The herald., 1897-04-15
A TEST OF
STRENGTH
Precipitated by Morrill's
Motion
CAGE ESCAPED CRITICISM
BY AN EFFECTIVE MAJORITY OF
ONE VOTE
The Ten Minute House Session Long
Enough to Display Dissension
Among Democrats
CAGE ESCAPED CRITICISM
BY AN EFFECTIVE MAJORITY OF
ONE VOTE
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE first
skirmish on the tariff question occurred
in the senate today. 1t was followed by
a vote which served as a test of the
strength of the various elements Of the
senate. The vote occurred on motion
by Morrill, of Vermont, Rep. chairman
of the finance committee. to refer a
resolution by Vest, one of the Democrat
ic leaders, to that committee. This
made the issue between representatives
of the two leading elements In the SEN
ate. Aside from this the resolution was
in the nature of a criticism of Secretary
Gage, and declared illegal his recent
order relative to goods imported after
April 1, when, according to the retroac-
tive clause of the pending Dingley tar
if bill, the new tariff rates are to ap-
ply.
Morrilps motion prevailed by the close
vote of "a to %.
The detailed vote was as follows:
Yeas-Baker, Burrows, Carter, Clark.
Cullom, Davis. Foraker, Frye, CALM
ger. Hawley, Hanna, ,Hansbrough. Hoar.
Mcmillan, Mantle. Mason, Nelson, Platt
of New York, Pritchard, Proctor. Quay,
Spooner, Warren, Wellington-24.
Nays-Bate, Butler, Cannon, Chand-
Ter, Chiffon, Cockrell, German, Gray.
Harris of Kansas, Heitfeldt, Lindsay
McEnery, Martini Mills. Morgan. Pas
coe, Pettigrew. Pettus. Rawlins. Tur-
ner, Turpie, West and Walthall-23.
Senator Kyle. whose position Is q
question of interest, and Senator Allen
of Nebraska, Pop, also were absent
The affirmative vote was given by Re-
publicans. including one Silver Repub-
lican. Mantle of Montana. The mega
tive vote was made up of Democrats,
Pettigrew of South Dakota and Cannon
of Utah.
Prior to the vote breezy discussion
on several phases of the tariff took
place. The subject came up first when
Mantle proposed memorial from wool
growers urging ample protection for
their industry. He referred in this con-
nection to the reports that Secretary
North of the Wool Manufacturers as
sociation was acting as secretary of the
finance committee. Mr.. Morrill, denied
the statement, saying that this gentle
man had been summoned as an expert
to give information on the wool ques-
ton.
Hoar responded to some of the criti-
cisms of Mantle. He said he hoped to
see the wool schedule arranged to the
satisfaction of the wool growers. This
should be done without arraying the
wool growers against the wool manu-
facturers Their interests were identi-
CAL Certainly no wool grower would de-
sire to have a duty on manufactured
wool which did not afford adequate pro-
lection. The whole question must be
settled by the sound and sober judgment
Of both interests. Hoar referred to the
fact that the wool growers were without
their watchful representatives when the
tariff bill was before congress and he
though the Argus eyes of Judge Law
renee would see that this interest should
not suffer.
Gray (Del., Dem.) said he desired to
call public attention to the remarkable
proposition coming from the other side
of the chamber. Senators had made
clear that there was a compact, a well
managed organization, for the purpose
of raising the taxes to the highest point
on their respective lines Of goods. Both
of these industries were represented, ac-
cording to the statements made, but
the great body Of American people. who
were consumers of be-taxed goods. were
not represented here.
Morrill, succeeded in cutting of the
debate by calling for the regular order
but It soon broke out again on Vests
resolution directed against the secretary
of the treasury.
Vest declared that the retroactive
clause of the pending tariff bill was ille-
gal and beyond the power of congress.
He characterized Secretary Cages re-
cent order as nullifcation Of the exist
ing law and move to intimidate the i'm
porters of foreign goods. Morrills mo-
ton to refer the resolution to the finance
committee brought the question to an
issue, with the result stated.
Morgan of Alabama endeavored to have
time fixed for the final vote on his Gu
ban resolution. Hoar objected and Nor
gan gave notice that the resolution would
be pressed until final vote was reached.
The Indian appropriation bill was then
taken up. IL duOTucu 6OEludu VI KAdIy
land an opportunity to speak of the dis
organized condition Of the senate. The
pesident had stated in his inaugural
address that the condition of the country
required the strictest governmental
economy, andyet 1t was proposed to pass
appropriation bills aggregating more
than $73,o00.000 without the considera-
ton of a duly organized committee OF
the senate. German said that careful
consideration of these bills might lead
to their reduction by SO. .000. 900.
Appropriations were piling up, increas-
ing and doubling within the last twelve
years, until the stupendous figure Of a
billion dollars for z single congress had
been reached. 1t was time to call a halt
in these vast expenditures. There
should be limitation Of expenditures
on the navy and on the fortiflcations