Birmingham state herald., 1897-07-03
TWO PHASES IF THE BILL.
Reciprocity and Retaliation 0ccr-
 py the Senate'S Attention.
THE ALABAMA SENATORS
Disagree as to the Former and the Discussion Hinges on Its ConstitutiOnaIity-Bing-
 ham Falls Heir to the CoIlectorsIio.


 retaliation were the two phases of the. tariff bill to occupy the attention of the senate today. to the exclusion of all ct subjects. Both provisions were agreed to, although the debate on the reciprocity clause was protracted to p. m. Shortly before adjournment. MT. Allison endeav- ored to secure an agreement on the time for final vote, but MT. Teller would not consent to fixing the time until all pro- posed amendments had been submitted to the senate. As MT. Allison was not pre- pared to submit these amendments he withdrew his request and the time for the final vote was left open altogether al- though there is still hope that it will be reached tomorrow.
 The retaliatory clause provides that whenever any country bestows an export bounty on any article, then, until the im- portation of such article into the United States, there shall be levied in addition to the duties provided by the act, an ad- ditional duty equal to the amount of the bounty. The second section disclosed some difference of opinion on the demo- cratic side, Mir. Gray, of Delaware, and MT. Lindsay, of Kentucky, opposing it, while MT. McCaffery, of Louisiana, sup ported it as legitimate measure of self preservation. MT. Gray dwelt upon the ellecl or the cause III eNadlng our treaty with Germany and Austria. The clause was agreed to--33 to 19. The two demo- cratic senators from Louisiana, Caffery and MeEnery, voted with the republicans in the affirmative. The reciprocity clause empowers the president by and with the advice and consent of the senate, to make reciprocity treaties giving 20 per cent. reduction on duties on designated arti- cles or placing articles on the free list. The amendment brought out much oppo- sition, Senators Mills, Vest, Pettus, Tel Ter and White arguing that it evaded the constitutional right of the house of rep resentatives to participate in measures affecting revenue, while Senators Nor gan, Gray and Chandler defended its le- gality5 and propriety.. Later in the day the vote was taken and the reciprocity clause was agreed to-30 to Is, two demo- crats-Gray and Morgan, voting with the republicans in the affirmative.
 Early in the dly Mr cling lon, repub- lican, of Maryland rising to a question of personal privilege. vehemently upheld his senatorial prerogativ in the matter. of federal appointments.
 MT. Teller, of Colorado, inquired what the committee or caucus contemplated doing on the question or decreasing the tax on distilled spirits, in view of the letter written by the secretary of the treasury. MT Allison answered that the whole question of distilled spirits had been gone over Personallv he believed a lower tax would be pro&ss~ve of gr ~ CT revenue, but he thought it unwise 10 go into the complex question in connec- tion with this tariff bill.
 MT. Teller said the letter of the secre- tary of the treasury indicated a desire for legislation on this subject. Then the senator added: Before this bill is dis posed of I will discuss what should be done iri decreasing the tax on spirits. l will show that the committee is giving away $2,000,000 a month to the detriment of consumers who bear the tax burdens and to the detriment of honest dealers in distilled spirits"
 The consideration of the bill then pro- ceeded. When the retaliatory clause was reached, MT. Chandler, of New Hamp- shire, said he would vote for it. with ex- treme reluctance. He had been told that Germany would begin course of com mercfal werfare against the United States and he would make sacrifices to prevent friction between the empire of Germany and the United States. There were circumstances now transpiring, he said, that would make it unfortunate that commercial conflicts should arise at this time between ths, United States and Ger many, France, England or other coun- tries. But he said he did not see how this retaliatory clause could be avoided if the protective character of the bfn was to be preserved.
 MT Lindsay, of Kentucky. criticised
 
 protection without excuse as a revenue measure. She senator criticised his demo- cratic associate, MT. Caffery for defend- ing this purely protective provision. MT. Caffery defended his position as consist ent with democracy and the vote was then taken.
 Mr. Pettus, of Alabama, argued that the reciprocity paragraph disregarded the constitutional rights of the house of representatives. MT. Morgan answered the criticism of his associates (Pettus and others), by saying that while he shared this view at one time, the United States supreme court had passed upon the reel procity clause of the Mckinley law and had held that it In no way disregarded the rights of the house of representatives. MT. Morgan said the reciprocity pro- vision was a modification of the severity of the bin and he would support it.
 MT. Gray supported the reciprocity amendment, saying the treaties ,con. em- plated were clearly within the treaty. making power.
 MT. Teller argued that grave ques- tion was involved in taking from the house of representatives the power to CO., operate in making recinrocity treaties. It was too grave a question to be brought into the senate during the closing hours of the tariff debate. The senator said he wanted to vote for some reciprocity clause. but not for one in violation of the constitution. Mir Chandler made the point that the house of represen tatives had originated the reciprocity prorosit'on and the senate paragraph was only a modification of the house provision
 At 6 o'clock the senate held sn execu- tive session and then adjourned
 PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS.