The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-06-11

Criticized the trust Severeiy-Senator
TilIman's Lively Speech.
Washington, June 10-The long de-
! ferred debate on the sugar schedule of the
tariff bill came on abruptly at one
O'Clock today, after the Senate had dis
posed of the cereals in the agricultural
schedule. The interest in the sugar
schedule had been whetted for weeks and
aside from the fact that more revenue is
derived from sugar than from any other
article there was the added interest due
to the sensational charges made of late,
within and without the Senate concern
ing Irregularities in connection with the
progress of the schedule. But the debate
failed to develop any dramatic incidents.
Senators and spectators soon lapsed into
state of Indifference as the speeches dealt
with labyrinth of technical details of
vital interest to the sugar refiner and ex-
pert, but not to the general public. Mr..
Jones of Arkansas opened the debate to
some extent answering Mr.. Aldrich' S
statement on the sugar schedule. 1t was
argumentative and lacking in any severe
denunciatory feature.
The Senators held that the rates pro-
posed gave the refners an excessive
differential and pointed out how they had
thrived on the one-eighth differential of
the present law. Mr.. Vest severely criti-
cized the sugar trust and argued that the
rates were further tribute to its vast re-
sources. Mr.. Caffrey of Louisiana, also
opposed the schedule as a whole.
No final action was taken on any feat
ure of the schedule further than the with
drawal of the original Senate committee
amendment. This leaves the House pro-
visions of the bill with an amendment in
creasing the House differential from S75-
1000 to 95-1O0 cents per pound. The pro-
visions relating to the Hawaiian Islands
went over by mutual consent.
Early in the day Mr.. Tillman of South
Carolina, made lively speech in favor of
the amendment giving an export duty on
agricultural products. He took occasion
to criticise his Democratic associates who
were giving strict and literal construc-
tion to the Democratic doctrine of a tax
for revenue only. The bounty amend.
ment was defeated 10 to So.
Washington, June 10.-The Senate be-
gan work at II a. m. today and the tariff
bill was taken up as soon as the routine
business was out of the way.
Mr.. Tillman took the floor on the pend
ing amendment providing an export
bounty on agricultural produces.
He said that the tariff debate had dis
closed nebulous constitution in the
minds of Senators. The Republican Sem
ators sat quietly, apparently controlled by
the caucus, refusing to discuss the iniqui-
ties of the bill and unanimously voting
for the exactions in behalf of trusts and
monopolies.
"On the other hand,' proceeded Mr.
Tillman "the Democrats are in a period
of transition. They don't know where
they are at. The older, more experienced,
proclaim their allegiance to the old time
honored doctrines. We had an impassioned
speech yesterday by Mr.. Mills, in behalf
of the Walker tariff principles, brought
forward at this late date as Democratic
doctrine. Secession, notification and
other issues which have passed out of the
minds might as well be brought here.
The tariff is merely a question of policy
as to how the government will raise its
revenue. I say without hesitation it is to
the best interests of the American people