The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-06-03
Senate Proceedings.

washington, May gu e othu'c ~
sumed its work at noon today with the
usual calm prevailing, Notwithstanding
the stormy events of yesterday.
Mr.. Mills of Texas requested considera-
ton for a joint resolution authorizing
the secretary of war to use rGtions for
the relief of destitute persons in the dis
trict overfowed by the Rio Grande river
near FL Paso. Texas, and appropriate
$4,000 for the purpose.
Mr.. Mills read a telegram from the
mayor and city officials of El Paso, say
ing that 500 houses had been destroyed,
that 5000 people were destitute and that
local relief. The joint resolution was
passed.
The tariff bill was then taken up, on
motion of Mr. Aldrich who called up
the paragraphs relating to china, crock
cry and porcelain, etc, which had been
passed over. Mr.. Aldrich, in behalf Of
the committee. withdrew the senate
amendments to paragraphs 80 and 81 and
stated that the house rates would be al
lowed to stand.
Mr.. Jones of Arkansas objected to par
tial consideration of the china schedule
and it was finally agreed to let the en-
tire schedule go over. The bill was
then considered from the point reached
yesterday, viz. paragraph 100.
An agreement was reached striking out
the provision that all t1uted, rolled, ribbed
or rough plate glass, when ground or
otherwise Obscured, shall be subject to the
same rate of duty as finished cast pol
shed plate glass, unsilvered.
On the paragraph as to unsilver cast
polished plate glass, small size, Mr.. Jones
of Arkansas moved to reduce the rate
from : to ) cents per square foot In
this connection Mr.. Jones declared that
the increase of duty on classes of plate
glass was astounding. In one case, he
said, the rate was increased SO per cent
above the high rate of the Mckinley act,
which, he asserted. had been repudiated
by the people because of its high rates.
This was an attempt to raise the price of
mirrors used i'll cheap furniture for the
common people, while the large sizes used
by people of wealth had its rates re-
duced. This was the popularity of the
whole bill, as the senators in charge of
the bill had in mind the old proverb: "To
him that hath shall be given and to him
who hath little shall be taken away
When Mr.. Jones referred to enormous
dividends declared by the plate glass
trusts, Mr.. Plat of Connecticut stated
that no dividends had been declared in
the last three years. Mr.. Vest of Mis-
souri, added that the entire plate glass
trade, with few trifing exceptions, was
controlled by the combine which met an
nually at Pittsburg. fixing rates, etc.
Mr.. Jones presented a statement show
ing the plate glass combinations had
made profits of about $2,50O,OOO in
twenty-five months, and on a capital of
$4,000
Mr.. Quay of Pennsylvania read let
ter from the Pittsburg Plate Glass COM
pany declaring that any statement that
it was a trust or combine in restraint of
trade was untrue.
The debate on plate glass and the ex
istence of trust became protracted.
Mr.. Jones read a number of letters
complaining of the methods of the Pitts
cally that the action of that company
was unamerican and outrageous.
Mr.. Aldrich defended the rates of the
bill. 1t was not true, he said, that the
rates on plate glass were to be increased,
as asserted by Mr.. Jones, or that plate
glass was an article of necessity to the
common people. Plate glass was not
an article of general use by the common
people. The changes proposed were
simply Encouragement of the rates in
the Mckinley and the Wilson acts. The
one of the items and had ''rung the
changes" on that one item as though it
applied to all of them. Commenting
on Mr.. Jones' statement that the Pitts
burg Plate Glass company was the
largest of its kind in the world, Mr.. AL
drich declared that this was an evidence
of American energy and enterprise and
was no cause for raising or lowering
duties.
Mr.. Lindsey of Kentucky asked if the
existence of trust to control the trade
OF g., al /, Il
protection.
II deny most emphatically," Mr.. AL
drich replied, that there is any combina-
ton 20 control prices or to limit produc-
ton or to do anything else that is gener-
ally understood as restraint of trade"
Mr.. Vest pointed out what he consid-
cred a peculiar feature of the readjust-
ment, that the rates were increased on
the grades in common use and decreased
on grades used by the favored class.
The proposed rates were so high as to be
absolutely, prohibitory,. and the advo
Gates of the bill seemed to be inspired by
the hope of Carey, the apostle of ex-
IRENE protection, that an ocean of fire
would keep from our shores every ship
bearing foreign goods.
Mr.. Gallery of Louisiana spoke against
the committee rates. The answer of the
Rhode Island senator (Aldrich) to the
criticism of the rates was as weak, Mr..
Gallery said, as his explanation of the
sugar schedule, and. like that, 1.-THE more
you look at it. the muddier it gets"
Mr.. Chiffon of Texas also spoke against
the committee rates.
The debate on Mr.. Jones' amendment
to the plate glass schedule lasted over
two hours, and then. on yea and nay
vote. the amendment was defeated, p
to %.
The vote was a party one. the demo-