The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-19
FLAX BRINGS A PARTY FIGHT.
DEMOCRATIC SENATORS AGAIN IN
DULGE IN A TILT.


Cent on Everything Now On the
Free List.
Washington, June 1S.-The tariff bill
came to a halt in the Senate to-day, less
than one page of the fax schedule being
disposed of. The debate drifted into poll
tics, Senators Bacon. Vest, Jones of Ar
kansas. and Tillman taking part in an ex-
position of democratic doctrine on the tar
if. 1t led to several lively exchanges,
over which the cleaning of political dirty
linen was frequently referred to.
Late in the day, Mr.. Morgan proposed
sweeping amendment to place a 10 per
cent, ad valorem duty on all articles now
on the free list, with a few stated excep-
tons. In supporting the amendment Mr..
Morgan called attention to the singular
fact that the income tax feature of the
Wilson bill is not repealed and can be en-
forced by change in the personnel of the
supreme court of the United States. Ow-
ing to the interest in the Hawaiian annex
alton question, Mr.. Davis of Minnesota
secured an agreement for the printing of
5000 copies of the treaty and other docu-
ments.
The consideration of the tariff bill was
then resumed at schedule J, relating to
fax, hemp and jute, and manufactures
thereof. Mr.. Vest of Missouri made a
test contest at the outset, moving to strike
out the first paragraph, fax straw Sc per
ton. He said the whole fax schedule
was based on the idea that we could pro-
duce the flax but he denied this. The
amendment was rejected by a vote of Is
to %, Mr.. McEnery voting with the re-
publicans.
Mr.. Allison, in charge of the bill with
drew the Senate amendment on flax not
hacked or dressed, leaving the House
rate Of 1c per pound standing He also
withdrew the committee amendment on
dressed fax, leaving the House rate of
&c.
In further criticising the flax paragraph.
Mr.. Vest ironically referred TO that era
Of prosperity, which had been Officially
and enthusiastically announced, in re-
cent prayer by the chaplain of the Senate,
an emissary of providence" Mr.. Vest
declared that such faith could move
mountains, and that the ordinary citizen
not credited by the Almighty, had not
observed the advent of prosperity"
Mr. Davis of Minnesota said the flax
production of the northwest was a dem
onstrated success. He presented samples
of the article produced in Minnesota,
Michigan and the Dakotas.
Mr.. Pettigrew of South Dakota declared
that the proposed rates ought to be dou-
bled, as an encourag cement to the flourish
ing fax industry of the northwest. The
committee had raised the duties on arti-
cles manufactured from fax from So to
10y per cent, but on the raw material of
flax they had given a duty equivalent to
only II per cent. Mr.. Pettigrew derided
the result of placing a duty on raw cot
ton. Southern senators had done this to
keep out Egyptian cotton, and yet the
New England manufacturers had been
given compensatory duty to bring in
Egyptian cotton. So that, declared the
senator, all that was accomplished was
to help eastern republicans break up the
solid south.
This brought a response from Mr.. Bacon
OF Georgia, who took the lead in the con-
test for duty on raw cotton He did not
believe the cotton manufacturer should
receive compensatory duty to offset the
duty on raw cotton, as the manufacturer
already had ample protection. The com
mittee was most sensitive in seeing that
the manufacturers received speedy COM
pensation, but there was not the same
sensitiVeness in looking after the produc-
HaRrant
discrimination. he said between the raw
products of the farmers of the south and
those of the north, the cotton baggine or
cotton ties used by the south being taxed.
while the binding Irvine used by the north
was free.
Mr.. Allison interjected the remark that
the committee was celebrating on these
questions and he hoped before the Sem
ate was through with the bill that a
Just equilibrium would be found.
Mr.. Bacon had some sharp and good
natured sparring with Mr.. Jones and Mr.
Vest over their positions that the tariff
rates should be limited to revenue pur.
poses, and he said the senators believed
IN compensatory duties to the manufac.
turer which were not based on revenue,
but were purely an additional protection.
Mr.. Jones said that he opposed a tax on
raw materials, but when such a tax was
imposed the manufacturer was bound to
have compensation
But ought they TO have it?" protested
Mr.. Bacon.
Mr.. Jones responded that they ought not
to be robbed any more than any one else
should be robbed. To a direct question
on compensatory duties MIR. Jones said
he opposed anything not based strictly on
the revenue principals.
There was an exciting interruption when
Mr.. Bacon criticised the position of some
OF his associates in not favorlng a revenue
duty on raw materials.
Mr.. Vest sprang TO his feet, and with
great vehemence, exclaimed: This Is
very delectable to republican senators.
Their hearts are cheered and can see
their eyes gleam."
lie had refrained thus far he said. from
exposing democratic dlscords, but since
the senator from Georgia had gone into
this lavatory for washing democratic
dirty linen" he (Mr. VesO would ask his
associates a few questions.
Mr.. Vest was about 20 put a series OF
sharp interrogatories but Mr.. Bacon de-
INJURED. lie did not like the idea. he said,
OF being put on the witness stand by his
democratic associates. and being put
through a course Of categorical questions.
Mr.. Vesf, whose manner had been in
tensely earnest, said the questioning had
been undertaken In no offensive way.
DO you believer" he asked. "in taxa
uon limited to the needs OF the govern
ment. economically administered"
II do" responded Mr. Bacon
Then, how. persisted Mr.. Vest could tho
Georgia senator reconcile his position with