The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-06-25
Republican Senator'S Finally Decide
the Matter In Caucus
Finance Committee Rate on
Tobacco Sustained.
Senators Lodge and Hoar Opposed The Action
In Regard to Hides

Washington, June 25.-IIides will be
taxed under the new tariff bill when IL
becomes a law. This was agreed upon
at a caucus OF Republican senator's last
night. Whether the duty will be specific
or ad valorem yet remains to be decided.
The finance committees action In max
ing hides dutiable was SUSTAINED by
vote Of 22 TO IL.
The conHpaittee was also sustained In
the rate fixed upon imported wrapper
tobacco. The only other disputed aues-
tions considered were watches and watch
Jewels. and upcn these the hnance COM
mittee was reversed. the house rates
being accepted on watches and watch
Jewels being made free. 81, ~.-H
The caucus was held In the marble
room Of the senate and was well attend
cd. While the discussion was spirited
~ times the meeting Wes withQqt es.
peoiM incident. The greater E.-sst Of
the time was given to the proposition
to f1x duty on hides. 6snatOr Lodge
led the contest against the action OF the
finance committee In taking hides from
the free list and was seconded BY Sen
ators Hoar. Platt, spooner and otfiefs,
while Senators Nelson. Allison, Warren
and Gear spoke for the duty.
Mr.. Lodge contsnded that the duty
II imposed would not be of any COZ
sequence a. a revenue ITEM and that II
would add nothing to the farhierS' re-
turn on his cattle. while II would have
the effect OF greatly injvring tho I'm
dustry of leather manufacturers. which
had grown to immense proportions under
the system Of free hides. He said that
the exports Of leather goods amounted
TO $40. .0O0, 900 per annum, and asserted
that II a stfff duty should be imposed
the industry would be greatly checked.
In reply the Western senators claimed
a direct benefit to the farmer from the
duty and asserted that he was as much
entitled to the protection 1t would give
as were the manufacturers to the as
slstanoe they would receive from other
duties.
The vote was on the general PROPOSE
tien to impose q duty. without regard
to rates The fixing OF these. 1t was
understood should be left to the
finance committee, but the expressions
were 50 general in favor Of the ad VAL
orem rather than the specific system
that the committee will probably feel
t16Da1f instructed to substitute this sys-
| TEN for the IA cents a pound rate
originally agreed upon. There was
also q general expression against any
increase upon India tanned goat and
sheep skins, which the manufacturers
regard as q substantial victory.
The debate on the tobacco schedule
was confined to brief speeches by SEN
ators Hawley and Fairbanks. The
| france committee had originally fixed
the rate on unstemmed wrapper tobacco
at $3.50 per pound, In opposition to the
house rate of 81 per pound. The repre-
| sentatives Of the leaf growers immed-
| lately began a contention for the res
tOration Of the house rate, which wa,
resisted by the smaller manufacturers,
| particularly of the Western states. The
finance committee yielded to the grow
ers to the extent Of advancing the rate
to $1.75. Senator Hawley represented
the growers in their effort to secure a
| 81 rate, and Senator Fairbanks the man
ufacturers In their attempt to hold the
original finance committee figures. The
| caucus decided without division to stand
by the compromise rate Of $1.75.
| There was only one vote raised in op-
position to the proposition to return to
the house schedule on watches and in
addition to admit watch jewels free OF
duty. The finance committee fixed a
uniform rate of 40 per cent on watches
while the house provided a compound
duty. 1t Is to this compound system
that the senate returns.
The questions Of reciprocity, trusts
Hawaii. sugar beer tea and internal
revenue were not discussed.