Evening star., 1897-03-30
THE SENATE.

The Sepate today received from the Al
torney General information as TO the status
of the foreclosure proceedings against the
Pacific railroads recently requested by the
Senate.
Gen. Powell Clayton of Arkansas.
Gently nominated and confirmed minister
to Mexico. came On the floor and talked
with several senator's.
Among the petitions was from the
board of sheep commissioners of Montana.
urging the most ample protection on wool,
iE accordance with the platform promises,
and asserting that the policy of protection
would not long prevail without this ade-
quate protection to the ol-growing inter-
est
The Cuban Question.
The Cuban question brought forward
again by Mr.. Morgan tAla). who presented
a resolution requesting the President to in
form the Senate whether letters had been
received by the present and former chief
executive from Gen Maximo Gomez, COM
mander of the revolutionary forces in Cuba.
The resolution recite5 at length the letters
said to have been forwarded to President
Mckinley and his predecessor from Gomez
and published IN the newspapers today.
The resolution concludes with a request
that the President shall also inform the
Senate whether the Spanish authorities in
patches to be transmitted between the
United States consul at Sagua la Grande
and the United States consul general at
Havana
At Mr.. Morsan's request the resolution
went over until tomorrow.
Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts suggested
that the resolution should call for all let
ters received from Gomez and not those
specific documents
Mr.. Morgan answered that he would
readily accept an amendment when the
resolution was acted on calling for all of
GomezS letters
MIR. Allen CNebD was then recognized for
a speech on his resolution declaring il to
be unconstitutional to impose tariff taxes
on the necsssaries of daily consumption in
order TO Enrich certain favored classes at
the expense OF the masses.
Mr.. Aliens Speech
The senator's remarks were in the nature,
OF a legal argument. showing the constitu-
t!onal limitations on the taxing power of
Congress In the course of his speech he
said: We have a right to consider the
character and occupation of the men max
ing this claim for protective legisla ton.
Ihey are not the ldbOrerS themSelVes-those
whom ii is said protection is to benefit
but they are the manufacturers, the bank
ers, the attorneys and the lobbyists who ap-
peal to Us in the name of the wage Garner.
There are very few OF the laborers and
producers who believe wages are raised
substantially by a nigh tariff, and still few
or who desire that such a tariff shall be
levied on the articles of necessary con-
sumption OF 20 per cent of the people for
u special benefit II is true there are
oce, 5ionally few wage earners. ignorant
of the principles underlying this question
VINO, in consequence OF being repeatedly
told so. believe prosperity is dependent in
some measure on protective tariff. and
they are induced by the crafty and greedy
for whom they labor to imporrune Congress
10 protect the particular branch of industry
in which they are engaged But these mer
few indeed. and they are almost al
ways melted TO such appeals by those fol
whom. they labor. and in the interest OF
those who reap in their name the benefit oi
nigh protective legislation
In conclusion the senator said: Il place
myself On the solid and impresnable
ground that under our Constitution Con
gress does not possess power to tax the
people to enhance the private fortunes OF
the few, and that the full measure of tbs
taxing power IS reached when Tariff fol-
revenue. with Incidental protection, is i'm
posed Any other construction would leat
10 confiscation and incidentally TO enforced
reputation, the two worst conceivable
forms of anarchy and disorder in civilized
state; and such a deduction, when carried
10 its legitimate length, would lead to the
subversion of all order. and the rights o
persons and properly. We cannot serv,
the people and the money power AT TIL
same time. Their interests are deadly an
tagontstic. What is for the common vel
fare is against the trusts and the pools
Mr. Allen spoke more than an hour. ant
at the conclusion of his remarks the reso
luton was referred to the finance commit
tee.
The House amendments TO the Senat
joint resolution appropriating s250,U0 TO
the saving OF life and property along tn
Mississippi river were presented and agree
70. and the resolution now goes TO tn
President.
Mr.. Mcbride of Oregon presented al
amendment certificate from the governor 0
Oregon as to the appointment of Henry "
COrbett senator from that state. TIL
certificate states that the appointment /
until the Legislature shall meet thus curini
the supposed defect in the first credentials
which did not fx the limit of service.
At o'clock the Senate went into execu
tive session.