Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-20
Senator Vest Wants an Explanation Of
Spooner's Amendment to the
Tin Plate Schedule.
SHEET IRON RATES MAINTAINED.
Giving Foreign Capitalists an Opportunity
to Invest in American Mining
Property.
FRIENDS OF FARMERS MAKE THREATS.
A Compromise Effected in Favor Of the River and
Harbor Bill

WASHINGTON, August 19.-The Senate
spent the dav in considering the tariff bill,
the pending question being Mr.. Pluub's
amendment reducing the duty on tin plate
from 2-10 cents to cent a pound, and al
lowing bounty of cent pound on Amer
lean tin plate.
Mr.. Faulkner asked for division of the
question. The presiding officer approved
the point, and decided that the reduction OF
the duty had already been voted down, and
the question was upon the bounty clause.
This did not suit Mr.. Plumb, so he with
drew his amendment, with the understand
ing that he would again present it.
Mr.. Mcpherson offered an amendment,
the effect being to place tin plate on the
free list, but it was rejected.
Mr.. Spooner offered an amendment pro-
viding that after the first of October, 1896,
tin plates lighter in weight than 63 pounds
per hundred square feet, shall be admitted
free of duty, unless it shall appear to the
President that the aggregate quantity of
such plates produced in the United States
during any of the five years preceding has
equalled one-third of the quantity imported
and entered for consumption in that year.
AN ADDITIONAL TERROR.
Mr. Vest said that be was disposed to sup
port that amendment. If the outrage in
tended by the bill were to be mitigated,
even in 1896, it would be better than to
accept the proposition of the Finance Com
mittee with the notification that an addi-
tional terror was to be supplied in duty
OF 4 cents pound on block tin. 1t was
we'll known, Mr.. Vest said, what influence
had operated on the Finance Committee in
I,r&- e &c
pound on block tin. 1t was the necessity
of having the votes in favor of the bill of
the Senators from the two Dakotas.
Mr.. Spooner said he wanted to encourage
the tin plate manufacturer in the United
States. He believed in the industrial indie
pendence of this country so far as that could
be brought about If by the imposition Of
increased duty all the tin plates used here
could be manufactured here, no matter If
during the time being higher prices were
paid for it, the people of the United States
would be Independent of foreign producers
and the price be brought down.
Mr.. Aldrich gave his adhesion to Mr..
Spooner's amendment as being a require
ment that American manufacturers shall
give proof of their good faith In the matter,
and he had no doubt that the American pro-
ducer of tin plate would manufacture
within the five years a very much larger
proportion of that article than one-third.
AFRAID OF THE GREEKS.
Mr.. Vest said that since he had heard the
explanation of the Senator from Wisconsin,
and especially since he had heard what had
been said by the Senator from Rhode Island,
he wanted some one to examine the amend
ment "He fears the Greeks even when
they were bearing gifts"
Mr.. Spooner's amendment went over till |
- 4la
bill. Paragraph 13S, page a. 1t refers |
to sheet iron or sheet steel, polished, plan
ished or glanced, taxing it 21<c pound,
and 10 taggers iron, taxing it Nc per pound
additional.
Mr.. Mcpherson moved to reduce those
rates to &c and 1-10c respectively. Re-
jected without a division. No further
amendment was offered to paragraph 13S.
Paragraph 139, referring to tin plates,
terne plates and taggers tin, and paragraph
lao, referring to steel ingots, were agreed to
with the committee amendments.
Paragraph 141, page 81, was then taken
up. 1t refers to wire rods. An amend
ment offered by Mr.. Vest was srejected-yeas,
%; nays, q, Messrs. Paddock and Plumb
voting with the Democrats.
Paragraph 142, taxing wire made of iron
or steel. having been reached, Mr.. McPher-
son moved to reduce the rates fixed in the
bill on four sizes one-quarter cent per
pound.
M'PHERsoN's LITTLE SPEECH.
Mr.. Mcpherson, in a tone of irony, said
that he did not hold the Finance Committee
responsible for the bill. The committee
had had little or nothing to do with its
makeup. 1t had been made up by the
benefciaries themselves, and had been
handed to the committee for the purpose of
= - al dafo
it before the Senate.
"There is not a particle of truth (Mr.
Aldrich interposed somewhat Indignantly
in that statement with reference to any
paragraph in the bill" +"
"It is a well known fact" Mr.. McPher-
son rejoined, that none but manufacturers
had any chance to appear before the COM
mittee. The Senator from Rhode Island has
my sympathy, as three of his colleagues on
the committee have deserted him. to-day
only one of his colleagues (Mr. Hiscock)
being present and he is speechless."
Mr.. McPherson's amendment was re-
jected-yeas, II; nays, q. Other amend
ments were offered and rejected.
DEFENDING THE TARIFF.
Mr.. Cullom made a strong speech in
favor of The protective tariff system. The
foundation of every Democratic or free
assumption contained in President Cleve-
lands famous message, that tariff laws
raised the price to consumers of all articles
imported by precisely the sum paid for
duty thereon. If the declaration is not
true then the whole free trade structure
falls to the ground. The history of the
country, said Mr.. Cullom, shows conclusively
that the effect of protection has
been to- reduce prices There is
nothing consumed by the farmers
of this country which is not cheaper
under the protective system than under
tariffs for revenue only, or free trade, except
those articles which, Tor physical reasons,
cannot be manufactured in this country.
Upon the subject of agricultural products
the prices were largely fixed by supply and
demand. The important fact for the farmer
is to know that he can find market for his
product somewhere, and the nearer home the
better. Plenty of work and good wages can
not be secured if our mills and factories are
not protected, thereby making that home
market which the farmer needs. Free raw
materials means free trade all along the line,
he said, and that means fewer consumers and
more producers.
Further action on the hill ,ras than INST.