The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-06-24
Senate Proceedings.

l
Washington, June 19.-In the senate
! today the flax schedule of the tariff bill
was taken up with little delay, the pend
| ing question being on Mr.. Allisons mo-
| ton to amend paragraph 1927 relating to
| thread Irvine, etc. made of flax, hemp or
| ramie, by substituting for the senate
| rate the rate of IA cents per pound and
| rs cent additional for each lea in eX-
cess of ).
Mr.. Vest of Missouri and Jones of
Arkansas contested the proposed change,
arguing that the rates were excessive,
while Mr.. Allison contended that they
were essential as Il compensatory duty
for the increased rates on the raw mate
rial already provided. Mr. AlIisOn's
amendment was agreed to, 20 to 10, Mr.
McIncry voting with the republicans.
Mr.. Allison moved to increase the
rates in paragraph 1913, relating to yarns,
making the rate cents instead of cents
per pound on single yarns in the gray,
not finer than eight lea in number, as
proposed in the original finance commit
tee amendment, and 80 per cent ad vaio-
rem instead of 40 per cent in single yarns
finer than eight and not finer than eight
lea in number.
Mr.. Gray called for an explanation of
the increase. He said it would not do
for the republicans to sit still without
saying word simply because they had
the necessary majority.
Mr.. Sewell of New Jersey said the in
crease had been decided upon to COM
pensate for the increased rate of the raw
material demanded by the western peo-
pie"
Every WELL" said Mr. Gray, "that is
more light than we have heretofore had
to go on"
"Thats' enough" INTERCEPTED two or
three republican senators.
Mr.. Allison complained that if the
Delaware senator had not received the
necessary information it was because he
had not listened to what was said.
The cOlloquy continued. bringing out
the information that the manufacture
of flax yarns had not been profitable in
recent years.
Mr.. Allison said it was the purpose of
the committee so to adjust rates as not
to throw American laborers out Of en-
ployment.
Mr.. Gray made an argument for free
raw material. the necessity for which,
he said, was illustrated by the action of
the finance committee in the case of linen
thread.
The amendments were agreed to with
or division.
The committee amendments to flax gill
netting We're agreed to.
Mr.. Vest took exception to the in
crease on floor mattings, saying the du-
ties as proposed would range from 40 per
cent to 105, whereas they had heretofore
been free. He moved to strike out the
entire section.
Mr.. Pettgrew said the committee
amendments were evidently aimed ut
the Japanese mating. which could not
he produced here. He supported Mr..
Vests amendments. as did Messrs. Jones
of Arkansas and White of California.
Mr. Jones of Arkansas read letters to
show that no Minnesota flax had been
manufactured in Belfast and saying that
the flax received was of poor quality.
On roll call the senate adopted Mr..
Vests amendment striking out paragraph
$50 in regard to floor mattings. the vote
HansbrOugh straight republicans. Man.
tie, Pettigrew and Teller (slver republi-
cans) voted with the democrats on this
motion.
The result created a slight stir in the
chamber as it was the first substantial
triumph of the opposition to the tariff
bill The effect is to restore floor mat
tings manufactured from straw and other
vegetable substances to the free list.
These include the japanese, Chinese and
Indian mattings.
The paragraph relating to oil cloths for
floors was reached, and the opposition
was renewed, and after the amend nent
had been perfected by the republicans
Mr. Jones of Arkansas moved to strike
out the paragraph and insert the pro-
vision of the Wilson law. The amend
ment was lost, % to q.
The amendments to paragraph $50
shirts, collars and cuffs We're received
without opposition, but Mr.. White moved
IN Snh for pp
graph 1886, in relation to laccs lace win
dow curtains, etc. The motion was
lost.
With this paragraph the senate passed
the half way point in the bill.
The amendments to paragraphs 337
(window curtains), 1888 (embroideries),
$50 woven fabrics of single jute yarns)
and $40 (pile fabrics) We're agreed to. =
Paragraph 81 Cute grain bags and
burlaps) and $40 Dragging for cotton,
gunny cloth, etc., were considered to-
gether and aroused some discussion.
Mr. White contended that the Wilson
duty on bags would cost the farmers of
the Pacific coast $4,000 per annum. He
asserted that the duty on wheat was a
delusion. and that in putting these bags
on the free list an opportunity was af-
forded to do the farmer substantial ser
| vice.
Mr.. Perkins of California said the Pa
cific coast farmers We're at the mercy of
the bag makers of Calcutta and Bombay,
except for the bags made by the convicts
in the state prison of California.
A motion to strike out the two para
| graphs in regard to burlaps and cloth for
| cotton bagging was carried. 81 to 81 The
effect of the vote is to leave these articles
on the free list. The silver republicans
! and populists who Were present all voted
with tho democrats hut no STRAIGHT re-
| publicans did SO.
Going back, Mr.. Jones of Arkansas
moved to strike out paragraph $50 (plain
| woven fabrics of single jute yarns).
| This motion also prevailed, % to %.
! Mr.. Allison, in behalf of the committee,
proposed modification of paragraph 344
| in regard to woven fabrics, reducing the
rate on articles containing between &C