Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-06-05
The TARIFF DEBATE
OPENED IN The SENATE
Opened by AIdrich Who Says It Has
Come to Stay Until the Mat
ter Is Finished.
CRITIClSES THE HOUSE MEASURE
Thinks the Senate Bill Wou'd About
Meet the Demands for Revenue
--Lengthy Explanation of
the Sugar Schedule.

tAt jill Nho t4pNSh1o ~ CPN'e 80
the senate today and served as an at
traction and considerable crowds were
present though the galleries were not
~overtaxed during the early hours. The
membership of the senate was as fully
represented as at any time during the
special session.
The new senator from Florida, NAL
lory, appeared and was sworn.
Further conference on the Indian bill
was ordered.
A resolution was passed calling on the
president for the correspondence rela-
tive to Boring sea sealing.
A resolution reciting that Russia was
refusing to allow Jewish American cit
liens to go to Poland from Fresno, ask
ing this government to ask Russia to
remove such prohibition against per-
sons of whatever faith. 1t was referred
to the committee on foreign relations.
A resolution by Pettigrew, South Da-
kota. was agreed to, asking the presi-
dent for information relative to the Un-
ion Pacific and Central Pacific:
amounts of dividends, execution of the
Thurman act, etc.
A resolution authorizing the secretary
OF the navy to employ any suitable ship
TO transport relief supplies to India, be-
of no American ships being avail
able, when II came up, brought out sar-
castle remarks from Morgan to the eff
feet that 1t would be necessary to con-
suit Speaker Reed, of the house, as TO
whether the measure could go through.
He offered a resolution providing for
the naturalizing of two British ships to
carry this grain.
The tariff bill then came up and Vest
gave notice that when the paragraphs
were read he would move to strike out
provisions relating to beer, manufac-
tured tobacco. snuff, cigars etc.
Aldrich, OF Rhode Island, then opened
the debate for the republicans.
Aldricb's Speech.
In opening his speech Senator
Aldrich said his purpose was to
keep the bill continuously before
the senate to the exclusion of all
other legislative business until 1t was
disposed Of. In this he expected the
hearty cooperation of both sides of the
chamber. In discussing the bill the
members OF the majority OF the COM
mittee would content themselves with
a brief explanation Of the various para
graphs as reached. The majority of the
committee believed If a thorough revi-
sion of the revenue laws, such as is con-
templated by the house bill is necessary,
1t should be carried out in a conserva-
tive spirit, and so moderate and reason
able as to give promise of permanence
and to avoid the dangers Of constant
tariff revision.
1t was understood in the last cam
paign If the republicans won no ex-
IRENE tariff legislation would follow.
With these facts in view, the nat
finance committee has prepared amend
ments to the house bill submitted. 1t
was the belief of the committee that In
the reductions suggested they in no in
stance have gone below the protective
point; If adopted, every American in
dustry would be able to meet foreign
competition on equal terms so far as
legislation could guarantee that. The
rates proposed by the senate committee
were considerably below those OF the
house bill, and in most instances below
those of 1890. The Industrial conditions
OF the country, with a few exceptions,
do not demand a return 10 the rates i'm
posed in 1890, owing to improved eco
Monies, improved machinery, ETC.,
changing the terms for industrial SUI
premacy, and they sought 10 make the
rates protective, not prohibitive.
House Bill q Failure.
Aldrich said II was evident the house
estimate of the evenu from its bill
was excessive. For instance. the wool
schedule Is expected TO increase the rev.
enue $24, 900, 900; wooden schedule, $14,-
0O0, 900; but the advance importations
have been such that there will be prac-
tically no revenue from these the first
fiscal year. Instead OF an increase OF
revenue from tobacco there probably
would be a decrease the first year, and
the increase from sugar would be much
less than estimated.
Some Estimates Made.
The secretary Of the treasury has es-
timated that the expenditures for the
fiscal year 1898, in round figures. at
$467, 900, 900.
The senate finance committee estimat-
ed the revenue form customs under the
bill as amended at 1888, 000, 900. EST
mating internal revenue receipts at
$40, 000, 600 and miscellaneous receipts
at 500, 0O0, 900, and receipts on account Of
postoffice at 500. 900, 900. the total .esti-
mated receipts for the year would be
$40, 600. 900, or about a So, 000. 900 surplus.
If the proposed duty on tea and addi-
tional internal revenue taxes are omit
ted, there will be a deficiency of $29,-
000, 900, and there Is no reason why beer
and tobacco should not bear their share
of the additional taxation.
Further Internal Revenue Taxes.
1rhoro 10 pnthirp ~, <ho sh..nx, 90 re-
lection that interferes with the imposi-
ton of further internal revenue taxes
whenever such a course Is desirable
for revenue purposes. In the years to
come We must expect a decrease rather
than increase I'm customs revenue
With duties adequately protective on
manufactures, cotton, wool, silk, fax
we may expect a constantly decreasing
receipts from imports of these articles.
II the rates imposed on sugar lead to
a rapid development Of the beet sugar
industry, WI must expect large reduc-
tons from estimated revenue from SUI
gar. Some believe in ten years We will
produce all our sugar. The legitimate
results Of a protective policy is to give
American markets to the Americans.
When this is accomplished the revenue
growing out OF protective duties dis
appear entirely.
The Sugar Schedule.
"In the sugar schedule we have sug-
gested a change in rates and I'm the
manner Of assessing the duties. The
annual consumption of sugar In the
United States is about 1000, 900 gross
tons, with a value, based on foreign
prices, approximating $50. 900, 900. II the
high duties proposed in either the house
or senate bill should be adopted the an
nual cost Of sugar to would
be more than $3.50, 600. 900, based on the
consumption OF 1896. Forty thousand
tons, or 2 per cent. were beet sugars
produced In the United States. and 243.-
900 tons. or IL per cent. were domestic
cane sugars and 157. 900 tons. or 8 per
cent, were sugars admitted from Ha-
wall under our treaty with that country.
The 1000. 900 tons consumed in the Unit
ed States Is nearly 80 per cent of the to-
tai consumption Of the world. the total
sugar crop OF 1896 being approximately
10000 0 tons, Of which 1900, 900 tons, or
about 6ih per cent of the whole, were
beet ugars.
A CHANGE Necesaarv.