The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-01-18
TARIFF TINKERING.
The Senate Increases the Duty on Tin
Plate in Order, Allison Says, TO
Develop Tin Mining.
THE BOUNTY ON SUGAR.
The Question Of the Admission OF the
Territories Under Debate In the
House, but No Decided
Action.

WASHlN6ToN, Jan. lis-AUoDk tne Ollls
reported from committees and placed on
the calendar were the following: Granting
the right of way for railroad across the
Fort Pima military reservation, Arizona;
granting the Big Horn 4 Southern railroad
the right Of way across part OF the Crow
Indian reservation. Montana The senate
then resumed consideration OF the tarii
bill, the pending question being on the
amendment to the TIN plate paragraph.
The discussion was continued by Allison
and Vest.
The argument was carried on at great
length. On behalf OF the republicans the
argument was made that there was an
abundance OF tin in Dakota and other parts
OF the country, and an increased duty on
plate would develop the tin mines and pro
duce remunerative tin plate Industries.
On behalf OF the democrats IL was argued
the proposed Increase OF the duty ON tin
plate for the purpose OF establishing non
existent industry was dangerous aud ex
ceptional legislation. carrying protection
20 an extreme never before contemplated
by judicious minds.
sherman argued In favor OF the amend
ment, not so much as a matter OF protec.
ton OF tin as of the iron and steel plate in.
dustry. OF 2SS,000 tons OF tin plate annu-
ally Imported, full 275,vO0 tons consisted
OF iron and steel, the remaining eight tons
only being tin. Allison said the present
duty was about 50 per cent; the proposed
duty was about 20 per cent The debate
Plumb, German, Aldrlch, Mitchell and
Call. Finally the amendment was adopt.
ed-yeas 25, nays Is Drown voting aye).
IL fixes the duty on tin plates (taggers iron
or steel) when valued at cents per pound
OF less, thinner than No. 10 and not thin
ner than No. 20. wire gauge, at cent per
pound; on thinner plates at 1-l0, l0and
l 4-l0 cents per pound, and on corrugated
or crimped plates 2-l0 cents per pound
hoop (excepting tin plates) when galvan
lied or coated with zinc, spelter or Other
metal. threefourths cent per pound add
tional.
The amendment proposing q bounty on
sugar made from beet, sorghum or sugar
cane grown In the United States was then
! taken up.
| tion to all such bOunties, which he consid
cred the most Objectionable form OF pro
lection. The idea OF the government goinl
into partnership with any individual or sci
| OF individuals In order TO give them pecul.
lar advantages at the expense OF the large
body OF the people was relic OF absolute
| tyranny and utterly opposed 10 all free
popular government Allison In reply 10 Z
question Of Eustis asking why bounty
was proposed, said the object was 10 In
duce the production OF sugar In this coun
tryifrom beets, from sorghum and from
sugar cane. Eusus asked Allison
whether the proposed bounty OF ono ecu
per pound on sugar produced In this eoun.
try was not an Indirect contradiction OF the
ground taken by the finance committee fol
large reduction OF import duty, tha
ground being the known ascertained limi
| Of the sugar capacity OF the United States.
Allison did not consider the amendment ~
In any sense a change Of position on th,
part Of the committee. The sugar pro
| duced from sugar cane grown In th,
United States had not kept pace with th,
increase of population. Eustis asked
whether when the substitute was reported
the majority OF the finance committee was
not as well informed as 10 the sugar pro
ducing capacity of the United States as II
was when IL proposed bounty on sugar
| Allison said he did not know exactly wha
the senator from Louisiana meant BY tha
inquiry. He (Allis0n) had not kn0wI
quite as much on Oct. 8, when. the bill wa
reported, as he had known when he offered
the amendment. and he even confessed 70
| having received some valuable Information
| from a witness who had been before IN,
committee within the last few days. Glib
son asked Allison whether the COMMITTEES
had not heard OF the Increase OF rs per cent
| In the sugar cane growing area OF Louisi
| ana within the last three or four years
and OF an increase OF nearly 100 per cent In
| the yield from cane by improved methods
| A llison replied the committee had some
testimony In that line, but the COMMITTEES
had also learned there was no "diffusion'
plant In Louisiana except that erected b.
/ the government Of the United States; but
even with that diffusion process, as applied
10 sugar cane, Spreckels had disclosed te
the committee very clearly that he could
| beat that production b. the manufactur,
OF sugar from beets. While he admitted
that Louisiana had taken recent steps tt
improve the sugar making process largely
IL should be borne In mind, he SAID, tina
the Increase OF population and the increas
| OF consumption Of sugar per capita was 5,
| great $50, 600 600 pounds or sugar would b,
required TO supply that annual Increase o.
consumption. The state OF bouisianl
could not supply sugar 10 meet that In
crease, 10 say nothing of the 8,00O, 900, 90
pounds OF sugar now imported.
Vest limited nj 'the new light whicl
had broken In upon the finance committe
and "the political exigeney" which ha,
led 10 the reporting Of the amendment
| judgment, or that OF the committee on thi
matter had been controlled by any pol III
cal exigency." Sherman advocated tn,
Amendment. lie admitted there was
strong feeling In the country against
direct bounty for the protection OF any
thing, and yet such bounties as 10 salt an
fish and other matters have been supporte
| f..t
the country. He believed within ten year
sugar enough could be produced In thi
country TO supply the domestic market
He understood one sixth OF the entlr
weight OF beets could be converted int
sugar Was II not therefore, he asked,
desirable thing 20 encourage the beet sugs
Industry In the United States? IL was th
bounty paid for beet sugar In France an
Germany that had stimulated its enormou
production In those countries. Gibson ad
mitted the stimulating effort OF a direC
bounty In France and Germany, but argue
that a more powerful stlmulant might hav
been the duty OF not less than four cent
pound Imposed on Imported suga
sherman said he wished 10 see tn
experiment tried, not In the interest OF an
section. state or community, but In the II
terest OF the whole country. Eustis aske
the republican side OF the chamber whit
|
the substitute was framed on "the theory,
10 use Hiscock's expression, that il wa
( the duty Of the government regardless
lis needs or OF the conditions OF the Ia
payers, TO develop by protective legislatio
every American Industry. whether II w
hoary-headed In Its infancy or still In Il
womb" He wanted 10 know@f the repul
can majority In the senate proposed
kick the sugar interest OF Louisiana out
the national household and let II come
the national kitchen for crumbs Of bread.
Allison said Louisiana had grown stron
and vigorous under tariff trust" and hi
stood In with II and abided by II for sug
and sugar alone; but when propositis
was made that would reduce the price
sugar 10 the consumer one cent a pour
the senator from Louisiana answered IL
a denunclatlon OF the whole system.
fAlllson) declared IL would be better I
the people 10 pay for the who
sugar crop Of Louisiana and dump II
the gulf than keep up the existing duty
sugar. The tax took 80. 000, 600 out Of 1
pockets OF the people In order that /
sugar producers OF Louisiana might
ceiye one cent pound on the Infinite
/ mallV amall nfoD0Ftiou ~ auaar thau "a