The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-27
THE FIRST VOTE TAKEN.
Senate Considers Tariff Bill By
Paragraphs.
SEVEN VOTED ON AND COMMITTEE
SUSTAINED IN EACH.

Vests Amendment to Reduce Duty on Bo.
racic Acid Defeated by Vote of "a to 20
Republicans Present Solid Front
and Aided by Few Populists and Demo.
Gratis.
Washington, May 26.-The first vote on
the tariff bill was taken in the Senate to-
day. 1t came after a two hours debate
on the item of boracic acid, which although
comparatively unimportant, afforded an
opportunity for the first alignment Of the
various elements.
Mr., Vest of Missouri, Democratic
member of the finance committee moved
to make the rate on boracic aid three cents
instead of five cents per pound, as pro-
yided by the committee. This precipitated
a discussion between the committee and
the opponents of the bill. The amend
ment was defeated, yeas, 20; nays "a.
The vote was largely on party lines.
The affirmative was made up Of nineteen
Democrats and one Populist HeitfeldI
The negative was made up Of twenty y-nine
Republicans, two Democrats, McEnery,
Of Louisiana and White of California, two
Silver Republicans, Cannon of Utah and
Jones of Nevada, and one Populist,
Stewart Of Nevada.
The debate was participated in by SEN
ators Vest, Jones, Arkansas, Aldrich,
Perkins, White, Caffery, Gray and
Stewart. Mr.. White, Democratic mem
Der of the finance committee opposed Mr..
Vest s amendment, urging that the Cali,
fornia industry required the rate allowed
by the committee.
Seven paragraphs of the bill were con-
sidered during the day, the committee be-
ing sustained in each instance.
The resolution was agreed to authoriz-
ing the secretary of the Navy to employ
any suitable ship in forwarding relief
supplies to India.
Washington, May 26.-The Senate
chamber was center of interest today
and it is expected that the tariff debate
would advance from the stage of set
speeches to the actual consideration of
the bill. This was the programme of the
day as outlined by those in charge of the
bill.
The public interest in the discussion
promises to exceed that on the Cuban re-
solutions and the galleries were crowded
from the outset.
Another long debate occurred over the
chartering of ships to carry relief supplies
to India. Mr.. Chandler of New Hamp-
shire endeavored to get vote on his pro-
position to send supplies by any suitable
ship.
Mr.. Morgan of Alabama insisted that
America ships under the American flag
should be employed. He favored natura-
lizing two foreign built ships, "even if it
does grind on some gentlemen who mo-
nopolize the coastwise trade in steam
ships.''
Mr.. Gray of Delaware also urged ssthat
the white-winged messengers of peace and
benevolence should bear the American
fag.''
| Mr.. Stewart of Nevada said this send
ing of grain was a charity and yet here
senators were discussing what display we
could make, how we could advertise our
selves and how the American flag could
be used as an incident of charity.
| 1.-The proposition submitted by the SEN
| atOr from Alabama is the most imperti
| nent one ever presented to the Senate of
| the United States" declared Mr.. Frye of
Maine.
IT protest. interrupted Mr.. Morgan,
against the senators characterizing as i'm
portant proposition originally offered
by his own colleague, Mr.. Hale. -
IL will settle with my colleague, an
swered Mr.. Frye, good naturedly He
went on to state the proposition of Mr.
Morgan was scheme originating with
Hogan & Sons, ship owners, who were
| seeking to make bargain as an incident
to this charity, by which two or three for
eign built ships would secure perman ent
American registers. This firm, Mr.. Frye
said, wanted to get line of American
| steamships at half the cost of the present
| law.
A motion by Mr.. Morgan to table the
| Chandler proposition was defeated 1S to
40, and the joint resolution was then
passed.
just as it passed, Mr.. Sewall of New
Jersey made "a brief and vigorous state
ment that this American benefaction
should go under the American flag, and
Mr. Morgan added: ''The American flag
| is now hauled down. The final confer
ence report on the Indian bill was then
| a greed to.
The tariff bill was taken up at O'Clock
and Mr.. White of California. in behalf of
the Democratic members Of the finance
committee, submitted number of tables
showing the articles on which the rates
were from so to Is per cent, from rs to 100
per cent, and over 1c0 per cent. In reply
to questions by Mr.. White, Mr.. Aid rich