Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-18
THE House.

Some routine business preceded the re-
sumption Of the debate on the agricultural
appropriation bill in the House today. Bills
We're passed. as follows: On motion of Mr..
Curtis (ka }, to permit the Kansas City
and Fort Scott Railroad Company to ex-
tend It's line into the Indian territory; on
motion Of Mr.. Herman (Oreg). to dispose
If the lands in the Fort Klamath hay res
erration; on motion of Mr.. Otey Va.), to
correct the military record of Capt. F. L.
Taylor, late of the thirty-fOurth New Jer-
sey volunteers: on motion of Mr.. Hyde
Wash). to grant to the Columbia and Red
Noun tain Railroad Company right OF
way through the Colville Indian reserva-
ton
Mr.. Newlands CNevD presented a resolu-
ton instructing the ways and means COM
mittee inquire what effect the difference
OF exchange between gold u!,l silver stand
ard countries has upon manufacturing in
duStrie; Of the United States. Mr New
lands stated that the chamber of commerce
of San Francisco had called the attention
of the country TO the invasion of products
from oriental countries, especially from
Japan.
Effect on the Pacific Coast.
California had already felt the effect Of
this competition. He recalled the invasions
of the Chinese. and their absorption of
every industry which they had attacked,
which had led to their exclusion. The Pa
cific coast, he said was now threatened
with the invasion of the products of the
cheap labor of the oriental countries He
gave some information regarding the cheap
prices at which Japanese watches. brushes,
CottonS. woolens, etc. were being sold In
the San Francisco markets. Even bicycles
he said were being imported and sold for
sI2 apiece. He described how bicycles
could be manufactured in Japan for W. In
silver and sold here for $l2 in gold After
the gold was converted into silver it could
pay the cost of manufacture, tranSpOrta-
ton and the duties and leave a profit of
four five dollars in silver. The greatest
apprehension existed on the Pacific coast
he said. The increase on the price of silver.
he thought, would take from the oriental
countries the advantages they now pos
sessed. The resolution was adopted.
The Agricultural Appropriation Bill.
The House then went into committee of
the whole and resumed the consideration
of the agricultural appropriation bill. The
pending question was the amendment of
Mr. Skinner On. c. TO make the distribu-
ton of seed under the appropriation man
datory upon the Secretary of Agriculture
Several substitutes for the Skinner amend
nent We're offered with a view to ma king
the provision SO iron-clad as to preclude
all possibility of evasion on the part OF
Secretary Morton. Mr.. Moody lMass) pro-
tested against that he characterized a
long-considered policy of Congress. because
the Secretary of Agriculture had not con-
formed to the will of Congress Heretofore
the seed purchased lad been confined to
those that were rare ard uncommon. Now
ii was proposed to purchase and distribute
ordinary seed to the farmers. 1t was a
step in the direction of communism.
Does not the fish commission distribute
seed fish, inquired Mr.. Pickler.
1T does replied Mr.. Moody. hut it is
engaged in cultivating the fish industry,
not in the distribution of fish
Mr.. Moody thought ii a change &C the
present policy was made it would return
to plague Congress in the future.