Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1894 — FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.

The Senate. Tuesday, was very dull. At 12:15 a messenger from the House was announced and informed the Senate that the House had passed the bills placing coal, iron ore, barbed wire and sugar on the free list, in which it asked the concurrence of the Senate. The bills were received and read. Senator Manderson Objected to the second reading. and-Sen - ator Hill gave notice of amendments repealing all income taxes. Mr. Hale introduced a resolution for the printing of five thousand copies of House bill No. 4864, known as the sugar tariff bill. Resolutions for the Investigation of the Dominion Coal Company, of Nova Scotia, and for the investigation of the recent elections in Alabama were called up but went over. At 2:10 the Senate adjourned. The House was not in session Tuesday. In the Senate, Wednesday, the House jbllls placing coal, iron ore and barbed wire on the free list were placed on the Second reading. Mr. Berry called up the Tree sugar bill. Mr. Harris said an early report would be made by the committee. Mr. Vest resumed his speech on Mr. Harris’ motion to refer the free sugar and other bills to the finance committee. He said it meant the death of the bills, as the committee was now politically a tie with the prospect of disappearance of a quorum within a few days. Ho declared the position of the Senate on the tariff had been vindicated by the letter of Secretary Carlisle, which proved conclusively that if the House bill had been enacted it would have caused a deficiency of $30,000,009. Mr. Vest then proceeded with his description of the difficulties in connection with the adjustment of a sugar schedule. Under the Wilson bill, as reported to the House from the committee, jt contained a duty and bounty. When it was in the House free sugar was inserted. The finance committee prepared a bill which gave no differential benefits to the trust. "And yet,” said Mr. Vest with bitterness, “they call us tho creatures of the sugar trust.” The Senator paused for a moment, and then added with intense earnestness: “Liars, slanders, infamous slanderers'.” Toward the close of his speech Mr. Vest said: Recurring again to an unpleasant subject, I hope for tho last time. I wish to say I have no quarrel with the President of the United States. I made no attack upon the President of the United States. The Senator from New York (Mr. Hill)did me an injustice when he put me in the roll of the envious L'asca who stabbed Caesar at the foot of Pompey’s statue. I simply defended the motives of myself and ny colleagues upon tho finance committee against the imputations in the President’s letter. I have nothing to complain of on the part of the President. lam ready to follow him now, as the old Scotch folI lowed the banner of Bruce when ho fought for country and home. I tight for no man.

I fight for principle, my party and my country. Men pass away like clouds from the evening sky, but principle must live forever. Sir, when any man living -accuses me of personal motives in what 1. have done in Connection with this bill—but my connectton with ft is now ended— I simply answer htojß Marmion to Douglass: “Lord Angus. thou hast lied.'.’ Mr. Mills and Mr. Vilas both made speeches which reflected on Mr. Vest and indorsed the course of the President. Efforts to reach an executive session failed and at 5 o’clock the Senate adjourned. In the Senate, Thursday, the contesl over the free sugar bill was resumed. Mr. Hill’s bill for the exclusion of alien anarchists was passed unanimously. Without debate the motion to refer the free sugar bill to the committee bn finance was passed—32 to 18. In quick succession the other three bills were also sent to the committee on finance. On the motion tr refer the free coal bill the vote was 35 tc 17; on the free iron ore bill 37 to 17, The free barbed wire bill was referred without division. The negative votes in bdth cases were the same as on the free coal bill. There were but few members present in the House, Thursday. The Senate bill foi _thc of anarchists was received and referred to the committee on judictary. Bill to repeal free alcohol clause in the tariffbill was passed. At 4:45 p, m. the House adjourned until Monday. At the opening of the Senate session. Friday, an attempt by Demecrats to fill the vacancy on the finance committee caused quite a breeze. Mr. Harris moved that Senator White, of California, be appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Vance, ol North Carolina. Mr. Chandler objected. Mr. Harris declared hotly that it was with profound astonishment that he had heard an objection from the other side. In the eighteen years he had been a member of the body, no matter what party was in power, the majority has named at will the members, of the several committees of the Senate and no voice was ever heard in objection. The course of, Mr. Chandler he condemned as the most revolutionary of revolutionary suggestions, and it was received by him with such astonishment that he confessed he could hardly restrain himself. Then Mr. Hill got the floor and plunged immediately into a criticism of the legislation which the filling of the vacancy was designed to expedite. So far as the bills placing coal, iron ore and sugar on the free list were concerned, he had voted, h'e said, for them when they were legitimately before the Senate and he was not trying to escape from his record now. Hh said he stood ready to vote again to place them on the free list. Mr. Harris then put his motionjn the form of a resolution and asked that it be allowed to go over. The resolution finally went over under the rules.