Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-19
THE Opposition WON
Floor Mating Put on the Free List of the
Tariff Bill.

OSAoSS tOddy tHc SClcOQle OF
the tarfn bill was taken up with little
delay, the pending question being on Mr..
Alisons motion to amend paragraph 1927.
relating to thread, Irvine, etc. made of
max, hemp or ramie by substituting the
rate OF IA cents per pound and IS cent ad-
oltlonal for each lea in excess of s.
MT. vest (Mo} and Mr.. Jones (Ark) con-
tested the proposed change. arguing that
the rates were excessive, while Mr.. Allison
COMMENDED that they were essential as a
compensatory duty for the increased rates
on the raw material. already provided.
MT Allison's. amendment was agreed to-
26-l1Mr. McEnery voting with the re-
publicans.
Mr. Allison moved to increase the rates
In paragraph 32S, relating to yarns, making
the rate 1 cents instead of cents a pound
ON single yarns in the gray not finer than
8 lea OF number, as proposed in the original
Hnance committee amendment, and 80 per
cent ad valUrem instead of ~ per cent
on single yarns finer than 8 and not liner
than 50 lea in number.
Mr.. Sewell IN. j said the increase had
oeen decided upon to compensate for the
increase IN the rate on the raw material,
demanded by the western people,
Very WELL" said MIR. Gray, that is
more light than we have heretofore had.
Go on
That's enough" interjected two or three
republican senator's
Mr.. Allison complained that if the Del
aware senator had not received the neces-
sary information it was because he had not
listened to. what was said.
me coiloquy continued, bringing out the
information that the manufacture of flax
yarn had not been profitable in recent
years. Mr.. Gray insisted upon knowing if
the manufacturers demanded the increase
in order to exist.
Mr.. Allison replied that the manufac-
turers had not come to Washington to de-
malld the advance, although they had
made representations, but that the COM
mittee had acted upon the advice of ex-
pert appraisers in making the changes de-
cided upon. 1t was. he said. the purpose
of the committee so to adjust rates as not
to throw American laborers out of en-
ployment.
In conclusion Mr.. Gray made an argu-
ment fer free raw material. the necessity
for which. he said, was illustrated by the
action Of the finance committee. In this
case of linen thread. The amendments
We're agreed to without division.
The committee amendments to flax gill
netting were agreed to.
Mr. Vest took exception to the increase
on floor mattings. saying the duties as pro-
posed would range from 40 per cent to 1O5,
whereas they had heretofore been free.
He moved to strike out the entire section.
Mr.. Jones (Ark.) read letters to show
that no Minnesota fax had been manu-
featured in Belfast. and saying that the
HdN received Was OF poor QOtlty.
Replying. Mr., Pettigrew said he knew
the fax PRODUCED in Minnesota to he of the
best quality, and that linens exhibited here
yesterday were made of flax of the same
quality. 70
On roll cali the Senate accepted Mr.
Vests anhendnlent striking out paragraph
800 in regard TO floor mattings, the vote
standing1e25 toe ~. Messrs. Carter ana
Hansbrough tstgaight republicans, Mantle,
Pettigrew and Teller Silver republicans
voted with the democrats on this motion.
The result created a slight stir in the
chamber, fas n was the first substantial
triumph .uf the Opposition to the tariff DILL
The effest, Is to4restore floor mattings manu-
fact u ed from straw or other vegetable sub
stance to the free list. These include the
Japanese, Chinese and Indian mattings.
Para graphs .;5l, 3D. and 3.,5 were accepted
without division.
MIR. Pettigrew took advantage of the OPP
portunity to inject some references to the
late Campaign into the controversy. He
said he though, he understood the motive
of the committee, as it would be invidious
to leave the oil cloth trust unprotected;
that there had apparently been a diligent
search for articles made by trusts and
their protection provided for at rates rang
ing from 80 to $50 per cent. This result
was. he asserted, due largely to the fact
that the trusts had all supported the re-
publican ticket in the late campaign: but
tude for past assistance or to anticipa ton
of future help he could not say.
He ascertained that i'll the campaign the
republican party had transported free of
charge voters from any part of the coun-
try to any other part. He considered it
fortunate that the republicans were bound
by ironclad caucus agreement. other
wise these Outrageous plunderings in the
interest of the trusts must fail.
The amendment was lost-22 to q.
The amendments to paragraph 3s5 (shirt
collars and cuffs were received without
opposition, but Mr.. White moved to sub
stitute the present law for paragraph 1896
in relation to laces, lace window curtains,
tides, etc. The motion was lost With this
paragraph the Senate passed the halfway
point in the bill.