Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-07-07
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, July 7.
SENATE.

The Senate met to day with definite
agreement made last night that the
final vote on the tariff bill would be
taken before the days session closed. 1t
appeared to have little effect in stimu-
lating public interest as there was not
that rush to the galleries marking the
advent of an important event. The
chaplain's prayer gave thanks for the
sinking of transient and local issues
and besought "that the tariff bill may
disappoint the fears of its opponents
and excuse the hopes OF its advocates
in its effect upon public prosperity and
activity"
Mr.. Lodge from the committee on
foreign affairs reported resolution re-
lating to alleged wrongs and injuries
inflicted on August Bolten and Gus
tave Richelieu at Santiago de Cuba, in
1895, the unavsiling demands of the
government on Spain for indemnity
and then empowers the President ito
take such measures az in his Judgment
may be necessary to obtain the indem
nifty from the Spanish government for
the wrongs and injuries, etc., and to
secure this end he is authorized and re
quested to employ such means or exer.
else such power as may be necessary"
and said he would call up the resolu-
ton Immediately after the tariff bill
was disposed of.
The tariff bill was then taken up. The
section placing tax on tea which had
been passed over was struck out. Mr..
Allison moved to strike from the free
list "hide cuttings raw with or without
hair and all other glue stock" Mr..
Jones, of Arkansas, opposed the change.
Thereupon Mr.. Allison withdrew the
amendment, but Mr.. Mason vigorously
protested against the withdrawal. 1t
was agreed to, 30-17.
Mr.. Stewart proposed an amendment
limiting the treasury reserve to $780,
600, 900 and providing that when an ex-
cess of S. 100000 was reached then the
Secretary of the Treasury shall purchase
and retire United States bonds to the
extent of the excess over 100000, 900
He spoke at length on the amendment
and against the pilling up of large
sums in the treasury. He said the
pending bill was designed to build up
large annual surplus, probably $685.
100000 year, and some means should
be provided for disposing OF this surplus
by purchasing bonds; otherwise the sur
plus would accumulate, causing public
apprehension that it would be used to
retire outstanding greenbacks.
Mr.. Vest said he did not see how it
was possible to escape the conclusion
taat there would be a deficiency of
from $1S,OO0,OOO to S2O,OO0,0OO under
: the bill in 1898. The proposed tax on
tea expected TO yield $4,000 and
that on beer expected to yield S12, 000,-
600 had been abandoned while the new
features including the stamp tax, S4,-
000, 900, and the repeal of the commits
sion on beer stamps, So, 900, 600, and all
other changes, would add 100000
Comparing these changes with the pre-
liminary estimates by statistician Ford
and Senator Aldrich, Mr.. Vest said the
conclusion was inevitable that
deficiency would occur in 1898.
He said the average of the Senate bill
when completed would be largely
above so per cent, certainly 81 per
cent, and probably 81 per cent. The
Senator submitted table of $50 trusts,
with the tariff duties calculated to bene.
fit each. Referring to the Stewart
amendment Mr.. Vest said he regarded
it "a crime against the people of the
United States to take money out OF
their pockets and lock it up to be gazed
at by tourists"
Mr.. Morgan reviewed the action OF
Mr.. Sherman when Secretary of the
Treasury in establishing the reserve
and declared it to be an executive act
in defiance of Congress. 1t was dis
grace, he asserted, to maintain this
Speculative jackpot" for spectators
and gold gamblers 10 run after. The
Senate estimated that the sequestra-
ton of this hundred million gold re.
serve had cost the country $S75, 100000
in the last is years.
While Mr.. Morgan was speaking the
hour of one o'clock was reached and
the Vice President announced that the
five minute rule of debate would pre-
vail. By this time the galleries had
filled and there was promise of large
crowds on the floor and in the galleries
when the final vote was reached.
Mr.. Stewart modified the amendment
emitting reference to the reserve" in
the treasury.
Mr.. Lindsay remarked that as there
was S239, 100000 in the treasury the
effect of the amendment would be to
compel the secretary to Immediately
purchase and retire $139,000,000 of
bonds.
MIR, Jones expressed cordial and
hearty support of the amendment.
Messrs. Chiffon, Bacon, Allen and
Cannon supported the amendment and
Messrs Chandler, Gallery and Gray op.
posed it. MIR. Allison moved to lay
the amendment on the table. Just be-
fore the vote was announced Mr..
Jones, New who had voted with the
republicans In the affirmative, changed
his vote to the negative. Mr.. Allison's
motion was carried, SO to 80.
Mr.. Aldricb made his appearance on
the floor during the progress of this
vote. He had not been in the chamber
for some weeks. Messrs. Gallery, Gray
and Lindsay voted with the republi-
cans and Messrs. Mantle, Stewart,
Teller, Allen, Pettigrew and Jones
with the democrats in the negative.
Mr.. Pettus moved an amendment to
make the bill go into effect "on and
after its passage"
Mr.. Allison accepted this amend
ment, saying that he did so in order to
throw the question of when the bill
onnp1d M into affaot int oonfa.z~.