The Colorado statesman., 1909-06-05
TARIFF DEBATE
GROWS FIERCE
ACRlMONY ARISES OVER WAGE
STATEMENT OF THE GER
MAN GOVERNMENT.
DISPLAY BAD TEMPER
SENATORS ALDRICH AND STONE
CLASH FOR NEARLY THREE
HOURS.

Washington.-The atmosphere of the
Senate chamber was surcharged with
electricity Thursday night when the
tariff bill was taken up at O'Clock in
the first nights session since Congress
was convened. Fifty-four senator's
were present. Every Republican sena-
tor in the city except Mr. La Toilette,
was in his seat, and his absence was
made the subject of criticism that in
volved the sincerity of his attitude on
the tariff bill, and finally descended
to serious attacks upon him by con-
servative Republicans in charge of the
bill, and spirited defense from insur-
gents and Democrats. Finally the
tense situation was smoothed over,
but another outbreak is threatened.
The Senate was not in an amiable
state of mind and as a consequence
there were several clashes of temper.
The day was begun with a speech by
Senator Stone of Missouri, in which
he asserted that the German officials
had taken exception to remarks re-
Gently made by Senator Aldrich rela-
tive to the wage statement supplied by
the German government at the request
of the American secretary of state.
Mr.. Aldrich had characterized as
"impertinent' the effort which he
claimed had been made in that state
ment to influence American tariff leg
islation and Mr.. Stone undertook to
show that the epithet had been ap-
piled to the German government.
Mr.. Aldrich resented this implica-
tion, but he repeatedly said that the
German manufacturers had undertaken
to influence the course of the tariff
bill and charged that in so doing they
had been guilty of impertinence.
Mr.. Aldrich intimated that Mr..
Stone was acting as a representative
of Germany, and this remark aroused
the Missourian. Declaring his right to
speak his mind as an American sena-
tor he said the use of the expression
was "a gross impertinence" The col
loquy consumed almost three hours of
time.
The incident closed for the day with
the statement by Mr.. Stone that while
Mr. Aldrich and Mr.. Depew, who also
had been involved in the controver-
sy, had not made a straightforward re-
traction, as he had believed they
should, they had so sugar coated" the
dose as to relieve it of its bitter
taste"
Senator La Toilette resumed his
speech in opposition to the cotton
schedule, which proved to be gen.
eral criticism of the methods of the
finance committee. He asserted that
the German wage report had, contrary
to statement by Mr.. Aldrich reached
the committee before the tariff bill
was reported to the Senate and he
charged the committee with general
neglect in Withholding information
from the Senate. He opposed the new
cotton duties as excessive and made
an argument in favor of a general
scaling down.
"A system has grown up here" said
Mr.. La Toilette, "by which legislation
is in the hands of two or three men
whose authority seems to have been
recognized here for many years with
out question. 1t seems hazardous on
the part of any who wants to know and
who fails to come along when he is
! told. | want to announce to the autoc-
racy of the Senate that the clock will
strike presently and there will be a
new hour in the Legislative business
Of the Senate"