silenced
| the contention On the republican side. and
shifted the fight back to the old party
lines
An important disclosure during the early
debate was made by Mr.. Teller, who sig
mined that he was likely not to vote for
the tariff bill, but that he would refrain
from voting against 1t, so that it might be
passed in form most acceptable to the
present administration, though disapproved
by himself.
This takes one vote off the opposition
AZ the outset Mr.. Mantle (Mont) submit
ted substitute for paragraphs 347 to 361
inclusive covering the three classes Of wool
and the rates thereon. The substitute was
| prepared, he stated. by the Wool Growers
ASSOCIATION. Its terms have been hereto
fore given.
Before Mr.. Mantle proceeded, Mr. Allison
Statea IN response to inquiry from Mr.
White Cal) that the committee had nu-
merous amendments which would soon be
| ready for presentation.
Inc paragraphs were then considered as
eO. tn No
relating to the classes of wool up to rara-
graph o.o On the latter paragraph, the
committee amendments were struck out at
the request of Mr.. Allison. They referred
| to skirted wool. imported in 1880 and prior
thereto. "''' - ioi
This brought the Senate to the rates on
the three CLASSES of wool
On the first class the House rate was II
cents per pound. the Senate committee rate
. cents per pound
Mr.. Allison moved to substitute 10 cents
per pound.
On setond-class wool the House rate was
~ cents. the committee rate cents. Mr.
pound. PC
Mr.. Mills CTexas) demanded a separate
vote on each proposition and the first vote
was taken on Mr.. Aliison's motion to make
WOOL ~ N''.''
The no notion to reduce from IL to 10 cents
prevalied-yeas. So; nays, 13.
Messrs. Butler. Carter. Clark. Foraker,
Heitfeld. Mcbride. Mantle. Pettigrew'
Shoup. Stewart. Teller, Turner and Warren
voted In the negative.
The announcement of the vote was the
signal Tor an unexpected outburst on the
republican side of the chamber.
eMr Carter tMont3 arose. and speaking
vote Just given disclosed purpose to make
reductions in the rates on wool There
would be day of reckoning for such ac-
tion. In view Of what had been done, he
"a
schedule be now suspended
mis- declaration. coming from a repnbli-
can senator, caused mild sensation which
WIS pu, the prelude to dramatic scene. in
Which Mr.. Foraker Ohio and Mr.. Allison
Qowa), representing the finaac e committee
participated
Mr. Carter alluded to a Combination" to
reduce rates. which. he said, would hear
more about the matter before lhe apraa
ment was reached.
Mr.. Foraker. with great positivaness in
his tones said he had supposed there was
an agreement as to the manner Of Jaoitnn
with this wool schedule Unless this agraa'
ment was respected then. declared Mr. For.
aker. Vehemently, every senator must oct
for himself e'
Every senator appears to have acted
for himself" answered Mr.. Allison.
Iris senator has," added Mr. Foraker
defiantly. He added that there was an
agreement In writing. and not until he had
entered the chamber today did he know of
the changes which were Contemplated
And l do not PROPOSE" concluded Mr..
FORAKER with energy, Ito be bound by any
such action
Mr. Allison, still preserving his outward
calm, said there was no written agreement
that he knew of, and he wished to resent
IN mild terms. he said. the suggestion of a
combination, that had been made nv the
senator from Montana
Inc amendments now offered, he said
were an increase on the original commit
tee rates on first and second-class wool
Iyh rpdf- o+J1
Mr.. Foraker proceeded to exnlain that
an agreement had been made relative to
certain kinds and grades of woods.
Mr.. Allison discussed the subject of post
ponement. and said he was willing to pass
over the schedules in dispute Il want
to suggest" he said, that senator's are
not to be driven. AND that the Senate is not
good place to drive
"And that Is why / won't drive" retorted
Mr.. Foraker.
Nor will L.. came in Mr.. Allison, for the
first time flushing and showing great feel
ing. If there had not been an insinuation
of combination, he would have moved a
rcstponement of all paragraphs omen to
question. but with the Senate thrown into
a condition of excitement" he did not nro-
pose to submit to threats
And therefore it u.s." proceeded Mr. ALL
sen, passiOnately, 81 am not to be driven
by threats by anybody. We are told we
are IN combination. and that the combi-
nation will. not vote for the bill am for
the bill and expect to perfect it and vote
for it, and do not wish to be charged. as
member of the finance committee, directly
or indirectly. with dealing with this cues
ton in Il covert way
Mr.. Foraker had remained on his feet
and with biting scorn he replied TO Mr.
Allison: If anybody is excited" he said
sarcastieally. I'VE have only to look about
the chamber and see who the excited per-
sons are" He proceeded to show that en-
tirely new features had been proposed on
the wool schedule which senators had not
had opportunity to examine
Mr.. Quay (Pa) came in to INQUIRE a. to
what the agreement was to which Mr. For
aker had referred.
The Ohio senator said the agreement was
informal. byt Mr.. Quay was informed as
to it, having been invited to attend a meet
ing. when senator's considered what could
be done toward an agreement on certain
features Of the wool schedule SUBSEQUENT
ly the results of this meeting had heen
laid before the finance committee.
In fact. you were present and a partv
to the agreement" said Mr.. Foraker
blandlyt to Mr.. Quay.
The Pennsylvania senator sat down and
shook his head. ~1-
Mr.. Plat fConn.) who, with Mr.. Allison
shares in the management of the hill here
arose and declared that the finance com
mittee had never heard of this proposi.ion
II suggest that the senator did hear Of
it, insisted Nj. Foraker, and he NAV