The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-17
TARIFF DEBATE.

Amendment of tho Olive Oil and Opium
Schedules.
WASHINGTON, May 16.-In the senate
today Aliens resolution calling upon
the secretary of the treasury for infor-
nation as to the number Of persons d.
rectly affected by protective duties and
by competition with foreign laborers in
the United States was discussed until
IL o'clock, when the tariff bill was
taken up.
Jones having moved to increase the
duty on linseed, fax seed and poppy
seed oil to 20 cents, Gallinger announced
that he was able to give a history of
American legislation on tariff since the
landing of the pilgrims fathers. He
read from manuscript until 2 p. M,
when, saying he had brought the story
down to 1916, he gave way to Du Bots,
who delivered a carefully prepared
speech in favor of protection and BIZ
metalliem.
That portion of Mr.. Du Bois' speech,
demanding immediate action upon the
pending bill, either it's passage or it's
defeat, as the quickest means of restor-
ing, at least temporarily, commercial
prosperity, created some sensation as
indicating the position of the far western
senators. 1t did not precipitate contro-
versy, however.
The Jones amendment, making the
rate of duty on faxseed, etc., 20 cents,
was then agreed to.
The rate OF olive oil, reduced in the
original senate bill to % per cent, was
restored to So cents per gallon, the
house rate, and the house rate on pep
permint oil, % per cent, was also re-.
stored.
Perkins OF California thanked Jones
for restoring the duty on olive oil.
In the next paragraph, opium extracts
for medicinal purposes, the house rate
was % per cent. The senate amend
ment made it 20 per cent. The latter
was adopted, too.
The next Jones amendment was to
place crude opium, not adulterated, con-
tanning per cent or over Of merphia,
dutiable at 81 per pound in the house
bill. on the free list.
Palmer demanded an explanation. He
said he would like to see this damnable
drug absolutely excluded.
Jones replied that this was unmsnu-
featured opium, designed for msnufac-
ture for medicinal purposes. The duty
on smoking opium was placed at Sc.
Sherman criticised the reduction of
the duty ON opium prepared for smoking
from $12 to Sc per pound. He agreed
with Palmer that this drug should be
prohibited, and would vote for any rate.
Mitchell of Oregon declared that to
prevent smuggling the duty should be
either reduced or its importation abso-
lutely prohibited.
Vest said the duty had been reduced
at the suggestion of the treasury depart
ment. The officials along the Pacific
coast all believed reduction OF the duty
reducing the premium on smuggling
would tend to break up that practice
and would furnish the government a
larger revenue. With such a coast line
it was impossible to prevent smuggling
of the stuff.
White of California testified to the
truth OF the impossibility of collecting
the duty on opium as long as it remained
at $12. Smuggling had beco me 30 COM
mon that opium was offered for sale on
the streets OF San Francisco ct about 81
q pound, when the duty on it was $l2.
The amendment to transfer crude
opium to the free list was agreed to.
Sherman then moved to increase the
duty on smoking opium from So to $40
pound. Lost. 20 to 81.
At 6 :05 the senate wentinto executive
session and shortly afterwards ad-
journed.