The morning call., 1894-08-27
JONES ON THE TARIFF.
The Arkansas Senator Tells of His
Sfruoota for Reform

The Arkansas Senator Tells OF Ills
Struggle for Reform.
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 26.-In special to the
Republic from Little Rock, Ark. Senator
James K. Jone, gives history of the re-
cent tariff bill contest. The Senator, IL
Will be remembered, was member OF t9e
subcommittee TO which the bill was trst
referred. In his statement Senator Jones
says in part.
The bill. as first reported back to the
committee by US, may be considered as an
expression of the opinions of our sub-com-
mittee unmodifed by the views of our as
sociates in the Senate. While large ma
Jority were perfectly satisfied with this
bill, number complained of different
parts Of it and in an effort for harmony we
presented another. While there are
changes in a number of schedules of more
or less Importance this second report of
ours provided also for free sugar, free coal
and free iron ore"
The Senator relates that owing to the
persistent demands of Senators represent
ing sugar interests, the members of the
subcommittee. with great reluctance and
regret submitted further change in the
;enths of l cent TO 1 cent per pound Oh all
sugar, with no additional tax on refined
sugar. proposing a tax OF 8 cents per ton
on coal, and iron ore free. hoping thereby
to secure united Democratic action.
AT the caucus of Democratic Senators,
which lasted three days, the Senators
from Louisiana. especially Senator White,
spoke against the bill. Jones continues {:
"At the same time Senators in those
States where sugar rehneries were located
declared that they could not support the
bill without some tariff on refined sugar
II there was a tariff on the raw. The re-
suit Of this pIotracted and stormy caucus
was the adoption of a resolution sending
the bill back to the committee with in
structions TO amend it so as to meet the
differences which had been developed in
caucus. In obedience to this action of the
caucus, which was really equivalent to an
order to tax sugar, coal and iron ore, we
brought in bill with tax of l cent per
pound on sugar testing so degrees by the
polariscope and cent additional for each
degree up TO 80 and 81 cents for each de-
gree above 80 I'D to 9S, and upon sugar
above Is Dutch standard in color an addi-
tiOnal tax of 4 of cent per pound.
With these changes, with coal and iron ore
cents per ton. the bill was sent to the
Senate on March 16. The changes gave
no satisfaction. and it became evident that
the bill would be defeated if insisted upon.
IN this emergency determined to see
if there were not some means of saving
the bill. Senator Hill. one of the A Demo-
Gratis in the Senate. was openly hostile to
he IT, a. ri
votes, hence it was necessary that every
one of the remaining 43 votes should be
secured for the support of the bill. Sew
eral of these had already openly declared
that they could not and would not vote for
the bill as reported, and it was decided to
amend it so as to secure their support.
These notifications involved changes of
the sugar schedule from specific to an ad
valorem duty, the imposition of an add-
tional tax of Ito of 1 cent per pound upon
all sugar imported from countries paying
bouuties, and the bill could not become
operative until January /, 1895. The taxes
on iron and ore at 40 cents per ton and
changes in the textile and other schedules
of more or less importance"
Before the amended bill was reported
back to the committee. Senator Jones said
he consulted with President Cleveland
Secretary Carlisle and members of the
Finance Committee, explaining the neees-
sity for making the changes mentioned
| They all agreed as TO the advisability oil
doing so, and a caucus of Democratic
Senators decided to support the bill as
amended. From May 1, when the amend
ments were offered. to July 3. when the
bill finally passed the Senate, the forty
three Democrats stood together like &
stone wall aud redeemed their pledges like
men with but a single break.
There are many things" says Jones
"in the Senate bill not satisfactory to me
| If | could have had my own way l would
have raised the revenue needed from in
comes, whisky. beer and tobacco. and no
from sugar or from wooden goods, ant
when imposing tax on sugar l would noI
| have imposed an extra tax on refined
sugar. l resisted all these changes will
all my power, as did my colleague on thu
subcommittee, Senator Vest. and we mad
them as small as possible, and at last ONLY
accepted such as were absolutely neces
sary to the passage of the bill. The bill
as passed. however. is great departure
from McKinleyism and is great measure
of tariff reform"