The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-04
Duty to Be Placed on Coal,
Iron Ore and Lead Ore.
TARIFF BILL NOT YET READY.
The House Continues Discussion of
the Pension Appropriation.
Josiah 0uincy's Pablic Printing Job
The ssiEsioFags Bill In the senate
Bni &, Make Gotta Obligations
Payable In silver.

WAsHry6roy CIrY, March 3-The Demo
cratic members OF the finance committee
continued work on the Wilson bill, but
did not make such progress as to justify
the chairman in calling = meeting of the
full COMMITTEES for Monday. There is lit
lie doubt that the committee has virtually
decided upon dnty upon coal. iron ORE
lead ore and many other articles on the
free list in the Wilson bill. but the COM
mittee refuses to make an official an
nouncemen, until the bill is presented as
q whole.
Among other articles on which rates
OF duty have been decided upon are
wines, fruits and nuts. Senator White, of
California, complained of the rates fixed
by the house bill. The Wilson bill
provided that no still wines in casks
should pay a higher rate of duty
than 10 per cent. ad valorem. Senator
White represented to the committee
that under this provision cheap French
ciarets would be sdmitted almost free. and
secured the promise of an amendment
striking out the ad yaiorem clause and
providing that such wines, when contain
ing less than IA per cent. OF alcohol, shalt
be assessed at a specific rate of 30 cents.
and those containing mere than IA PER
cent. at 30 cents per gallon. He has also
obtained a concession providing for duty
upon spirits in which cherries are pre-
served. The amendment secured will tax
spirits At the internal revenue rate. which
puts the domestic cherry on an equal foot
ing with the imported. Important
changes are also made in the fruit sched-
u.e. Practically all dried fruits have been
put on the same footing as raisins, upon
which duty of Ia cents per pound is
. placed by the Wilson bill. Amended by the
senate committee this will raise Zante cur
rants. figs and prunes to their level. Un-
der the Wilson bill the rate on prunes
is 20 per cent. ad valorem, which
would be about u cent per pound.
Figs per cent. ad valorem. equal to lcent
per pound, and Zante currants per cent
al valorem. about 4 cent per pound. Sem
ator White made IN especial effort in the
matter of Zante currants, claiming that
they were really grapes. and It Is under
stood he convinced the committee of the
correctness Of his views. The Greek min
lister has made vigorous protests against
these changes in fruit, but it is claimed
that the duty proposed 10 not 90 great a. is
imposed IN Greece upon the same importa-
'tions. Members OF the committee say
they have agreed upon some schedules.
but decline to give out figures, rs any con-
clusions reached may be subsequently
changed on account Of the bearing the
rates in one schedule may have upon an
other. They still have in mind the idea
OF formulating what shall be In most re-
spects a revenue bill. Advocates OF duty
on lead ore have been assured by members
Of the committee that q duty Of u cent
per pound will be fixed on that article
That is just half Of the rate of the Nc
kinney tariff The Wilson bill made it
practically free. 1t is stated upon author.
ity that tho provisions in the Wilson bill
Objectionable to the lead ore men and
which let in Mexican lead ore free when
mixed with silver and the ore is more val
uabie tor silver than lead. will be stricken
out. 1t Is learned from the same source
that lead products will remain 40 fixed by
the house bill. Unless the committee
should change its decision. coal and iron
ore will be given duty of 20 cents ton,
and prunes and currants . duty of IL
cents pound.