Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-08
BEvERlDGE AND
ALDRICH CLASH
IN HOT DEBATE
DUTY ON COTTON FABRICS is
CAUSE OF DISPUTE
SPIRITED coLLooUY INoULeED
IN BY SENATORS
Chairman of Finance Committee De-
nounces Democratic Republicans
and Many Lawmakers En-.
gage in Quarrel

tBy Associated Presso

w chamber was again today the
scene of a lively contest. Sem
ator Aldrich, leading the conservatives,
and Senator Beveridge, heading the
proeressives did most of the talking.
Both senators were frequently on their
feet, and there were many sharp con-
II hicts between them.
Beginning the session with vote on
II the recommendation of his committee
| for duty of cents a square yard ana
20 per cent ad valorem on the fabric
| known as window hollands, Senator
Aldrich was apparently somewhat en-
couraged over the prospect of making
decided headway with the cotton
! schedule.
His hopes, however, were doomed to
appointment, for only few mo-
ments afterward Mr.. Beveridge took
the floor and before he concluded ne
| had opened such a gap that the Rhode
Island senator himself could not resist
the opportunity to walk in.
Mr. Beveridge having said he had
been inclined to support the recommen-
dations of the finance committee, the
admission led the chairman from the
committee to say the Indiana senator
had not shown such inclination by his
vote.
That Starts It
From that time forward the two sem
ators were engaged in Joint debate
much of the time during the day. In
the course of his remarks. Mr., Aldrich,
while contending that manv prohibi-
tive tariffs were justified, said he never
had favored a prohibitive policy.
He predicted that in time the south
would become the greatest manufac-
turer of the finer grades of cotton goods.
( ar1x win FOR
| If even such should prove to be true,
| he would not favor any increase of the
| customs duties.
About the middle of the afternoon
| the senate reached its second vote,
which was on an amendn mt by Sena-
| tor Dolliver to strike out the commit
| tee provision fixing duty of ! cent
| square yard for the process of mercer
| ization. The amendment was lost by
| the unusually close vote of 80 to 3S. The
narrowing of the margin was, however,
owing to the absence of senators rather
than to the conversion of the progress
ives to the Aldrich standard.
Attitude Questioned
It was after this vote that Senator
| Aldrich found occasion again to chal-
| lenge the attitude of some of the Re-
publican senators who were contend
ing for lower duties.
| lie CHdTEeQ Ine1n WIN playing the
| part of brigadier for the Democrats,
and speaking of Senator Beveridge de-
clared he had associated with Demo-
| Gratis so long that he was adopting
their ideas He characterized Mr..
| Beveridge as the leader of the opposi-
| ton
Both Senators Beveridge and Cum
Minis replied, the former asserting that
he was standing on the Republican
platform, while the latter stated that
| he had so often been charged with be-
| ing a Democrat that the charge did not
worry him.
During the day Senator Smith of
Michigan found occasion to attack the
| position Of Secretary MacVeagh as the
mouthpiece of the administration on
the tariff situation.
He intimated that he did not con-
| slider the second member of the presi-
dents cabinet reliable leader on this
subject because of his former Demo-
cratic proclivities.
Gain Concession
The progressive Republicans gained
| a concession from the finance commit
| tee in the removal of rubber goods from
the cotton schedule, thus preventing
| the imposition of a duty on such goods
because of the cotton in them.
The senate resumed its work of re-
vising the tariff by sustaining the COM
mittee on finance in its recommended
tions by a vote of Al to 26, Senator Fos-
ter and Senator McEnery, as usual
voting with the majority, and nine Re
publicans voting with the Democrats.
This vote was taken on an amend
ment to levy duty of cents square
yard and 20 per cent ad valorem on
cotton window hollands.
This increase was opposed by Senator
Dolliver, who declared that practically
- l. l.. IL
country are of domestic manufacture
congress itself being one of the few
customers of the foreign article. as
shown by the shades hanging about the
senate.
Mr.. Aldrich responded that up to 1880
the duty was as now recommended byI
the committee, but said that under a
decision then rendered these articles
were placed under another rate of duty
Delivers Argument
Mr. Dolliver made his chief argument
against this increase after the adoption
of the amendment, as he said he "had
had sufficient experience in the cold
world to see that it was just as we'll to
throw light on the subject after the
event as before
The remark by Senator Beveridge
that he was 'inclined to support the
finance committee" then called forth
TIE SdItdSllC I6l6I6HCe Dy MT. Alulltu,
who suggested that the Indiana SEN
ator had not been so inclined when the
time had arrived to vote, and added
that "as time progresses he may be
allowed to vote with the committee
Insisting that senators should vote
according to their consciences the sem
ator from Indiana, looking straight into
the eyes of his colleague from Rhode
Island. said he greatly regretted that
he had seen At to make such a remark.
Meeting a criticism by Mr.. Beveridge
Mr.. Aldrich said he never had favored
a prohibitive tariff and did not want
one. Continuing he declared that the
south was as sure to manufacture the
| finer grades of cotton cloths "as the
future is sure to be here"
Attitude of Bacon
Reviewing the interests of his state
in the tariff bill Senator Bacon de-
| clared he was not in favor of the rais-
| ing of any of the custom duties.
Although the mills of his state make
some of the more expensive cotton
| goods he said the people there were
willing to depend upon their nearness
| to the cotton fields and other condi-
tions to uphold their ability to COM
| pete with others.
The credihility of importers as wit
/ the chief subject Of discussion when
Senator Dolliver opposed the specific
Continued on Page Threel