Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-05-06
Sixty-first Congress.
Washington, May 6.
SENATE.

Senate today that the tariff is getting on
the nerves OF the members. They are re-
sentful of statements 10 speeches II
which they would ordinarily give no 81
tention and there 10 among a large part
u the membership an aggressive spirit
entirely foreign 70 the Senate. Senator
Oummins, of IoSs, was the ctormcentel
today. He opened up an attack on the
AIdrich bill aud following, as 1t did, the
bitter arrsigment by Dollver, 1t reused
both the friends OF the bill and its OPP
ponents.
Mr.. Oummin began on Mr.. Aldrich.
He condemned the Rhode Island senator
for having accused Mr.. Dolliver, who
attacked the wool and cotton schedules,
With having made democratic arguments.
Mr.. Cummins asserted that a republic
csn bad the right to differ with the
finance committee without having bis
party loyalty challenged.
LET no man challenge my republi-
csnism," be shouted. 81 will resent 1t
at every step 10 the consideration OF this
bill whether directed at NE or at COL
Leagues who feel the same way. l in
tend, unless something unexpected de-
yelops, 10 vote for the bill because it is
a. least some improvement on the Ding
ley law but not because Of its substantial
revision or 10 line with the republican
platform OF 1908"
Mr.. Oummins demanded to know
why the tariff on grade of oil cloth be
exhibited had been increased from l15
to 270 per cent. This aroused BeVeridge
who said that he, too, should like to
hear the answer.
Mr.. Smoot, member OF the finance
committee, said 1t would be explained
when that schedule was reached for final
consideration.
This nettled Mr.. Beveridge, who gave
notice that the members were not going
to allew the bill to be hurried through
aud that before final action was taken
the finance committee would have to
make every point clear.
Mr.. Flint, of the finance committee,
said every question could not be
answered in 8 moment.
Mr.. Dick suggested that 1t would be
time enough for the answer when the
paragraph was under consideration.
Mr.. Bsveridge said that he and Mr..
Cummins had asked why that apparently
great increase had been made in the
duty in the tariff rate and he thought it
important enough to be explained at
once.
Mr.. Smoot started long explanation
which Mr.. Cummins cut short with
statement that he mad not yielded for a
speech. Mr.. SmooPs face flushed and
said he would never interrupt Oummins
again. Mr.. Burrows poured oil on the
troubled waters and urged Mr.. OummiDs
to let Mr.. Smoot finish the explanation.
Mr.. Oummins yielded and then 1t de-
veloped that Mr.. Smoot bad abont fin
ished bis statement when Mr.. Oummins
interrupted him.
Mr.. Oummins made q demand for re-
duced duties on common white esrthen
ware.
Mr.. Flint said that high prices we're
due not to the tariff but to the exces.
sive profits demanded by Wholesale and
retail dealers. AS an exsmple of the
exorbitant prices charged by dealers be
said that tea which is imported into
this country at Is cents a pound Is
sold to the people at 60 cents, while the
same tea is retailed ia Canada at 40
cents pounds.
A searching ariaignment Of the Al
drich tariff bill was delivered by Senator
CumminS, whose colleague, Mr.. Dolli-
yer, also has been roasting the measure.
This bill OF the Senate finance COM
mittee will not be accepted by those,who
have favored a revision OF the tariff"
said Mr.. Oummins, "as either a ful.
fllmeut of the party pledge or as
settlement OF the controversy"
Mr.. Bailey offered an amendment in
tended to remedy the defect pointed out
by the U. s. Supreme Court on Monday
in the commodities clause of the Hep
burn rate bill.
Senator Scott offered an amendment
to the tariff bill taking petroleum from
the free list and making crude or refined
petroleum and Its products dutisble at
so per cent ad vAlorem and Senator
Root proposed an amendment reducing
tariff on lemon from one and a quarter
cent as proposed In the House bill and
one an a half cent as proposed In the
Senate bill to 8 fiat rate OF one cent per
pound.
HOUSE.
Reitersting bis charges against Federal
Judges Smith Mcpherson and John s.
Phillips, of Missouri, Mr.. Murphy (rep.
Mo- today arose to question Of per-
sonsI privileges. He read a telegram
sent to Attorney General Wiekersham
by Mr.. Frank Hagermsn, Of Kansas
City, in which 1t was declared that MUIR
phys resolution of last Monday, was
"a tissue Of misrepresentation"
Mr.. Murphy stated that Mr.. Hsger-
man was, aud is attorney for the eigh-
teen Missourians involved Ia the rate
cases. He went at length into the
charges and called upon Mr.. Rucker
dem. Mo- to substsntiate them. Mr..
R1cker declared that be had no personal
knowledge Of the matters complained Of,
but that general rumor In Missouri in
Heated them to be true. Mr.. Payne |