The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-17


TO explain, except that have no relation
with the sugar trust, had not
any participation in the framing of the
sugar schedule, or in any legislation
upon it,
VESTS TESTIMONY.
The testimony of Senator Vest was i'm
portant in showing how the sugar sche-
dule was finally arranged.
He was asked by Senator Lodge what
he meant by the statement in his previous
testimony that the duty put on sugar was
put on because the witness could not help
himself. After some explanation about
democratic senators insisting on ad valo-
rem duties, Senator Vest was asked to tell
the names of the senators who soinsisted.
He said he had no personal reason for not
giving the names, but il was against the
rules of the Senate for him To tell what
occurred in the finance committee, and
he, therefore, asked Senator Lodge and
the other Investigators what he should
do in the matter.
The committee decided that Mr.. Vest
should tell, and he answered in this way:
u he first bill prepared by Senator Jones,
Senator Mills and myself, put about l
cent specific duty on raw sugar to be
tested according to the polariscopic
strength, without any duty at all upon
refined sugars. He agreed to report the
bill l. with that provision and it
was so printed, 1t was a graded duty.
On Tuesday morning we were to
lay that bill before the democratic MEM
bers OF the finance committees. Senators
Harris, Voorhees, and Mcpherson had
nothing to do with IT, Senator Mills had
taken the place of Senator Vance, who
was sick. Monday morning, preceding
the meeting OF the finance committee, we
were informed that caucus of the demo-
cratic members of the Senate was to be
held, and that the caucus was called by
Mr. German, who was chairman of the
caucus We went into the caucus, of course,
as democrats, Senator Jones and myself,
Senator Mills never attended. We stated
to the caucus what we had done. The
caucus remained in session three days and
we were instructed, the members of the
finance committee, to go back with our
bill and readjust it so that il would be ac-
ceptable, if possible, to all the democratic
members.
IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM.
eve went into our committee room and
there appeared before United States Sen
ators German, Brice, Hill, Smith of New
Jersey, Cafery and White, now justice
of the supreme court, who was then 10
the Senate and lad been appointed, but
had not taken his scat on the bench. The
discussion was taken up at once on the
sugar schedule as soon as we got there,
and Senator German. l think, stated that
he was in favor, or he thought it would
be right, to put an ad valorem
duty of 20 per cent. on sugars, with one
fourth ditferential on refined sugars.
Senator Gallery did the talking for the
Louisiana side of the question, the pro-
ducers. He com batted the idea of an ad
valorem duty. He went so far as to say
that no ad valorem duty would be ac-
cepted by the producers at all, and he
denied that he had ever agreed to any ad
valorem duty.
Senator German said that the UNDER
standing was between the Louisiana sena-
tors and the balance of us, that they should
all act together making an impression on
me. and [ think on all the committee,
that they had an understanding that they
would fix this duty to suit both the pro
ducers and the retiners, and they dis
cussed that question, one affirming and
the other denying.
THAT went on for three-quarters of an
hour This principal contention was sus-
tanned by Senator German. Senator
Brice may have said something, but l
think said ne did not care much bout it.,
but he wanted the matter ad-
justed. That seemed to be his idea.
phatic and pronounced. Finanally /
got up and said: "Gentlemen, we came
here under instructions of our caucus 10
hear any complaints that have been made
and any suggestions. Now, it is evident
to me that you gentlemen do not agree as
to what you want, and that you have
made an agreement TO stand by each
other as to the sugar schedule, and
| do not want to be impolite, the COM
Ia 1:%r.
but if you will give us the committee
room we will make this schedule at once,
as YOU do not seem 10 be able To agree
among yourselves as TO the tariff, OF
words to that effect They all got up
then and went out, and we went to work
on this schedule. and made it finally at 40
per cent ad valorem on all sugars, with
one-eighth differential as it is now in the
bill.
"Of course 1 do not know what passed
between those gentlemen, except what
they stated there to us. 1t seems they
had conferences, | understand, and when
they came in and made the proposition TO
the committee they disagreed about it
themselves"
THE SCHEDULE NOT APPROVED.
Senator Lindsay None of that party
of gentlemen suggested or approved, Sc
far as you know, the schedule that you
reported2
Senator Vest-"No sir. The PROPOSE
tion from the refiners was 33k per cent
ad valorem and afterward 40 per cent. ad
valorem and the quarter diHerential
Mr. Havemoyer tiled paper with the
committee in which he asked 33k pei
cent ad valorem on all sugars, with one
quarter difterential Afterward the
suggestion was 40 per cent. ad
valorem and one quarter differen tial, and
that they could not live for less. / never
had talk with Mr.. Havemeyer about
this schedule now in the bill. The only
time | ever saw him was before we took
up this sugar matter, and that was at my
house and he left a sample there. But
understood that this present duty in the
bill was not at all agreeable TO the refin
ers.
Mr.. Vest said he thought Senator Muir
ply was not present. Senator Gallery
was for a specific duty from the Begin
ming. He understood from what was
said, that Senator German, and possibly
Senator Brice and the others he men
toned, had an agreement 10 have a sugar
schedule which would be accept.
ao!e to the producers and rehners,
and when Senator German, and possibly
Senator Brce. disagreed with Senator
Caffery as to the terms of the agreement,
the witness was tired Of the business and
not in very good humor
He said: "Gentlemen, give us the
committee room and we will take
charge of this thing" Senat or
Gallery had said that be had