The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-01-04
TaE TARIFF DEBATE
The Cotton Schedule still UpdsF ConsldsFa'
tion=ohsapsr Thread for the Sewing
Women.

.
Women.
WASHINGTON, D, O., Jan. SIN the
tariff debate in the Senate to-day, Mr.
Vest called attention to certain items in
paragraph SlS, but said he would not
offer any amendments or ask yea and
nay vote on them, but he would simply
remark that the duty on these items was
increased in order to exclude all foreign
competition as far as possible, so us to
enable the American cotton manufac-
turers to hold the market at whatever
price they see fit to impose, He moved
however, to amend paragraph Sl4, re-
lahng to spool thread of cotton by strik,
ing out "seyen cents per dozen spools"
and inserting 40 per cent adyalorem,
He quoted from statements Of spool cot
ton manufacturers, ]. P, Coates, Clark
and others before the tariff commission
in 1882, and before the Ways and Means
Committee in 1884, to show that they
asked less rate OF protection in 1854
than in 1882.
Mr.. Hawley said he did not under.
stand why tile Senator from Missouri
was criticising spool thread manu-,
iacturers for their willingness to accept
a lower late, lIe did not understand
that they were now asking any change
ID the existing law,
Mr.. Vest suggested that there was a
good deal OF money for them In the ex'
iRting law, He proceeded to critlcise
tile statement OF u cotton thread manu-.
facturer, Mr.. Ferguson, before the Ways
and Means Committee OF the House to
the effect that the poor sewing women
OF the United States were benefited by
the superior quality Of American thread,
and he contrasted his statement with ex-
tracts from Helen Campbell's hook
describing the condition OF the sewing
women OF the city Of New York,
AN ATTACK ON wANAMARGR.
Mr.. Mcpherson characterized the duty
on spool cotton as an attack on labor,
and he read from the affidavit Of sew.
ing woman in Atlantic county, N, j.,
Mrs, Ellen Strickland, showing that she
worked for a Philadelphia firm, which
he would not name lest 1t might inter-
iere with the construction OF the new
Cabinet; that for common shirts she re-
ceived thirty.fvo cents per dozeni that
quick needle woman working from 7
o'clock u. IN. till 10 p. m, might bc able
to make a dozen such shirts, but no
more; that she was engaged in making
fine shirts at 81 per dozen; that the
greatest number OF such shirts that she
can make from 7 o'clock a. m. till 10 p. III.
is six that she has to supply her own
thread and TO pay expressage one way,
and that therefore her entire remuera-
tion for two days work ls but seventy
five cents, while the manufacturer had
the benefit OF 40 per cent on such shirts.
Mr.. AldriCh asked Mr.. MCPHERSON
what rate lie would propose on cotton
thread.
MrNMcPheHon-I am voting with the
Senator from Missouri (AIr. Vest to re-.
duce it from the high plane on which it
is placed by the Senator from Rhode
Island aud his associates.
After further discussion the amend.
ment was rejected yeas IS, nays2l.
Mr.. Pugi proceeded to address the
Senate in d set speech on tho tariff. In
concluding his remarks lie adverted to
the question OF race supremacy In the
South, and said that as to that there
could be no concession or no Gompro.
mise among whito people. Whoever
was tile friend Il the white race in re.
gard TO supremacy in government was
Ills friend, Irrespective Of politics, aud
whoever was the enemy OF the white
race on questions involving race supre.
macy was his enemy.
The Senate having disposed Of three
and halt pages Of the bill to-day, ad
ionrned.