Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-30
THE TARIFF BILL
Reported to Senate from Com
mittee of the Whole.
Senate Hale Makes Spirited Defence
Of the Reciprocity Treaties.
The Bill Now Ready Tor Amendments and Ac
lion BY Senate.

WASHINGTON, June 29.-The Senate tool
up the tariff bill, the question being the alb.
rogation of the reciprocity treaties. Hale
asked Vest if he knew that, after the pas.
sage of the Wilson bill, very considerable
discussion arose as to what the result OF
that practical abrogation of the reciprocity
treaties would be.
Vest-There was q great diversity OF
opinion and great deal of misrepresenta-
ton of public men in relation to the effe ct
of the action of the House. l always
thought the effect of putting a duty on
sugar would seriously affect those sugar
producing countries. l never had a doubt
that as to the other articles good deal OF
trade between them and the United States
would be maintained.
Vest said the effect of reciprocity was
distorted in the partisan press. He went
to show that the figures of trade with Bra
zil were given in protectionist organs at the
deprecated paper value of money there,
not the gold value which governs commerce
everywhere, and thus false showings were
made of the increase of trade.
Hale denied the statement and gave fig
ures showing that the trade between the
United States and Cuba had grown from
So ,00O, 900 in 1891 to Sl2 100000 in 1892
and $24 900, 900 in 1898.
Vest asked Hale to explain why, if
reciprocity was the cause of that in
crease, the trade of Brazil with
England, France and Germany with which
she had no reciprocal arrangements) had
increased in still larger degree.
Hale denied the assumption and said that
trade with Great Britain, France and Ger
many had steadily decreased.
During the ensuing discussion commun-
ication from the secretary of state as to the
retaliation from foreign countries on account
of the proposed duty on sugar was laid be-
fore the Senate and read. The commupi.
cation was referred to the finance commit
tee and debate on the reciprocity question
was renewed. The Vest amendment was
agreed to without division.
Hale moved to strike out the whole Sec
ton. Rejected. Yeas, "a nays, "a. The
section now repeals the third section of the
Mckinley act, provided ''that nothing
herein contained be held to abrogate or in
any way affect such reciprocal commercial
arrangements as heretofore made and now
exist between the United States and foreign
countries; except where such arrangements
are inconsistent with the provisions of
this act"
A communication from the secretary of
state informing the Senate that, at the re-
quest of the French ambassador, a religious
service in memory of the late President Of
the French republic would be held at St.
Mathews church, Sunday, at II M, was
laid before the Senate, and it, was resolved
that the Senate attend such religious ser
vice.
The Senate resumed consideration of the
tariff bill, and PETER moved to insert an ad-
ditlonal section levying a duty of $50 on
every foreigner coming by steam or sailing
vessel to any port within the United States,
aud on every alien immigrant crossing the
border line between the United States and
contiguous nations.
Platt suggested the insertion of the words
"To engage in any industrial occupation y
and Pc fer accepted the suggestion. PETERS
motion was the subject of brief debate,
and on motion of Harris, the amendment
was tabled: yeas, 46; nays, IL. Plat re-
newed PETERS amendment, modified to
make the tax on immigrants to engage in
industrial occupations 1926 head. Rejected.
GalliDger moved to insert'as an additional
SeCuOu tuc prUNlSlOu tuAt tlc ACT HOt DE
operative as to Canada or Newfoundland
until those countries have entered into COM
mercial arrangements with the United
States, as that would result in a material
reduction of the duties on the products and
manufacturers Of the United States. Re
jected; yeas, 2l; nays, 30.
The last section of the bill (repealing
all laws and parts of laws inconsistent with
it), was agreed to, thus finishing the bill
in committee of the whole, except as to
matters reserved. Allison (Rep, Iowa.
moved to amend section so, one of the
whiskey sections, by reducing the bonded
period from eight to four years. Rejected.
Pcttigrew offered an amendment providing
for tariff commission of five members,
and consented that it go over until tomor-
row.
A large number of amendments were Of