The times., 1897-06-06
An Exposure of the Benefciaries
of the Lumber Schedule.
MADE BIZ THE FOREST KINGS
Senators Vest, Jones Of ARKANSAS,
and Petfigrew Let in the Light
on special Legislation-Mr.B Bacon
I-auds the Measure-An Educa-
tionaI Debate.

rraatpr part of the session TO the reading
of all the unfinished parts OF the great
revenue producer down to the sugar sched-
ule. 1t was a good stopping place. 1t
gives a breathing spell until Monday, or
uItil MT Alirich gets better, when the NEST
interesting debate OF the session undoubt-
ediy viii be commenced. Sugar talk, sugar
innuendo and sugar in all shapes al
consistency has been daueed all over the
face of the body polite, SO that some crys-
tails may form early ON the Senate debate.
The wood sch edule was first in order
yesterday, a rather dry subject; but it was
kansas. Nh Vest OF Missouri, and Mr.
Pettigrew OF California These Senators,
to use a wood metaphor, talked with the
bark Off The result OF it was that they
pretty effectively demonstrated that the
schedule was gotten up for the benefit
OF owners of great forests in the West
and North, whose aim appears to be TO
keep out Canadian lumber and force the
United States product at cost plus the
duty on the consumers OF the East and
Northwest
A feature of The debate was the as
sistance given the Republicans by South
eln Democrats with advanced ideas on
free Gade. MI. Bacon, of ofGeorgia, Clay, OF
Georgia, and Nj. McLaurin, of South Caro-
lima, came out for protection Of Southern
products, where the taxation OF such pro-
duets was intended as a part OF the neces-
sary revenue. They are, however, opposed
to protection as principle Mr. Bacon an
nounced that free trade never was a tenet
of the Democratic party.
Everything makes way for the tariff, and
the Democrats are keeping their pledges TO
let il make haste in order to achieve what
they predict will be the suicide Of tie Re
publican party.
Among the foreign nations heard from
yesterday in protest against the sugar
sc hedUe discrimination S, was Austria
Hungary, claiming that certain legislation
was in contravendon of the Favored
nation" agreements
a matter relating 70 tie District, was a
bill introduced ~ senator Gdllingcr, TO
provide for the erection OF a monument to
Dr. Hahneman, the homeopathist
other bills and resolutions OF less i'm
tariff was taken up.
Senator Jones of Arkansas objected TO
the taking of many classes Of lumber off
the free list, and proceeded to show that
the rates weIe largely due Go the lumber
men in certain sections Of the Union. Mr..
Jones read a circular letter, which went
to show that the lumber convention re-
Gently held had made strenuous efforts TO
present e. the Finance Committee petitions
OF operators, laborers and others, the OBJ
1ect being To show that the interests of
the latter could be best served by high
tariff
Mr. Jones went on 20 say that an eX-
trac rd;nary interest was being taken in
this tariff on lumber by an organization
in this city.
Nj Vest opened on the same line, hold
fng that it was intended TO make the duty
on white pine, the king of the cOniferOus
wooas,'' or. parity with spruce pine, and
% Inake-the duty on both absolutely pro-
hfhitory He asserted, and challenged
Contradiction of the statement, that the
duties of the present bill were a scheme
In favor OF tie Inulti-miilioaaiIe lumber
harons aud resulting in the oppression Of
the consumers.
Mr. Vest had read a communication from
/. n. Weston, giving the names Of many Of
the barOns and the extent OF their posses
SONS. He showed that while the revenue
derived from this schedule would be small
the whole advantage would be to the lumber
dealers. who would control the trade and
exact enormous profits from the poor peo-
pie Of the West.
AIr. Jones read an article to show the
Inconsistency OF some Of the pTotactionistS
on this point. in one case a lumber man
cOntending that the effect of the schedule
would he to make lumber cheaper. Mr.
Jones read numerous extracts from news
papers in support of the general position
assumed by him and Senator Vest.
Mr.. McLaurin, OF South Carolina, adj
dressed the Senate briefly in the interest
of Southern wood products. He showed
that whatever merit there was in the
duties on lumber it was only incidental TO
Southern products
THE entire schedule seems to me-" said
MI McLaurin, Ito be framed for the sole
purpose OF protecting woods which are
grown in the northern part Of the United
States, and giving just as little as possible
to the timber of the South"
I'm South Carolina, showing how adversely
the schedule would operate on the railroad
tie industry
Mr.. Allison said that the Finance Com
nittee would recede from some of the
suggestions it made with reference to
railroad ties and some few other products
OF industry.
Mr.. Bacon, of G eorgia, disagreed with
Senator's Vest and Jones as to the wood
schedule being the most indefensible in
the bill. He was against a specially pro-
tectiyC tariff, but when it came to a
revenue tariff he believed in having its
benefits uniform in all sections of the
country He favored the Republican
schedules on wood.
MT. Vest asked Mr.. Bacon what he
thought of the statement of lumber men
themselves, that the present duties were
absolutely prohibitory.
Mr.. Bacon replied II simply say. AMI
i think every Senator viii bear me out,
tiat it is absolutely incredible that the
duties imposed would be absolutely pro
hibitory.''
Mr.. Bacon also thought that the testi-
mony and documents introduced by Mr.
Vest and Mr.. Jones were also incredible.
He intimated that Mr. Vest in 1894 and
1897 was inconsistent
Mr. Vest replied that the bill of 1894
was not to be considered but that, in his
opinion, three things that redo eIled il il
great measure were free salt, free lumber,
aud free wool
Mr. Vest III this connection, argued that
when Won taxed raw material you handi-
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