The San Francisco call., 1897-05-30
FIVE HOURS ON
The TARIFF BILL
Five More Paragraphs
Disposed Of by the
Senate.
No Session to Be Held on Mon
day in Order to Honor Vet
erans' Memories.
Morgan Takes Occasion to ArraIen
the Method Of Procedure in
the House.

" AOANB 1s Sst NAdy SJ.-1 u6
Senate gave four hours to the tariff bill
to-day and disposed of just Eve para
graphs (100 to 104 1nclusive) all relating
to plate glass. Those paragraphs gave
rise to a vast deal of discussion, but all
attemp pts to reduce the rates below those
recommended by the Finance Committee
were defeated by maiorities of to 10.
ALI committee amendments were adopted.
The most notable event of the day was
8 discussion started by a proposition TO
observe Monday Decoration day. as a
holiday. The motion was antagonized by
Hale, Proctor and Aldrich and enthusi-
asticalIy supported by Pettus and Nor
gan. The latter launched out into an
arraignment of the House and Speaker at
their course in blocking all legislation.
He considered it matter of grave doubt
whether the House, having abandoned its
post, had not thereby worked the dfssolu-
ton of the whole Congress. He was
finally arrested on this arraignment by
point of order and when he took the floor
again he transferred his attention to the
tariff bill, which was designed, he said,
not for protection, but to pay bounties to
Iordly masters of spindles and looms, rail-
road corporations and trusts.
The tariff bill was taken up on motion
of Aldrich, who called up the paragraph
relating to china, crockery, porcelain, etc.,
which had been passed over. Aldrich, in
behalf of the committee, Withdrew the
Senate amendments to paragraphs 80 and
81, and stated that the House provisions
would be allowed to stand.
Jones of Arkansas objected to the par
tial consideration of the china schedule.
1t was finally agreed to let the entire
schedule go over.
The bill was then considered from the
point reached yesterday, paragraph 100.
An agreement was reached striking out
the provision that all futed. rolled, ribbed
or rough plate-glass when ground or 9TH
erwise obscured shall be subject to the
same rate of duty as finished cast polished
plate-glass unsilvered.
On the paragraph as to unsiIvered cast
polished plate glass, small size, Jones of
Arkansas moved to reduce the rate from
cents a square foot. Jones declared the
increase of the duty on all classes of plate
glass was astounding. In one case the rate
was increased SO per cent above the high
rate OF the Mckinley act. which, he as
serted, had been repudiated by the people
because of its high rates. This was an at
tempt to raise the price of mirrors used in
cheap furniture for poor people, while the
large size glass used by people of wealth
had the rates reduced. This was
popularity of the whole bill, as though
the Senators in charge of it had in mind
the old proverb: ITO him who hath
much shall be given, and from him who
hath little shall be taken away even that
which he has" Jones referred to the
enormous dividends declared in the last
three years.
Vest added that tbs entire plate-glass
trade, with few trifling exceptions, was
controlled by combine which met an
nually at Pittsburg, making rates, etc.
Jones presented a statement showing
that the plate glass com bination had made
profits of about 81, 500, 900 in twenty-five
months on capital of 81, 100000.
Quay read communication from the
Pittsburg Plate Glass Company declaring
that any statements that it was in a trust
or com bination in restraint of trade were
untrue.
After lengthy debate Jones' motion to
reduce the rate on rough plate-glass from
to scents was defeated-yeas 81, navs 29
When the rejection of Jones' motion re-
ducing the rate on rough plate-glass was
announced Quay asked the Senate's in
tention regarding the Decoration day ses-
sion. He thought it should adjourn in
Difference to the veterans.
AIdrich said he preferred Monday ses.
sion. He felt bound to press the bill
every available hour during every hour of
every day. Frye, Hale and Proctor spoke
DokE
a session.
Morgan shifted into lengthy criticism
of the House in the action. He gave the
titles of some important bills the Senate
had passed this session (126) and on which
no action could be taken by the House
under the existing arrangement. Under
any ordinary circumstances and con-
tenn pIation of the founders of the Gov
eminent, he said, the House ought to be
in session to consider those bills and other
very important matters, but instead the
tariff bill has been put forward. and sus-
tanned by all the Republicans and by some
Democrats as a solution of all the coun-
try's difficulties. In order 10 compel the
Senate to pass it the House was held in
an unorganized condition and the consti-
tuition palpably violated. The course of
the House was not IN compliance with the
question, and the matter caused a very
serious doubt whether one of the two
houses had not abandoned its consuitu-
tionaI post and duty, whether it had not
Withdrawn itself from the session of Con-
gress and thereby worked dissolution OF
the whole Congress. ''The course of the
House." he declared, sis a shocking out
rage on the Government land the people of
the United States. It was the letting
down of Congress in the estimation of the
people and the ringing of Congress into
de served and sovereign contempt"
"Here be said, "are hundreds OF men
in Washington chewing the cud OF refiec.
ton and absolutely waiting on word
from the lips of a single man to determine
whether they shall have voice In the
Government or whether in fact they shall
have any of the power of representatives
of their States or districts. The patience.
and patriotism of the American people as
exhibited under these very peculiar dis
ho noring and trying circumstances was
remarka ble."
Hale made the point of order that Nor
gan violated rule of parliamentary law |
in criticizing a coordinate branch. The |
presiding officer (Gallinger) sustained
Hale. A vote was then taken on Quay's |
motion to ad journ over till Tuesday and |
adopted by 81 ayes to II noes.
TARIFF DIAShNTERS.