Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-30
Frosy Discussion Follows Fiery Denuncia-
tion by Tillman'
QUIET SUCCEEDS STORM IN THE SENATE
Measure Taken Up where Considern-
tion was left on Fridny-Rcsoiu-
tion Adopted for Aid TO Rio
Grhnde Flood Sufferers.

resolution authorizing the secretary Of war
to use rations for the relief of destitute
persons in the district overnowed by the
Rio Grande river near El Paso, Tex, and ap-
propriatlng $4,000 for this purpose. Mr..
Mills read a telegram from the mayor and
city officers of Ell Paso, saying that 500 houses
had been destroyed, that 1900 people were
destitute and that the condition was beyond
the power of local relief. The joint resolu
tion was passed, and the tariff bill was then
taken up on motion OF Mr.. Aldrich who
called the paragraphs relating to china,
crockery porcelain, etc.. when had been
passed over.
Mr.. Aldrich. in behalf of the committee,
withdrew the senate amendments to
paragraphs ninety and ninety-one, and stated
that the house provision would be allowed to
stand. Mr.. Jones of Arkansas objected to
partial consideration of the china schedule
and it was finally agreed to let the entire
| 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 futed, rolled, ribbed or
plate glass, when ground or otherwise
obscured shall be subject to the same rate
of duty as finished, cast, polished plate
glass unsvered.
ASSAILS PLATE GLASS SCHEDULE.
On the paragraph as to unsilvered, cast,
polished plate glass small size, Mr.. Jones
of Arkansas moved to reduce the rate from
cents to 5 cents per square foot. In this
connection Mr., Jones declared that the in
crease Of duty on all 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 repudated by the people
because of it's 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 its rates reduced. This was the pecu-
liarity Of the whole bill, as If the senators
in charge of the bill had in mind the old
proverb: "To him who hath shall be given,
and to him whom hath little it shall be
taken away" % Pc"
When Mr. Jones referred to the enormous
dividends declared by the Plate Glass trust,
Mr.. Platt of Connecticut stated that no
dividends had been declared in the last three
years. Mr.. Vest of Missouri added that the
entire plate glass trade, with few trifng
exceptions, was Controlled by the combine
which met annually at Pittsburg, fixing
rates. a., 80.
Jones presented statement showing that
the plate glass combination had made profits
of about s2,500,OO0 in the last twenty-five
months. on a capital of 900. Mr. Quay
of Pennsylvania read letter from the Pitts
burg Plate Glass company declaring that
any statements that 1t was trust or COM
bine in restraint of trade were untrue.
After lengthy debate on the plate glass
schedule Senator Jones motion to reduce
| the rate onGrough plate glass from s to s
cents was defeated; yeas Il, nays 30 r-
,d MORGAN AssAILS REED.
Senator Quay made motion, this after
noon to adjourh over Monday in honor of
Decoration day. The motion was discussed
at some lei 9Th, a number OfErepublicans
saying they thought the tariff bill should be
CGn1 @lDr afC tad tt,N, ,,,o
ton. Senator Morgan in discussing it, said
he regretted that the republican house of
representatives was compelled to meet on
Monday by the autocratic rule of that body
which worked like doorkeeper under direc-
| tion of the speaker, who pulled string
and opened and shut the DOORS
Senator Frye called Mr.. Morgan to order
for speaking in that manner of coordinate
branch of the government, but the Alabama
senator continued and mentioned the yari-
| GUS public measures passed by the senate
which had not been acted on in the house.
Senator Morgan criticised the house for not
considering the Cuban resolution and disre-
garding the action of the senate.
Mr.. Morgan said the house of representa-
tives was compelled to follow the dictates
OF one man, and congress was dshonoring
Itself by being subjected to the mind of one
man: Mr.. Morgan continued to criticse the
speaker and the house, and was called to
order by Mr.. Hale of Maine.
Ihe chair directed the Alabama senator
to take his seat until the rule was read Mr..
Gallinger of New Hampshire, in the chair,
sustained the point OF order, and Mr.. Nor
gan appealed from the decision
Mr.. Hale withdrew his point, but Mr.. Nor
gan nevertheless was cut off by Mr. Ouay
asking vote ION his adjournment resolu-
tlol, which was carried, 81 to II.
The debate on plate glass and the existence
OF trust became protracted Mr. Jones
read number of letters complaining of the
methods OF the 7Pittsburg company and he
declared emphatically that the action of that
company was outrageous.
ALDRICH DEFENDS THE BILL.
Mr.. Aldrich defended the rates of the bill.
III was not true. he, said, that the rates OH
plate glass were to bs increased as asserted
by Mr.. Jones, or that plate glass was an
article OF necessity to the common people.
Pate glass was not an article of general use
by the common people The changes pro-
posed were simply a rearrangement of the
rates In the Mckinley and the Wilson acts
The senator from Arkansas (Jones) had taken
one of the items and had rung the changes
on that item, as though 1t applied to all of
them. Commenting on Mr. Jones' statement
that the Pittsburg Plate Glass company was
the largest of its kind in the world Mr.
Aldrich declared that this was an evidence
of American energy and enterprise and was
no cause for raising or lowering duties
Mr. Lindsay OF Kentucky asked IL the
existence of a trust to control the trade was
not good reason Tor Withholding protec-
tion. -.a.'
Il deny most emphatically," Mr. Adrich
replied, that, there is any combination to
control prices. or TO limit production or to
do anything eelse 0that is generally under
stood as a restraint Of trade"
Mr.. Vest pointed out what he considered
a peculiar feat1reaof the readj,istment, that
the rates we're Increased on the grades in
common use and decreased on grades used
by the favored CLASS.
Mr.. Caffery lof Louisiana spoke against the
committee rates.IpD
AMENDMENT IS DEFEATED.
Mr.. ChiltonTop Texas also spoke against
the committed rates. The debate on Mr.
Jones' first amendment to the plate glass
schedule lasted oyer two hours, and then on
yea and nay5yate the amendment was de-
feated by 21 to 20. The vote was party
one, the democrats for and the republicans
against the isknenament. Kyle and Petit
grew voted with the democrats and Mr. Jones
OF Nevada with the republicans.
Mr. Quay proposed at this point that the
understanding be reached as to adjourn
ing over Monday when Decoration day will
be celebrated.
Mr. Chandler added his approval to the
fair way in which the democratic side was
allowing the bill to proceed.
Mr.. Aldrich answered that he felt bound
TO urge the tariff bill at every possible hour,
and he did not approve the loss of Monday
for debate.