The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-15
Vest Declares That the Retroactive
Clause of the Pending Tariff Bill
is Illegal and Beyond the Power
of Congress.

Washington, April 1.-THE first Skin
mish on the tariff question occurred in
the senate today It was followed by
vote, which served as a test of strength
of the various elements of the senate.
The vose occurred on a motion by Mr..
Morrill, (Rep., Vt.). chairman of the
committee on finance, to refer reso-
tuition by Mr.. Vest. one of the Demo-
cratic members of that committee.
This made the issue between repre-
sentatives of the two leading elements
in the senate. Aside from this the
resolution was in the nature of a criti-
cism of Secretary Gage and declared
illegal his recent order relative to
goods imported. After April 10. when
change of the retroactive clause in
the pending bill, the new tariff rates
are 10 apply.
Mr.. Morrill's motion then prevailed
by the close vote of "a to %. The de-
tailed vote was as follows:
Yeas-Baker. Burrows, Carter, Clark,
Cullom, Davis. Foraker, Frye, Gal
linger, Hawley, Hanna, Hansbrough,
Hoar, McMillin. Mantle, Mason, Nell
son, Platt of New York, Pritchard,
Proctor, Quay, Spooner, Warren, We'll
Nays-Bafe, Butler, Cannon, Chand-
dler, Chiffon, Cockrell, German, Gray,
Harris of Kansas, Heitfeld, Lindsay,
McEnery, Martin, Mills, Morgan,
Pascoe, Pettigrew. Pettus, Raw
Inns, Turner, Turpie, Vest and
Walthall-23
Senator Kyle, whose position is a
question of interest, and Senator Allen
(Pop., Mo- also were absent The af-
ans, including one silver Republican
Mr.. Mantle of Montana The negative
vote was made UP of Democrats, Popu-
lists and two silver Republicans-Petti-
grew of South Dakota and Cannon of
Utah. Prior to the vote a breezy dis
cuSSion occurred on several phases of
the tariff.
The subject came up first when Mr..
Mantle presented a memorial from
woolgrowers, urging ample protection
to their industries. He referred in this
connection to reports that Secretary
North of the Wool Manufacturers as
ISOLATION was acting as secretary of
the finance committee. Mr.. Morrill, de-
MED the statement, saying that this
gentleman had been summoned as an
expert to give information on the wool
question.
Mr.. Hoar responded to some of the
criticisms of Mr.. Mantle. He said he
had hoped to see the wool schedule ar
ranged TO the satisfaction of wool
growers. This should be done without
lgrowers. This should be done without
arraying the wool-grOwerS against the
wool manufacturers. Their interests
were identical. Certainly no wool
grower would desire to have a duty
on manufactured wool which did not
afford adequate protection. The whole
question must be settled by the sound
and sober judgment of both interests.
Mr.. Hoar referred TO the fact that
wool-groWerS were without their
watchful representatives when the
tariff bill was before congress- and he
thought the argus eyes of Judge Law
renee would see that this interest did
not suffer.
Mr.. Gray (Dem. DELI said he desired
to call public attention to the remark
able proposition coming from the other
side of the chamber. Senators had
made clear that there was a compact,
well-managed organization for the puT-
pose of putting the taxes to the highest
point on their respective lines of goods.
Both of these industries were repre-
scented, according to the statements
made, but the great body of American
people who were consumers of betaXed
goods were not represented here.
Mr. Merrill succeeded in cutting off
the debate by calling for the regular
order, but it soon broke out again on
Mr. Vests resolution, directed against
the secretary of the treasury.
Mr. Vest declared that the retroact-
i've clause of the pending tariff bill was
illegal and beyond the power of con-
gress. He characterized Secretary
Cages recent order as notification
of the existing laws and move to inI
timidate the importers of foreign goods.
Mr. Morrill's motion to refer the reso-
luton to the finance committee brought
the question to an issue, with the re-
suit stated. Mr.. Morgan of Alabama
to have a time fixed for
the final vote on his Cuban resolution.
Mr. Hoar objected and Mr. Morgan
gave notice that the resolution would
reached.
The Indian appropriation bill was
then taken up. 1t afforded Mr.. German
Of Maryland an opportunity to speak |
Of the disorganized condition of the |
senate. The president had stated in
his inaugural address that the condi- !;
ton of the country required the strict |
est governmental economy.
And it was proposed to pass an APP /
preparation bill, aggregating more !
han $3.50 ,000 without the considera-
ton of a duly organized committee of |
the senate
Mr.. German said that careful con-
siderafion of these bills might lead to
heir reduction by $10,000,00O. Appro-
oriations were piling up, increasing
and doubling within the last II years,
until the stupendous figure of billion
dollars for single congress had been
1t was time to call halt in
.hese vast expenditures. There should
De a limitation of expenditures on the
navy and on Qualifications now that an
IRA of peace appeared to be at hand.
It was time, too, to limit the expendi-
ures on rivers and harbors. MIR. Cor
nan said the Democrats could do no
more than call the attention of the
on the other side to the urgent
iced of retrenchment. The senate
should enter upon a thorough and
consideration of these appro-
,riation bills, so that no question of
could be raised. The
ormal consideration of the Indian bill
vas then proceeded with.
The committee amendment opening
he Uncompahgre Indian reservation
o the public entry led to long con-
est. A point of order was made
against 1T by Mr.. Jones of Arkansas,
nd pending the decision, the senate
It D. m. went into executive session
md soon after adjourned.