The San Francisco call., 1897-06-09
Democrats Fail to Stay
Progress on the
Tariff Bill.
Bacon of Georgia Secures an
Ad Valorem Duty on
Raw Cotton.
Five Democrats and Three Popu-
lists Joined the Republicans
In the Vote

WASHINGTON, d. C., June 6.-ln the
course of his prayer on the opening OF the
Senate to-day, the acting chaplain, Rev.
Hugh Johnson, invoked a speedy return
OF contentment and prosperity. and that
the condition of the poor and suffering
may be ameliorated by the great measure
before the Senate
The consideration of the tariff bill was
promptly resumed and Allison of Iowa
requested that the sugar schedule be
passed over.
Vest remarked that it was an open Sc
cret that the majority had made modifi-
cations in the sugar schedule and it was
important that some understanding
should be had as to when the moditica-
tions would be presented and when the
schedule would be taken up.
This led 10 a definite statement from
Allison. There were no open secrets that
he knew Of lie said, and he would now
announce that the committee proposed TO
modify the sugar schedule by asking the
Senate TO disagree 10 the committee
amendments 10 the House bill, or, ii in
order, 10 withdraw those amendments
and insert others which he named. ALI
son stated also that the committee was
not prepared to present a provision re-
lating to sugar imported from the Ha-
waiian Islands. Under the circumstances
be asked that the sugar schedule De tenn
| porarily passed over and taken up to-
morrow.
Vest said this would be satisfactory.
He said ne wanted the consideration of
| the sugar schedule 10 proceed tomorrow,
! as it would be the most troublesome and
irritating in the whole bill and it ought to
be got out of the way.
Schedule g. relating to agricultural
products and provisions, was taken up.
Jones of Arkansas moved to strike out the
following hve paragraphs relating 10 live
| animals, cattle, hogs, horses, mules and
| sh eep, and substituting provision
covering all the live animals at 20 per cent
ad valorem. Rejecled-22 to 3S.
When the agricultural schedule was
taken up Senators Jones OF Arkansas and
Vest of Missouri made strong efforts 10
have the duty on cattle, barley, wheat and
other products reduced on the ground that
the high duties on them were unnecessary
and merely intended to hoodwink the
farmers, but they failed each time ana the
committee rates were adopted.
McEnery, Rawlins and TIllman voted
against their party on most of these
motions.
Senator Bacon of Georgia offered an
amendment placing duty of 20 per cent
ad yalorem on raw cotton and it was
taken up and discussed.
Chiffon OF Texas opposed the proposed
duty, saying it would do no good. Egyp-
tian cotton did not compare with cotton
grown in this country.
McLaurin of South Carolina took issue
with Chiffon and said Egyptian cotton
com peted with certain cotton grown in
South Carolina.
Vest said the Bacon amendment would
be adopted. as the Republicans would
vote for it because il forwarded the scheme
for breaking up the Solid South. Vest
said he would not have voted for the
Chicago platform if it had meant what
Bacon claimed Ior it.
Jones OF Arkansas opposed the amend
ment arguing along the same lines as
Chiffon. He said the manufacturers be-
fore the bill passed, would insist upon an
increased compensatory duty on manu-
factured cottons, and the Democrats who
supported the Bacon amendment would
have no answer to make to the request.
The debate on Bacon's amendment TO
put a duty of 20 per cent on raw cotton
lasted nearly three hours. The amend
ment was voted for by the Republicans
without exception, by nve Democrats
Bacon, Clay, McEnefy, McLaurin and
Tillman-and by Populists Allen, Heit-
field and Stewart. One Populist, Kyle,
voted with the Dem ocrats. The amend
ID ent was adopted by the largest majority
any amendment to the bill has vet
received-ayes AZ, noes 10.
Paragraphs 226 (macaroni), 227 (oatsl
and 22S (oat meai) were agreed to without
question.
Paragraph 229 (rice) caused long dis.
cussion, in the course of which Allen
spoke of the breakup in the Democratic
ranks to-day and yesterday, and advised
the Democratic Senators to get together
again on the tariff and legislation so that
three years from now they could unite
with the Populists under the Populist
banner and rescue the country from the
domination of the Republican party. He
regretted to see in this tariff matter every
man for himself
"And the devil take the hindmost,"
Mills put in.
Every man." Allen continue |, ''seems
disposed to run his arm into the grab
bag up to the shoulders and take every
thing he can get"
Chiffon advised Allen that the Populist
party, as well as the Democrats, should
get together on the tariff. and he remind
ed him that PopuIist Jones OF Nevada)
had held the balance of power in his
financial committee, ana Jones and an
other Populist (Stewart had voted for the
highest duties.
Stewart broke into the discussion. He
said the difference between the Demo-
cratic and Republican parties wasn't on
the tariff, but on the financial issue. The
Republican party was for the gold stand
srd, while the Democrats, Populists and
Free-silver Republicans were for the
restoration of the coinage laws as they
were in the better days of the Republic.
Without taking action on the rice para
graph the Senate, al $40 o'clock. ad.
iourned.