The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-27

WASHINGTON May 2e.-The first
vote on the tariff bill was taken in
the senate today. 1t came after two
hours debate on the item of boracic
acid, which, although comparatively un-
important, afforded an opportunity for
the first alignment Of the various ele-
ments. Mr.. Vest (Mo0, a Democratic
member Of the finance committee,
| moved to make the rate on borac1c
acid three cents instead Of five cents
per pound as provided by the commit
tee. This presented direct issue be-
tween the committee and the opponents
Of the bill. The amendment was de-
feated-yeas, 20; nays, "a. The vote
was largely on party lines. The af-
firmative was made up Of nineteen
Democrats and one Populist Heitfeld.)
The negative was made up Of twenty
nine Republicans, two Democrats
McEnery Ga.) and White (Cal); two
silver Republicans-Ca Cannon Otah and
Jones (Nev.), and one Populist-Stew-
art CNev) The debate was participated
in by Senators Vest, Jones (Ark.), Aid
rich, Perkins, White, Caffrey, Gray and
Stewart. Mr. White, a Democratic
member of the finance committee, ep-
posed Mr.. Vests amendment, urging
that the California industry required
the rate allowed by the committee.
Seven paragraphs Of the bill were
considered during the day, the COM
mittee being sustained in each in
stance.
During the morning hour a long de-
bate occurred over the chartering Of
ships to carry relief supplies to India.
Mr.. Chandler On. H.), endeavored to
get a vote on his proposition to send
the supplies by any suitable ship. A
motion by Mr.. Morgan to table the
Chandler proposition was defeated
1S to 40-and the joint resolution was
then passed. Just as that passed, Mr..
Sewell On. J), made brief and Wig
orous statement that this American
benefaction should go under the Amer
lean flag, and Mr.. Morgan added: "The
American flag is now hauled down."
The final conference report on the In
dia bill was then agreed to.
The tariff bill was taken up at
o'clock. Mr.. White (Cal), in behalf of
the Democratic members of the finance
committee, submitted number OF
tables showing the articles on which the
duties were from 80 to Is per cent, from
rs to 100 per cent, and over 1OO per
cent In reply to questions by Mr..
White, Mr.. Anderson, in charge Of the
bill, stated that he was unable to state
the average and valorem rate for the
entire bill or the total number Of amend
ments proposed. The formal reading of
the bill then began and the senate was
brought to a point Of considering the
measure by paragraphs. The first
amendments were formal and were
agreed to without question. AS soon
as the second page was reached con-
test arose over the amendment propos-
ed by the finance committee, raising
the duty on boracic acid from four to
five cents per pound.
Mr. Vest (Mo) moved to substitute
three cents. He characterized the &C
ton of the committee as remarkable and
said the proposed duty of five cents
was enormous. Mr.. Aldrich replied that
the proposed rate was regarded as
proper protection to the producers OF
the article in Nevada and California
and the persons engaged in the produc-
ton held that this rate was essential
Mr.. Jones (Ark.) presented a pros
pectus of an English company setting
| forth that it was about to purchase
and consolidate the borax lands and
| plants in Nevada, California mad Ore
| gon The prospectus also stated the
large profits made by the American
companies Mr.. Jones said he read this
to answer Mr. Aldrichs statement that
| more protection was required. Mr.
Jones declared that crude borax from
| the United States was selling at
profit in London at less than two cents
per pound, and yet there was the "au-
dacity' Of coming to the United States
senate and asking protection of four
cents pound. 1t was not a time, said
Mr.. Jones, when the senate should swell
the profits Of an English monopoly.
| Mr. Aldrich answered that there We're
many borax companies outside of the
English company alluded to. Some of
them had been compelled to shut up
| as a result of the Wilson tariff law.
"They are shut up," asserted Mr..
Jones, because it would not be profit
able to the monopoly to shut up the
| other companies"
Mr.. White Oem., Cal.), a member Of
| the finance committee, said facetiously
| that, In the distribution of favors by
| this bill, he desired to have his state
| receive a share. He had been assured
| by those interested that there was not
word of truth in the statement that
! the American fields were controlled by
an English company. He had some per-
sonal information on the borax produc
tions Of California, he said. Thf ne
gotiations for a sale had failed.
Mr.. Stewart Pop., Nev.), whose posi-
ton toward the bill has been a subject
Of interest, stated that If there was to
be a tariff bill, the products of Nevada,
including borax, should receive ade-
quate protection.
A vote was then taken on Mr.. Vests
amendment. 1t was the first vote on
the bill and was followed with close
attention. The amendment was defeat
| ed, 20 to 81, as follows:
! Yeas-Berry, Caffery, Chiffon, Clay, Cock
| rel German, Gray, Jones, Kenney, Lindsay
Morgan, Murphy, Pasco, Rawhns, Roach,
Smith, Turpie, Vest, Walthall, Democrats;
Heitfeld, Populist Total 90.
| Carter, Chandler, Cullom, Davis Elkins Fair
! banks Foraker, Frye, Gallinger, Gear, Hanna.
| Hansbrough, Hawley, Lodge McMillin, Mel
| son. Penrose Perkins, Platt Conn., Platt
N. Y.) Quay, Shoup. Spooner, Warren and
| Wilson, Republicans McEnery and White
| Democrats; Cannon, Silver Republican; Jones
| and Stewart, Populists. Total 81.
The following we're the pairs; the first named
| would have voted for the Vest amendment and
/ the last against it, Daniel and Pritchard
1 Turner and Hoar Pettus and Mcbride, NAL
| lory and Proctor, Martin and MANTLE, Mitchell
and Sewel, Tillman and Thurston, Harris
Rano and Clark Bate and Deboe, Harris