The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-06-18


hibitive-
Washington, June 16.-The senate
made rapid work on the tariff bill to-
day. There We're no long speeches and
the debate was Of a snappy character
which at times, enlivened, but did not
delay the serious work on the bill. Thir-
teen pages were disposed Of, carrying
the senate through the agricultural
schedule and UP to schedule H., relat-
ing to spirits, wines, etc. During the
day the paragraphs IN dairy products,
farm products, fish, fruit and nuts,
meat products and miscellaneous agri-
cultural products were acted on. The
finance committee proposed many
changes, in the main advancing rates
somewhat over those heretofore report
ed. The comrpittee was sustained on
every vote, although a contest was
made on almost every paragraph. Sen
ator Vests motion to restore salt to the
free list was rejected-yeas, 24;nays, 81.
The important paragraph proposing a
tax on tea went over at the suggestion
VI - <h'iioOh, VIZ a NoSVN iicpC
that this duty on tea might be dis
pensed with.
The first contest Of the day was over
condensed milk. Senator Jones moved
to make the rate 20 per cent. ad valo-
rem, which was lost.
Senator Vest moved to put cabbages
on the free list-lOst.
When cider was reached. Senator
Nact Coi6 he "draW tho limo at nj6Qr -
After three weeks of arduous labor the
democrats had succeeded in only one
instance in securing a slight reduction
and he appealed to New England to
come to the rescue OF cider, the liquor
OF our bOyhoOd, the beverage which
cheers but not inebriates, which spark
les in every New England festival and
in the west and the south. wherever
the apple is raised and used" If there
was a temperance man on the repub-
lican side Of the chamber, to him Sena-
tor Vest appealed. He had been in Eu-
rope and had seen there that the use
of light wines, beer and cider was the
right road to temperance and he was
sorry he was not there now instead Of
struggling hopelessly with the tariff.
Give up the struggle" suggested
Senate Frye, amid laughter.
The amendment was disagreed to
yeas, q; nays, %.
In the paragraph on eggs, not other
wise provided for, Senator Vest moved
to reduce the rate from > cents to 3
cents per dozen-rejected.
In the paragraph on hay Senator ALI
son withdrew the committee amend
ment, leaving the rate Of "a per ton.
On honey, Senator Vest moved to re-
duce the rate from 20 cents per gallon
to 10 cents-disagreed to.
ON hops, Senator Jones, Of Arkansas,
moved to reduce the committee rate
from II cents to s cents per pound.
Senator Jones said the import of hops
was infinitesimal, so little revenue could
be derived from the duty. American
hops were exported in large quantities
and controlled the worlds market.
senator Vest submitted a memorial
from New York and st. Louis brewers
urging that the rate be placed at 8
cents.
Senator Jones' amendment was dis
agreed to-yeas. %; nays, %; and the
COmmitte rate of II cents per pound was
then agreed to.
On onions, Senator Vest nov to re-
luce the rate from 40 to 20 cents per
bushel-rejected.
On peas Senator Allison proposed a
committee modification, making the
rates on pease, green, in bulk, 80 cents
pei buSltl, u1lCo DCoSC OV CclllS, spit
peaSe Al cents: agreed to.
Senator Allison offered a new para
graph covering flowers as follows: OR
chids, drOsinas, chrOtOns, aZalias, 80
per cent. ad valOrem; tulips, hyacinths,
narcissus. %jOnquils, lilies, lilies of the
valley, and all bulbs and Dubious roots
used for growing flowers, 80 per cent.
ad valorem; natural flowers, preserved
or fresh. for decorative 80
per cent. ad valorem."
Il am bound to say this is an out
rage" declared Senator Vest. : That
we should place a tax on flowers,
brought into our homes and to adorn
our dead, is an outrage. 1t is simply
designed to allow these nurserymen to
raise their prices. What will our re-
publican friends tax next? Will it be
the air that we breath? Will they be
taking the atmosphere and taxing the
oxygen, and hydrogen, and nitrogen,
because they are raw m~aterials?''
'(Laughter).
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, protest.
ed against making it q crime for our
people to beautify and decorate the homes
and bring a. little brightness into them.
He moved to strike out the clause be-
ginning tulips. hyacinths. etc. RE
jected % to 33, and Senator Allison's
new paragraph was then agreed to.
Oi toShS SSSuiiISS, CIV, oSAlolO AL
ljson, for the committee, proposed sew
eral changes, making the rate on stocks,
cuttings, etc, of myrobolan plum or
mohaleb or maZzard cherry, so and Is
per cen ad valorem per 1000 plants;
stocks, ETC., of pear, apple, ounce or
st. Julian plum 81 and Is per cent. ad
valorem. per 1000 plants; rose plants
.212 cents each-agreed TO.
At this point Senator Pettus, of Ala
'bama, gave notice of an amendment to
the sugar schedule, making unlawful
the importation of by any trust
or combination formed in restraint of
trade or to increase the price of sugar.
The amendment provides that such SUI
gar when imported shall be forfeited to
the government and that the attorney
general shall take steps to enforce this
forfeiture.
On potatoes. Senator Allison with
drew the committee amendment Of 20
hents per busilel. leaving the house rate
Nf Is cent per bushel. This brought
the senate to the fish paragraphs. n
a number of committee amendments
We're agreed to.