The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-21
The California Delegation Have
Their Say.
haStsrly Effort Of MGKenna in Support
Of His Amendment
Morrow Also Makes a Strong Argument in
Favor Of It-Defeated by
Close Vote.


special by the California Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, May 20.-At II o'clock the
House In Committee of the Whole resumed
consideration of the Tariff Bill.
Amendments reducing the duty on cotton
ties were defeated.
The sugar schedule came up and debate
was limited to two hours and a quarter.
McKenna then took the floor and made
splendid speech in support of his position.
he had the attention Of the whole House,
and the galleries were crowded. He spoke
for nearly half an hour The subject was
treated very scholarly and his points were
clearly enumerated. He frequently received
ontbursts of applause He explained that his
amendment providing for a reduction of
about 80 per cent on sugar over the present
law, was lower duty than under the Mills
bill. lie said that the Tariff Bill as whole
was brave, but the sugar schedule could not
be justified upon the principle upon which
the bill was based. The Ways and Means
Committee should pause and consider what
II was doing. Is not sugar as capable of
being produced as tin plate or wool ? The
committees report grudgingly conceded
this. but in mysterious way sugar is taxed
more than ever. He expressed belief in
general protective system. 1t raised the
workingman above the dead level of toll.
"Shall we now whimper and.whne about
reduction to the extent of our wants? What
is the use of this reduction unless it is
cheaper reduction? Wool is not produced
to the extent of our wants, and when win it
be2 If the committee is right, duty is
charge upon the consumer. Paint an inch
thick, to this complexion you must come
quickly. You can get no good from make
shifts. Sugar to-day is at q reasonable
price, yet-at the same time large revenue
without "a sensible burden to the people is
derived. Sugar is cheaper in the United
States than In any other country eX-
cept England. Is bounty protec-
ton? No; it is simply parasite
on the treasury, beggar upon the
Government, and creates suspicion and fur
nlshes spies on sugar manufacturers. II
bounty encourages American industry and
at the same time decreases the cost to the
consumer, why not apply it to all commodi-
ties, to wool and tin plate [great applause
on the Democratic sidel; it would shine
with as much luster to the credit of
the Republican party. They could
workngman sitting down to cheap
breakfast in a cheap suit Of clothes Demo
cratic applause] and not pay the bounty
of S22UoO,00O to wool-Growers, which
sommittee is right, the tariff is not
burden to the consumer. But it is so in
direct as to be uufelt. Like a race-horse
rider, he does not burden the animal, but Of
lers announcement and stimulus to toward
victory In the race. Applause. Repub-
licans to the Democrats: NOW, why don't
you applaud ?'
Speaking further, McKenna described the
great beet-sugar industry of California. 1t
was too great to be Disseminated against.
Ii was great in France and would be great
all over the United States unless discrim-
mated against.
Butterworth asked if McKenna's amend
ment protected or only encouraged"
sugar -refiners
McKenna answered that it protected and
encouraged them. To what extent should
be shown by the testimony before the Ways
and Means Committee.
Morrow then made most logical and
convincing speech, showing from the Ways
| and Means Committees report that the re-
| duction proposed by the bill of S71, ,O01, eco
| was based upon an estimated surplus of
| S43,O0O0O0 for the year lS90-91; but also
| showed from the Appropriation Bill for the
| present year that no such surplus would
| exist at the end of the year 1891. He showed
also that eleven out of fourteen appropria-
| tion bills that have been reported to the
| House and that have proceeded to various
| stages OF consideration increase the ap-
| propriatlons S55.o00,000 over the year 1889
80. The increase is mainly in the Pensions,
| River and Harbur Postotfice and Fortifica-
| tions bills. Assuming that there will be
no further increase in the appropriations
| or those yet to be reported, there will thus
| be deficiency of Sl3,000,000 at the end of
the year 1891, to be paid out Of the surplus
! in the Treasury.
"But this is not all. Either the Service or
Dependent Pension Bill will certainly pass,
| carrying an annual expenditure of not less
| than $4,000, 600. This increase will exhaust
! all the surplus based upon the revenues, in-
! Guiding the present tariff on sugar. There
| lore, III VIII be Impossible to withdraw the
revenue on sugar. If sugar is placed on the
| Tree list there must be u corresponding re-
! ductlon IN expenditures either in pensions,
| naval constructions or river and harbor i'm
provements. | therefore support my col
Leagues amendment making the reduction
| OF revenue only about $50 600 000."
| The vote on Mckenna's amendment re-
suted-ayes 1l5, noes 135.
The entire California delegation voted for
| the amendment
The amendment proposed by Stewart
placing bounty on maple sugar was re-
| jected.
Hrlman's amendment striking out the
| bounty feature, but making sugar free was
| rejected; ayes sc, noes 1873.
Biggs voted aye and Vandever no. The
| other Californians did not vote on this
amendment
| Numerous other amendments to the sugar
| schedule were proposed but all were re-
| jected.
The following amendments by Mckinley
were adopted: Reducing the duty on gran
lite and other stones, except marble; re-
ducing the rate on Photographic paper, not
albumenized; changing the duty OH gloves
from ad valorem to specific; admitting all
fresh-water fish and foreign fish. ex-
cept salmon, free of duty; rcduc-
Ing the rate of duty ON skotguns
below Sl2 in value, on pistols and fixing
the duty on bristles at ten cents pound
| liking tax of five cents a gallon ON alco-
| hol distilled by vinegar manufacture under
| the internal revenue laws
Several other amendments of minor i'm
| portance were adopted and the House ad-
| iOurned at IL 40 o'clnek