The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-07
METALS AND THE TARIFF
DEMOCRATIC SENATORS SMITE
THE ENEMY SEVERELY.

The Present Duty on Beams, Girders
and Joists Equivalent to an Ad
Valorem Rate of 1o275 Per Cent
The Mills Bill Cuts 1t to 40 80 and
the Senate Bill Only to eo.42 Per
Cent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The Senate, at 1 :o5
O'Clock this afternoon, resumed considera-
tion of the tariff bill. beginning with sched-
ule "B," which covers earthenware and
glassware. Messrs. Hoar and Mcpherson
each reserved the right to offer some
amendments, hereafter, to the glass and
pottery items. No amendment, except as
to formal changes Of phraseology, was
made to schedule "B," and the Senate pro-
ceeded to consideration of schedule &C" re-
lating to metals
Mr.. Plumb called attention to the para
graph as to beams, girders and jOists; spoke
of the iron and steel combinations III this
country, and instanced the cases of the gov
ernment building at Wichita, Kan. (which
had effected large saving by contracting
for such work abroad, ard of the state
house of Texas, where the saving, he had
been informed, amounted to 100000. He
moved to amend by reducing the rate from
tenths of cent.
THE EXISTING DUTY.
Mr.. Harris called attention to the fact
that the existing duty tn ose articles was
equivalent to an ad valore m rate of 102. Is
per ce t.; that the rate of six-tenths cent
per pound proposed in the House bill, was
equivalent to 49.32 per cent, and that the
rate proposed in the Senate substitute was
equivalent to &c. 40 per cent. He moved to
amend the amendment by fixing the rate
at six-tenths of a cent per pound.
Mr.. Allison opposed Mr.. Harris amend
ment, saying that it went to the root of the
whole iron and steel schedule. He had no
doubt that, if the present rate Of duty were
maintained, competition would be sufficient
in very short time, to break down prices.
MIR. Aldrich also opposed MIR. Harris
amendme t, and remarked tha' if there
was any one item in the House bill more in
dispensable than any other, it was the rate
of six-tenths of a cent per pound On struct-
ural forms of iron and steel
WHAT ITS ADOPTION ENTAILED.
The adoption of the amendment would
necessarily inv I've the recommittal of the
bill or its amendment. 1t would certainly
be an abandonment of the protective feature
OF the bill. Tue prices of structural forms
of iron and steel we're not excessive now,
and the state of affairs t which the Sc ator
from Kansas referred related to some years
back.
Mr. Harris asked whether the senator's
from Iowa and Rhode Island were prepared
TO maintain that duty of over 80 per ceut.
as necessary TO enable people in this coun-
try to convert blooms and billets into joists
and beams.
Mr.. Reagan advocated the amendment.
The people of the United States, be said,
were interested III being rescued from the
grasp and oppression of monopolists, but
the Senate substitute aided the monopllists.
The discussion was continued by Messrs.
Aldrich, Harris, Hoar, Butler, Plumb and
Payne; but no vote was taken on pending
amendments, and the bill was laid aside,
the progress during the day being about
eight pages.
The Senate adjourned because Mr.. Vance
could not be present to pr pose amendments
to the tariff bill Measu"ab progress was
made. Neither the republicans nor he
democrats take much interest, apparently,
in the bill, Messrs. Allison and Aldrich ex-
cep ed. There is no expectation on either
side that anything will come Of it.