The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-20
KNIVES, GUNS AND RICE.
THE SENATE FIXING UP THE DUTY
ON THE THREE ARTICLES.

Keep Out Cheap Foreign Firearms
Senator Brown Fights the Proposed
Cut in the Rice Schedule.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.-The Senate, at
II 30 o'clock to-day, resumed consideration
of the tariff bill and took up tho sugar
schedule (E) and no amendments were
offered.
Paragraph Is, as to penknives and razors
was then taken up, the question being on
the amendment reported to it on Jan. 12.
Mr. Vest opposed tho amendment and
said he would coutine himself TO the prac-
ticAl points involved as the Senate must
hav become wearied with political disspa-
tion and of discussion OF northern and
southern outrages which were about as old
as the capitol. He hoped that other sena-
tors would do likewise
Mr.. Allison said he fully concurred in
that sentiment
Mr.. Vest compared the rates of duty in
the present law with tho rates in
the Senate substitute and the rates in the
peuding amendment, IN order to prove lat
on the lower grades, which constituted 90
per cent Of the operations, the duty WAS
increased both IN the substitute and the
amendment largely out Of proportion to the
increase on the more expensive grade.
hkANDhD WITH A FABShHlOD.
Mr.. Vance read somo testimony taken
before himself and Mr. Vest TO the offset
that pocket and table knives were made in
Connecticut and stamped with Erg ish
Trademarks
Mr. Patt denied the statement, and said
that the only truth about it was that five or
SIX years ago one cutlery manufacturing
establishment had, at the request Of dealers,
branded their knives Sheffield Knife Co,
England but it had existed only for a
short period, and had been entirely di5con-
tinued. 1t was wrong then aud was wrong
now.
Mr.. Vest quoted from tfie testimony Of
MessrS. Thorne and Saxton before himself
and Mr.. Vance, showing how extensively
the fraud Is practiced by American cutlery
manufacturers of initiating English trade.
marks.
Mr. Platt said that those false trade marks
were not put on American goods, but on
German goods.
LOSING BUSINESS.
He gave statistics of the decrease Of the
business since 1888 Not n single company
or firm, he said, manufacturing pocket cut
lery, had made anything more than ex-
penses during the past year; and
no dividends had been declared.
Half the concerts had failed
since 1888 Mono Of them had made any
money. The importation of pocket cutlory
was increasing rapidly, and American pro-
duction Of cutlery was diminishing rapidly,
so that there must be nm increase Of the
existing duty, or the business In the United
States must be stopped.
MIR. CALL LAYS DOWN THE LAW.
Mr.. Call discussed the protection system
from constitutional aud historical point
OF view. He admitted the right of congress
t. enact moderate bills, and to allow mod
crate bounties, but he argued that the inn
position Of extravagant rates Of duty, or
the payment of undue bounties was not
only uuWise and inconsistent with the gen
eral prosperity, but was consistent with the
building up OF an aristucracy OF wealth, as
much so as If by law certain privileges were
madeshereditary in certain families.
During Mr.. Calls argument a message
was recelyed from the House announcing
the passage of the bill for tho admission of
South Dakota, with amendmenus. The bill
and amendment were referred to the COM
mittee on territories.
Finally the discussion was closed and the
amendment was agreed TO without division
Mr. Vance moved TO add IA proviso that
no article mentioned In paragraphs IN or
l73 las TO table knives) should pay higher
ad valorem rate than 65 per cent; The mo-
tion was negatived by vote Of 10 yeas TO
% nays, Mr.. Brown voting yea.
THE RATE ON TABLE KNIVES.
Paragraph 172 was amended so as TO make
the rate on table knives valued at not more
than 81 per dozen ID cents per dozen, in
stead Of 20 cents.
On motion of Mr.. Allison, the gun para
graph (lSl) was amended by making the tax
on guns valued at not more than SO each,
81; valued at more than So and not more
than Sl2 each, s4 valued a. more than S12
ah nd in uIN
cent. ad valorem, making the tax on single
barrel breech-loading shot guns 81 35 per
cent. ad valorem, and on revolving pistols
valued at not more than 81 80 each 40 cents,
and valued at more than 81 80 each 81, with
30 per cent al valorem in addition
Parag aph 2S9, as 30 salt, was read, and
no amendment was offered
RICE DUTIES.
Paragraph 2S7, as TO rice, was read, and
Mr.. Brown moved 70 amend IL by making
tho rates on rice cleaned 2k cents per
pound; rice uncleaned, 15 cents paddy II
cents, ana broken rice or rice -four 20 per
cent. ad valorem instead OF cent, u cent
and "a cent (ol tho last two grades IN tho
substitute), as proposed. He spoke IN sup
port Of his amendment, and said that be
was not protectionist per SO, but favored
modified protection. Tea and coffee should
be where they are ION the free list, but
WOOL huu COLJOn taDflrH Ougnt 10 nave
sufficient protection. There we're irfant in
dustrios In the south which would be in
jured by the repeal of the tariff duties.
Rice, as cultivated by free labor. was one
of these young industries which could not
be maintained without protection. The
rates under the existing law we're the same
as proposed in his amendment.
EXTENT or THE REDUCTION.
The Mills bill proposed 10 reduce those
rates 70 cents, 4 cents and cent. and 10
10 per cont adya,orem. Tue Senate substi-
tute proposed further reduction. But The
rice planters agreed that IL required a rate
Of 4 cents per pound on cleaned rice % In
sure tho rice crop, and that that contained
no estimate for interest on the Investment
The rates IN the substitute would give an
advantage Of / cent per pound to the Inn
porter OF Aslatic and Hawaiian rice. Labor
(which constituted 70 per cent. of the cost
Of producing rice) was fourteen times higher
IN the United States than in CLina. He
therefore favored higher rates, and hoped
that his ameudment would be agreed to.
Mr. Brown ION account II i'll heaith) occu-
pied his seat while reading his speech.
Mr.. Adrich spoke OF the difference Of
opinion between Mr.. Brown and Mr.. But
Ter each representing rice states), the form.r
insisting on the necessity Of increased pro-
lection 10 rice, and the latter having told
the Seaate few days ago that there was
no necessity for any DUTY on rice. As the
senator from South Carolina was not pres-
ent he suggested that the rice paragraph
70 over for the present. IL was SO ordered.