Mr. SUMNER. I shall not follow the Senfrom Connecticut in the illustration which he has introduced from saltpeter; but I ask the attention of the Senate directly to the question of nickel. There I am with my friendfrom NewJersey in the motion that he has made: and it seems to me that the Senfrom Connecticut founded his argument I say it with entire respect, of course on an exag geration of the consequence that would ensue from the adoption of this motion. He set before us the large amount of German plated silver ware manufactured in Connecticut and asked us whether we would discontinue that manufacture. To that I answer at once clearly, no, I would not; and I would not give a vote that, as I understood it, would have any such consequence. But what would be the result of the motion now before us on this plated ware? In order to understand what that result must be you must see to what extent nickel enters into plated ware. Why, sir, would you believe it, after listening to the address of the Senfrom Connecticut, the nickel that enters into finished plated ware is so small that the plated ware when finished averages about 30 or 40 times the nickel consumed. You see, therefore, how infinitesimal, I may almost say, the nickel is which is introduced as a compo nent part into the German plated ware; and yet, according to the argument of the Senator upon the increased duty on that infinitesimal quantity of nickel, is going to break up this whole business of Connecticut to the amount of $3,000,000. It seems to me the statement of the Senator is too strong; it overdoes itself; it cannot be accepted. Suppose the proposition is adopted which is now before you, as I understand it it would amount to simply a duty of 35%. That is not so high as the average of the duties we are imposing. And if you go still further and see what that would old in the way of tax on the German silver ware you find that it would be only 3 quarters of 1%. Now, 3 quarters of 1%., is to be added to the cost of this German silver ware; and according to the argument of the Senator under that addition this great interest of $3,000,000 in Connecticut is to sink! I cannot accept the conclusion. It seems to me that the proposition of the Senfrom NewJersey is reasonable. It is tIo a certain extent in harmony with the bill. am not, however, one who thinks that the bill has much harmony in it; but so far as I understand it, it is in harmony with the bill, and I believe it would have a good influence on an interest which I should be sorry to see starved out, and if this proposition be not adopted, iIt fear will be starved out.