Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-03-17

alton.
Washington, March 16.-The Demo-
cratic members of the Ways and Means
Committee received their first official
information on the new tariff bill to-
day when the bill was considered at
secret session of the full committee.
Chairman Dingley announced that he
desired to report the bill to the House
when il meets at noon Thursday. Mr..
McMillin, Dem., Tennessee,) COM
planned that this plan would not give
the Democrats sufficient time TO ana
lyze the measure and prepare a report.
The Democrats cOntended that they
had treated the Republican members
more generously in the matter of time
when the Wilson bill was framed Half
an hour was consumed in sparring over
this point and no definite conclusion
was reached. Three hours were spent
in analysis of the bill by sections, the
Republican members of the committee
who had been most active in the pre-
paration Of the various schedules eX-
planning the changes made from exist
ing rates and comparing the proposed
duties with the Mckinley act.
Chairman Dingley and Mr.. Payne, OF
New York. discussed the chemical
schedule, Mr.. Dolliyer, of Iowa, the
agricultural schedule, Mr.. Tawney, OF
Minnesota lumber, Mr.. Payne, sugar
and Nj Dalzell, glass, earthenWare
and metals Mr.. Wheeler, of Alabama,
and Mr. McMillin took the leading part
in the discussion for the Democrats.
Concerning the sugar schedule MT.
Payne asserted that it was practically
a return TO the law Of 1889. He rep
resented that the proposed rates would
be equivalent to an ad yalorem duty or
y per cent. on 80 per cent. Of all the
sugar imported. He said that the
schedule contained no concealed diff
ferential between raw and refined sugar
such as the Wilson bill had.
While tue revenue which sugar would
Weld had not been actually calculated,
it would bring from Sl6,uJo,O00 to Slo,-
C0O.0G0 more into The treasury than uh-
der the Wilson law. Mr.. Robertson, OF
Louisiana. a Democrat gave an opinion
that S5o o0GJ0 could be expected from
tl.as.-. sch die
In the consideration Of the agricultur-
al schedule, Mr.. DOlliyer explained mat
the countervalline duty on tlsn to OIL
set bounGes paid by foreign govern
ments was directed against France.
The Democrats objected TO the imposi-
tion OF a duty of one-half centaon fresh
f..1..
They also contended that the proposed
rates ON seeds are double the Mckinley
6uties. The southern members took an
interest in the rice paragraphs. 1t was
explained that the increased rate on bro
ken rice had been levied to discourage the
growing practice of breaking rice which IS
brought in for the use of breweries, be-
fore its importation, to secure the advant-
age OF the cheaper rates. The duty of
three cents pound on chicory root, which
is now on the free list and which is used
as an aduteration of coffee, Mr.. Dolliver
explained. was for the benefit of the mid
die west. where chicory growing is a new
industry.
When the glass schedule was reached,
Mr.. Wheeler criticised the increase in du-
ties on the cast polished plate glass l6-
q from six to nine cents and on 2iS3O from
ten to thirteen cents. the increase being
over the Mckinley rates. Mr. Dllzell said
that it had been demonstrated that the
Mckinley duties on plates these sizes were
not protective but to offset these in
creases the rates on plates of higher grades
had been reduced.
The imposition of a duty on cotton ties.
now on the free list. was also opposed by
the Democrats. Mr.. Wheeler said the
American manufacturers were able not
only to supply the home market but to
fiji the large orders for India without any
protection on the article.
II was contended 10y the Democrats that
the additional duty of one-fourth cent on
all articles of steel finished cold would
prove very far reaching i'm its scope. The
average rate of cutlery was stated to be
about 46 per cent.
The Democrats opposed also the pro-
posed duty of 81 a thousand on white pine.
which is double the Mckinley rate. They
also criticised t3e paragraph placing tel
eCraph roles and railroad ties of cedar
and all other woods under 20 per cent.
duty. The other woods are not now dut-
able and the opponents Of The new bill as
serted that they constitute the most eN-
tensive class The Democratic members
of the committee viii offer amendments
to the bill in the committee meetings to-
morrow as q matter of form. Their
amendments will. Of course. be rejected by
the Republicans.
The committee adjourned until
Thursday morning but the Democratic
members will have a conference to-mor-
row to outline their policy.
Mr.. Bailey. of Texas, the recent Dem
ocratic candidate for Speaker, said in
the committee that the Democrats were
anxious TO hasten. rather than delay
the passage of the bill. both to stop
the possible rush of imports into the
country and TO give the Republicans an
opportunity to demonstrate that high
tariff could relieve the country Of fnan-
cial depression.