The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-29
FIXING THE MILLS BILL
AN ATTEMPT TO LEAVE COTTON
BAGGING AS IT IS.

~ I ellS III Gu0 SduCuS Dub VIII DC
Repeated in the House-Works Of
Art Taken From the Free List and
the Present Duties Restored.
WASHINGTON, May 2S.-The Democratic
caucus reassembled at o'clock this evening,
with rather slim attendance. Mr.. Ran
dali was present, but Speaker Carlisle was
not in the chamber, nor was Mr.. Cox,
chairman of the caucus. Mr.. McCreary, of
Kentucky, presided. The greatest secrecy
was maintained as to the caucus proceed
ipgs, the resolution of non-iuformation
adopted Saturday evening being more
strictly observed than on the pre-
vious occasion. Various doorkeepers were
detailed to parade the halls to discover
whether an ubiquitous reporter could over
hear the proceedings of the caucus, and
every effort was made to keep supreme
silence. The first few minutes of the caucus
were spent in discussing the cotton schedule,
Mr.. Bliss, of New York, advocating the
amendment that the duty on cotton bagging
be fixed at &c. a yard, instead of Is per
cent. ad valorem, as proposed in the bill.
The amendment was rejected, and Mr.. Bliss
announced his intention of pressing his
amendment in the house.
WORKS OF Arm.
The question of the duty which should
be placed upon works of art was next taken
up for consideration. Mr.. Chapman, of
Michigan, opposed the provision Of the bill
which provides that such articles shall be
admitted free of duty. His speech which
provoked much applause, was devoted to
consideration as to how the agricultural
interests of the country would view the
action of Democratic House in placing
luxurieS upon the free list.
Mr.. Belmont. of New York, made an
earnest plea for the retention of works of
art on the free list, but his appeal proved
unavailing, and, upon motion of Mr.
Holman, of Indiana, works of art were
stricken from the free list and the present
duty retained.
NO METHOD IN THEIR MADNESS
After the adoption of this motion there
did not seom to be much method exhibited
in the treatment of amendments, which
were not considered in the order in which
they were intended for insertion in the bill
but, rather according to the preferences and
wishes of individual members. Nearly all
of these members were prone to explain at
length the necessity which impelled them to
offer the amendments, with the result that
rapid progress was not made toward con-
clusion. After a discursive debate
had run on for two hours, the
members of the Ways and Means Commit
tee made a determined effort to save the
bill from further tinkering, and arguments
were made in which attention was called to
the danger of pursuing further the policy
overlooking the bill with amendments
Finally these views crystalized in a propo-
sition that the preceding caucus action be
disregarded and that a vote be taken
IN Whnln ac
it came from the committee. This
excited the ire of all of the members
who had been lucky enough to secure the
adoption of their amendments, as well as of
those who hoped to be as well treated, so
that after lively debate the proposition
was withdrawn.
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
Mr. Stone, of Kentucky. made an effort
to have agricultural implements placed on
the free list, but his amendment was re-
iected. In fact at this stage it tecame ap-
parent that the preceding debate had not
been without effect, and more de-
termined opposition was shown
toward amendments encroaching upon
the salient features of the bill The
debate was limited to two minutes on each
amendment, and better progress was made,
amendment after amendment being voted
down.
AS a concession to Messrs Thompson and
Biggs, the California members, the duty on
prunes and plums was restored to the exist
ing figures. 1c. per pound, but the duty on
raisins was not changed, remaining at nc
per pound.
THE DUTY ON TYPE.
Mr.. Heard, of Missouri, secured the
adoption of an amendment reducing the
duty on new type from % to 10 per cent,
after explaining that type manufacturers
had already secured free admission Of old
type, which was nothing but material for
new type, and the Mills bill proposed to
reduce the duty on type metal from
20 to 10 per cent, thus virtually doubling
the protection afforded to typemakers and
discriminating against small publishers.
To meet the criticisms of the Republicans
upon the coal and iron ore sections, to the
effect that the bill would admit of free
entry of these articles, the language of the
paragraphs was changed so as to forbid any
such construction.
The wool and wooden schedules of the bill
have been left as they came from the COM
mlttee
Kaolin and pottery clays were taken
from the free list and restored to their old
duties, but the duties on pottery were left
to be fixed at the next caucus.
The Michigan interests of salt and salt
machinery was likewise left open for future
action.
The dE>y on wood screws, fixed by the
bill at 80 per cent. ad volorem, was increased,
but not to the full existing rates
There was considerable discussion over
the paragraph relating to lead, but without
final action the caucus adjourned until
next Wednesday.
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