The times., 1897-05-29
THE WIsDOW GLASS TRUST.
1t Enters Largely Into the Senate
-Tariff Debate.


ate yesterday about trusts. this time the
window glass being the concern against
which the criticism OF the Democrats was
aimed
Measured by the number of pages COM
inendable headway was nadein the bill, but
| many paragraphs in the glass schedule
We're passed over, and the fight will be
renewed when il lis again reached The
opposition 10 the rates reported made a
valiant fight to reduce them, but failed in
every instance, Mr. McEneTy voting right
alAg with the Republicans and the Popu-
lists, Jones and Stewart, supporting the
Republicans Oh all essential questions
The biggest fight OF the day, ald the most
protracted debate was found when the sub
Jectof window glass was taken up. The dis
cussion ON this article lasted for an hour
and a half.
In the Course of the debate Senator
Jones, OF Arkansas, called attention TO
the Senate amendment changing the duty
Oh common window glass from one and
three-eighths to one and one-fourth cents
per pound. Senator Jones believed in
striking out the three-eighths and did
not want one-fourth adopted. One cent
duty was sufficient. The glass industry.
he declared, was in the hands OF trust
and two window glass companies Con-
trolled nearly the whole output OF the
United States. The Senator advocated the
retention OF the Wilson bill duty OF cent
per pound on glass not exceeding 16x24
inches square He said: Il regard this
among all the iniquities of this bill tand
they are iegion) a. the greatestiniquity of
them ALL this duty on glass He charged
that the duty on smaii-size panes was
Larger than that on ldrge-size panes. The
former size is used principally by the COM
mon or poorer class of people. IT was O
great iniquity to put such duties on an
article needed by the people, not for the
purpose OF assisting an infant industry.
but for the benefit of an established trust
Senator Sewaii, of New Jersey, said
he did not propose to allow the charge
that two glass companies controlled the
glass industry or the United states TO go
unanswered He was sure that the glass
manufacturers OF his State were not in
any trust. and he could not believe that
there was trust, composed Of two COM
panies. which controlled the output.
Senator Jones replied that before the
tariff hill was adopted be would prove his
assertion.
senator Mills, OF Texas, made a severe
attacl; on the system OF high taxation on
established industries.
I'VE stand here and, with perfect In
difference. enact taxation OF 90. 200 ana
800 per cent" said he 1T is a restriction
ON importation How Goes that affect this
country, especially the POOR? Every time
we prohibit 500 worth coming into this
country. we prohibit the export OF an
equivalent. and cotton is the chief ex-
port OF this country.
Here In common window glass, taxed
excessiyely-ta crime upon the poor people.
Why are these people singled out to he
made the victims of such oppression? There
should ',e some reason assigned for these
duties. It is not to protect infant In
dustries Itis Ia give bounty to wealth
and the trusts"
Senator Gray said the taxation upon
window glass WIS the most odi0us form
OF taxatsn inflicted upon the people. "It
is a tax on every humble home in the
United States,'' said he; "a tax TO be
paid 20 whom? Not TO the United States,
but into the Golfers OF a protected class.
II it is Il necessary revenue aTticle lat
US put 1t on a revenue basis, and IL the
people must be taxed they will say they
are willing TO fetthe money go to the Gov
ernment II seems to me il is q viola
tion nf one OF the fundamental principles
OF our Government that we should not put
up witi They tell US there is ii deficit
in the United States Treasury, but that be
fore that deficit can be made up we must
pay tribute to the glass and every other
kind OF trust"
Mr.. Caffery protested against these high
rates. and said their establishment
would lead TO the ruin of the system they
were intended TO illustrate.
Before the discussion was concluded the
Democrats did succeed in forcing through
an amendment Co a prOviso In this schedule
to which MIR Aldrich acceded. with the
statement thatit- would again be called up
before :he bill was finally disposed OF il
this was found to be necessary The dis
cusSion aroused by this one item points
very plainly to the fact that the opposi-
tion intends to make a vigorous resistance
ali along theline against the fixing Of these
ign ratesof duty.
Mr Aldrich declined TO agree 20 an adj
tournment over until Monday, and notified
Senators that heintended t. ask the senate
tO remain in session next Monday, even if
il was a holiday