The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-17
COMMITTEE WORKING HARD.
Tariff Bill May Be Reported to House
Thursday.

various Schedules Discussed by Different
members of ommittee-Leaders Ex
pect to Get Proposed Law Through
House in Two Weeks.
4 Washington, March 16. The new tariff
Dill was consigned today by the ways
and means com mittee. The iron, steel
and glass were schedules explained by
Mr.. Dalzell Of Pennsylvania; sugar, b,
Mr.. Payne of New York, and wood by
Mr.. Tarney of Minnesota. Mr.. Dollivel
stated in reference to the agricultura
schedule that the changes were more in
form than substance. The duty on ami
mails was less than the Mckinley rate.
AS far as oranges were concerned, duty
was assessed by the pound instead of by
bulk In order to secure more equitable
adjustment in the collection Of the duty.
The increased rate on broken rice was
made to prevent evasion of the present
law. Chioory root, hitherto free, was
now dutiable at three cents pound, in
asmuch as the Industry had been recent
ly been established:in the west of pre-
pairing it as substitute for coffee.
Mr.. Payne was asked as sto amount
of revenue the schedule would produce.
He could not say, but thought the in
crease would be about s16. .0O0 900.
Mr.. Robins OF of Louisiana, estimated
a revenue from sugar at $50. 600. 600 per
nnnum.
Mr.. Wheeler Of Alabama, referring to
the glass schedule, desired information as
to the increase in small glass. Mr.
Dalzeli replied that the committee found
the duty on small glass was not pro-
dCctive and an equalization had been
made by lowering the duty Oh higher
grades.
There was some criticism from the
Democrats on transferring cotton ties
from the free list to the dutiable list 1t
elected no explanation from the majori-
ty, although .Mr. Wheeler asserted that
we were not exporting cotton ties in
great quantities to countries as remote
as India. The Democrats criticized the
increased rate on timber for spars and
wharyes and for the construction of tsle-
graph lines to which the Republicans re-
sponded by stating the reasons which
led to them. Id was developed incidental
ly that the tariff on 95 per cent of sugar
importations will yield an advalorem
duty of ~ per cent.
1t was decided at the afternoon meet.
ing of the committee that adjournment
should be taken from this evening un-
til 10 Thursday morning. Yhe purpose
of this was to permit the Democratic
mem bers to stuuy the bill and prepare
the amendments they propose offering,
when the committee reassem bles. The
minority will tomorrow afternoon meet
at the Capitol and decide upon the line
Of policy to lie pursued by them both III
committee and in the house.
1t ia still undecided whether the bill
shall be reportei Thursday.
The Democratic mem bers believe this
to be the intent of the majority. The
understanding is that if the bill be re-
ported thursday it will be at once taken
up for consideration without waiting
for the Democratic minority report.
some of thu Republican members think
two weeks should suffice for debating
tho measure in the House.
SHThe liquor schedule WAS the first to
Da considered this afternoon. Mr.. Evans
of Kentr cky, who was prominently iden-
titled with it's preparation, explained it's
provisions. He showed how tie duty
on brandy had besn increased from 81. 80
to 50 30 gallon and pointed to the
advantages the wine producers of France
would gain in that government should
give this country a corresponding advan-
tage on our exports. He showed that the
rates in the liquor schedule were SUBJ
stantially return to those In the Nc
Kinley law. 4