The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-06-29
A STARTLING OCCURRENCE
INTERRUPTS THE DEBATE ON
THE TARIFF BILL.
Senator Pettigrew, While Making a We
hement Attack on a Proposed Amend.
ment, Becomes speechless-Little Busi.
ness Transacted After This-The Senate
Starts on it's Second Passage Through the
Bill.


ness Transacted After This-The Senate
Starts on it's Second Passage Through the
Bill.
Washing gton, June 26.-An abrupt and
startling halt in the tariff debate oc-
CURED in the senate at 2:30 o'clock to-
day, when in the midst of a passionate
speech, Senator Pettigrew, silver re-
publican, of South Dakota, was strick-
en with paralysis Of the vocal cord,
which brought his vehement speech to
a close with a sentence half uttered.
The senator was not physically inca
pacitated in the sudden loss IF the
power of speech. He left the chamber
soon afterWard and was taken home
by his friends. The debate proceeded,
but no further progress on the tariff
bill was made, and the awe-!ike feel
ing Occasioned by this incident led to
an adjournment at o'clock The SEN
ate started today on its second passage
through the bill, the purpose being TO
dispose of all items previously passed
over.
was not present and it was necessary
to wait for fifteen minutes before one
could be secured.
Senator Harris, Of Kansas, presented
the views of himself and Senators
Morgan and RaWlins, from the COM
mittee on Pacific railroads, favorable
to the resolution expressing the sense
of the senate opposing the foreclosure
of the government liens on the Union
Pacific railroad.
Senator Morgan, of Alabama, who
cOncurred in the report, said the stu
alton demanded immediate action by
the senate. as the agreement made by
the executive branch relative to the
sale of the road on foreclosure at
minimum price was about to be con-
summated. He, therefore, announced
that on Monday next, he would ask the
senate to consider the subject. He also
severely criticised the course of the
government authorities.
Senator Allison, in charge of the
tariff bill, said he hoped the Alabama
senator would take no action to delay
the pending bill, as it was most desra-
bic to get the tariff bill into confer
ence. He would, therefore, feel COM
PEELED to resist taking up any other
business until the tariff bill was dis
posed Of.
The resolution then went to the cal
endar.
The tariff bill was taken up. Senator
Allison expressed readiness to go on
with the leather paragraphs. but in
view Of the absence of Sena tor Smith,
of New Jersey, who had a speech on
the subject, leather went over.
The first clause, fixing the date when
the bill is to go into effect, went over,
Senator Allison stating that it was i'm
possible at present to insert the date.
\ contest arose over ragraph l.
(acidsD Senator Allison asked to re-
store salicylic acid to the dutiable list.
Senator Vest resisted this at consid-
cradle length, but the amendment was
agreed tO-30 to 20.
At this point an incidental refer
ence to the sugar schedule occurred.
n letter from the secretary of the
treasury gave infOrma ton as to GER
| tain sugar drawbacks. In this connec-
| ton Senator Caffery, of Louisiana, took
occasion to explain statements he had
made that the official information fur
nished by Secretary Carlisle as to the
amount of raw sugar required to
make a pound of refined sugar had
| come from the sugar refners. His in
| formation. he said, had come from the
treasury official who was recognized a
| the sugar expert While involving no
personal reflections, yet it established
| that the treasury reports came from
sugar refineries either belonging to the
trust or under the influence of the
trust.
Senator White, of California, stated
| that when coal was taken up he would
propose an amendment allowing a
| dra awback of duty on coal used by
! American steam vessels.
| Senator Allison said this would be
IL
| the change having been in contempla-
| tion.
In paragraph IA (cOal tar and dyes or
| color. not specially provided for) the
| ad valOrem was increased from 70 to 80
| per cent: and on all other products Of
| coal tar not medicinal, the ad valorem
| was increased from 10 to 20 per cent.
| A substitute for paragraph 16 was
| inserted, making the rates on collodion
! and compounds of pyroxylin 80 cents,
! 60 cents and Co cents, according to the
grade. the last grade carrying % per
| cent. ad valorem in addition.
In paragraph % gelatin, glue, ISM
| glass and fish glue) the house rate Of
| 212 cents per pound was restored on
| the grade valued not above 10 cents
| per pound, the other rates remaining
| a. reported.
In paragraph So (olive oil, etc.) the
| committee rate was increased from
| 50 TO 40 cents. with a new prOviSO on
| olive oil in bottles, cans, etc, 80 cents
| per gallon.
\ number of charges were made to
| different paragraphs when Senator
| Platt. of Connecticut, of the finance
| committee. moved that fuller's earth,
! wrought or manufactured. be added to
| paragraph IS. at $500 ton.
This precipitated a lively contro-
versy between Senator Platt and Sen
ator Pettigrew. silver repub blican, of
| South Dakota, which came to an i'm
| pressive climax when Senator Petit
| grew was overcome in the midst OF
a vehement speech. The South Dakota
| senator had proposed an amendment
| adding fuller's earth, unwrought or
| unmanufactured. $500 per ton. He re-
| ferred to the amendment secured by
| Senator Platt and to the advantage of
| being on the finance committee as a
| means OF aiding little refining mill in
Connecticut. while the producers of
| fulIer's earth were left out in the