The Portland daily press., 1894-01-27
THE POOR MANS DIAMONDS
Wilson'S Duties on Jewels Caused
Him Much Annoyance.
MR.. REED ON METHODS OF RAIS-
ING THE VALUE OF ORATORY.

The Income Tax Bill Will Make Its Ap-
pearance Today-Election Frauds Dis
cussed in the Senate-What They Say
Hill said-The Bailey Resolution Oppos-
ing the Bond Issue Gets Favorable
Report by the House Committee.
Washington, January 26.-The income
tax will be offered as an amendment to
the tariff bill tomorrow when the para
graph relating to playing cards is
reached. A special order will be reported
from the committee on rules tomorrow,
which will set aside that day and Tues
day of next week for debate on the in
come bill. This will cause postpone
ment of the closing speeches by ex-
Speaker Reed and Speaker Crisp, from
Monday until Wednesday. Upon the con-
clusion of their remarks, which will mot
exceed three hours at the utmost, voting
upon the bill will begin.
There were few members present in the
House when the Speakers gavel fell at
Ii U ClUCk. AC SdAlCAlCS WC1C Ohiy AoAA~
ly we'll filed. After the reading of the
journal, Mr. Cochran of New York re-
newed his tactics of yesterday and made
the point of no quorum. The roll was
then called. During the call enough
men strolled IN to complete a quorum.
Mr.. Cochran called attention to this fact
and withdrew his point of order and the
roll call was discontinued.
A lively tilt occurred between Mr..
Reed, Republican of Maine, and Mr..
Bynum, Democrat of Indiana. 1t was a
charging Mr.. Bynum with having SO mis-
quoted a statement of his (Mr. Reed's) as
to destroy its force.
Mr.. Bynum denied that by leaving off a
portion of the sentence he had destroyed
the sense of Mr.. Reeds expression.
The Honse then went into committee
of the whole to consider the tariff bill
with Mr.. Richardson, Democrat of Ten
nessee, in the chair. Mr.. Wilson offered
the following amendments, which were
agreed to, without debate. In the para
graph regarding fish insert the words
"salt water" SO that it will read
"herrings, pickle ed, frozen or salted, salt
water fish, frozen or packed in ice, three
quarters of a cent a pound" In the free
list the clause reading fish fresh," is
amended by adding the words frozen or
packed in ice."
A lively debate was precipitated by
Mr.. Wilson's amendment proposing re-
duction of duty on uncut diamonds and
all precious stones from fifteen per cent
to ten per cent ad valorem.
Mr.. Holman, Democrat of Indiana,
offered an amendment to Mr.. Wilson'S
amendment increasing the duty on
diamonds from fifteen per cent to thirty
per cent.
Mr.. Anderson, Democrat of West
Virginia, offered substitute to the
pending schedule increasing the duty on
cut diamonds from fifteen per cent to
fifty per cent.
The Repu plican members of the House
teased Mr.. Wilson with the statement
that the poor might have diamonds
cheaper.
Mr.. Cummings, Democrat of New York,
said he was surprised that the Demo-
cratic ways and means committees
should have left in the bill tax on the
necessaries of life higher than the tax on
diamonds. He gave a list of articles,
common vegeta bles, on which were
taxes ranging from twenty to .thirty-fve
per cent. He said that in the discussion
of the Mckinley bill, the chairman OF
the ways and means committee had IN
tended to offer an amendment imposing g
duty of fifty per cent on diamonds, but
was shut out by the special order limit
ing debate.
Mr.. Dingley, Republican of Maine, said
the duty on diamonds was reduced in
folmer tariff bills. from ten per cent to
five per cent. A high tariff on diamonds
was an incentive to smuggling and low
tariff led to the collection of increased
revenues This reason certainly did not
hold good in the matter of set diamonds,
for they were more difficult to conceal.
Hence in the tariff law of 1876, a duty of
thirty per cent was imposed on set
diamonds which was increased blythe
law of 1880 to fifty per cent. He could
not see any reason for not keeping a duty
of fifty per cent on diamonds cut and set
in jewelry. This would be the proper
thing to do. The Democratic party,
when it got into power always ran riot.
Mr.. Cochran of New York, said the
| surance of treasury officials that ten pei
cent on diamonds was a duty which
would yield the best results FROM {
revenue standpoint.
| Mr.. Reed of Maine, said that when thu
act of 1890 was passed, the circumstances
were different from those existing at rhs
present time. There are now 1900 mef
engaged in the industry of diamond cut
ting. Ii tariff of fifteen per cen
would result in transferring to them thu
entire business of diamond cutting, b,
was infavor of it. He thought ths
proposition to put tax of thirty se
| cent on uncut diamonds was made b.
| certain Democrats not for the purpose O
raising revenue, but raising the value O
certain Democratic speeches. (Republi
can laughter.) He had no doubt tina
| Mr.. Holman would vote for the amend
ment increasing the duty,on diamonds IL
thirty per cent just as he had supported
the proposition to appropriate 100000,
would not carry. (Laughter.)
MIR. Anderson withdrew his forme
ubstitute and offered one fixing tn
duty on precious stones of all kinds, Gu
but not set, at thirty per cent advalorem
| ,araninrlc ctnnaS no Snaci allU nrnYid pi