Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-06-25
FIVE PAGES OF THE TARIFF.
The Senate Makes Slow Progress, but Sus-
tains the Committee.

The Senate Makes Slow Progress, but Sus-
tains the Committee.
Washington, June pa stubborn con-
test over the duties On manufactured
wooleR goods occupied the attention Of
ths senate throuthoast yesterday. It was
a day Of constant roll-calls and OF cross
fire debate on the effect of the duties in
advancing prices. Many amend
ments were proposed to reduce
the rates, but these were rejected
by decisive majorities. Less than five
pages were disposed Of during the day,
carrying the senate through paragraph
$40. the first of the paragraphs relating
to carpets. During the day Caffery
spoke at length against the protective
system and severely arraigned those
Democratic senators who had voted for
duties on wool and other raw materials.
Resolutions of deep regret were passed
on the death of Representative Cooke,
of Illinois, and committee Of five sena-
tors was named as an escort.
The Republican senators decided in
caucus last night, by a vote of % to II,
to sustain the action Of the finance COM
mittee in placing a duty upon hides,
but did not pass upon the question of
the amount of the duty to be imposed.
The committee was also sustained in
the rate fixed upon imported wrapper
tobacco. The only other disputed Ques-
lions considered were watches and
watch jewels, and upon these the finance
committee was reversed the house rates
being accepted on watches, and watch
Jewels being made free. The caucus
was held in the marble room of the
senate and was well attended. While
the discussion was spirited at times
the meeting was without especial Incl
dent. The greater part of the time
was given to the proposition to fix a
duty on hides.
Lodge led the contest against the &C.
ton OF the finance committee in taking
hides from the free list, and was second
ed by Hoar. Platt, Spooner and others.
whfle Nelson. Allison, Warren and Gear
spoke for the duty. Lodge contended
that the duty, If imposed, would not be Of
any consequence as a revenue item, and
that 1t would add nothing to the farm
ers' return on his cattle, while it would
have the eaect of greatly injuring the
industry of leather manufacture, which
mad grown to immense proportions un-
der the system Of free hides. He said
that the exports Of leather goods
amounted to $4,000, 900 per annum, and
asserted that II a stiff duty should be
imposed the industry would be greatly
checked.
In reply the western senators claimed
q direct benefit to the farmer from the
duty, and asserted that he was as much
entitled to the protection it would give
as were the manufacturers to the as
sistance they would receive from other
duties. The vote was on the general
proposition to impose a duty without
regard to rates. The fixing OF these. 1t
was understood, should be left to the
nnance committee, but the expressions
were so general in favor Of the ad
valorem rather than the specific system
that the committee probably will feel
itself instructed to substitute this sys-
tenn for the IL cent q pound rate
originally agreed upon.
The debate on the tobacco schedule
was confined to brief speeches by Haw-
ley and Fairbanks. The finance COM
mittee had originally fixed the rate on
unstemmed wrapper tobacco at $1.50 per
pound. in opposition to the house rate
of g Fer pound. The representatives Of
the leaf growers Immediately began q
contention for the restoration Of the
house rate. which was resisted by tbs
smaller manufacturers. particularly Of
the western states. The finance commit
tee yielded to the growers to the extent
of advancing the rate to $1-75. Haw-
ley last night represented the growers
IN their efforts 70 secure . e rate and