The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-21
BERRY SEEKS LIGHT.
Asks for an Explanation of the Sugar
Schedule but Fails to Get It


Washington, July 21.-The tariff con-
ference report was presented to the
senate yesterday but little progress
was made on it beyond the formally
reading of about two-thirds of the re-
port. This was no indication of when
the final vote would be reached Dur
ing the day Mr.. T1llman, (Dem., S. CO,
openly threatened f1libuster until next
December if cotton bagging and cotton
ties were not restored to the free list,
but the threat was regarded as some
what facetiOus.
The sugar amendments occasioned
long debate. Mr.. Berry asked how
much less the sugar trust got from the
conference report than did from the
senate amendment.
Mr. Allison answered that under
the schedule as modified, taking the
point of 100, the differential was 12h
cents. Taking SO degrees sugar, the SUI
gars above No. 16 dutch standard re-
fined, would receive 1.31 cents per hun
dred pounds more than would have
received under the house schedule and
something less than under the senate
schedule.
Mr. Berry complained that this was
too technical What he hoped for he
said, was a plain answer in the plain
English language. Was it true that the
house had gained a great victory CT
was that a fraud and pretense?
Mr.. Allison said he did know what
claims were being made as to benefits
conferred, but the facts were that SO
100 pounds more duty than they would
have paid under the house bill, and a
corresponding less duty than they
would have paid under the senate bill
The senate conferees had thought to
| give the largest measure of protection
| to the beet sugar industry and the ar
rangementS of rates had been made
| with this end in view.
Mr.. Berry asked for less technical in
! formation. Il know of no man who
| can give a more Ineligible answer to
| lot fI,1v, h.
| Iowa (Allison) If he wants to-" said
| Mr.. Berry, amid laughter, land I know
| of no man who can muddy the waters
more than he can if he wants to-"
In view of the fact that sugar stock
| had advanced many points yesterday
| 1t had been suspicioned that this sup
| posed victory of the house was all a
| stage play adm false, and that, in fact,
/ the trust had secured greater benefits
| that any in former schedule. Mr.. Ber-
ry said he wanted to know whether this
was right,
There was no response to the query
! and Mr.. Vest continued the criticisms
| on the schedule.
| 1t was beyond question, he said, that
| the conference amendment was in the
interest of the trust. There has been
much beating of drums over the house
victory, and the speaker of the house
| was pictured as the Ajax of the house.
| But in fact, the house had suffered de-
| feat. The house cOnferees had come out
| of the engagement not only without
| their arms, but without their baggage
| and what added to the sting of defeat
| was that they did not seem to know
| they were beaten
| Mr.. Jones of Arkansas, said he would
| hereafter show that the differential be-
| tween raw and refined sugar was not
| only almost as much in the conference
| report as in the senate schedule but in
| general there had been an absolute
| surrender by the house on vital points
| Mr.. White, (Cal.). presented ia bIes
| showing that instead of the house hav-
| ing gained a victory on the sugar sche-
| dule, the reduction from the senate diff
| ferential was trifing. They showed
| also, he said, that on refined sugar
| made from sugar testing less than SO
| degrees the amount of protection given
| to the trust instead of being less is
| greater under the schedule agreed to in
| conference that under either house bill
| or senate amendment
NO wonder the market trembled and
| brought forth Increased rates on sugar
stock" remarked Mr. White