The morning news., 1897-03-19
COTTON HAS A SLIM CHANCE.
HOUSE WILL PROBABLY LEAVE III
ON THE FREE LIST.

II VIII Only Tie Added to the Dutia-
BILE List IL Its Friends Insist ON 1t.
Thc ways and Means Committee
Rejects Proposition to Put "a
Duty OF 2B Cents Per Pound ON 1t.
The House VIII Almost Undoubf-
edIy Sustain the Action of the Conn
mittec.
Washington, March 1s.-Cotton will re-
main on the free list unless the friends of
the fluffy product OF the south in the Sem
ate insist upon putting a duty upon 1t.
At the meeting of the ways and means
committee to-day a proposition to put a
duty of 21h cents per pound on raw cot
ton was rejected. The indications are
that the House will sustain the action of
the committee. Hence the only hope for
the duty on cotton lies in the Senate.
There was a spirited aght over the cotton
question In the committee, and the dem-
ocrauc minority split on the proposition.
TO make 1t dutiable.
Representative MeLaurin of South Car
olina offered an amendment to place
duty of 2h cents per pound on all raw
cotton imported into the United States He
supported his amendment by claiming that
all the articles manufactured from cotton
are protected by a duty, and, therefore,
the raw material should be treated with
equal fairness. OF course, all the republi-
can members opposed It, because they are
not framing their bill to benefit the south
ern producers of raw material. II was
supposed all the democratic members of
the committee would favor it. sharp
discussion sprang up between Represen-
tatives HcMillan Of Tennessee and Me-
Whorter of Alabama against the amend
ment, and Representatives Bailey, Nc
LaurIn, Robertson and Swanson in favor
of ii.
The republicans sat back and permitted
the democratic members 20 carry on the
dispute as to whether II is democratic to
advocate protective duty on any article.
Gen. Wheeler was not anxious to be
/ placed on record as opposing a duty on
| cotton, but Mr.. McLaurn said he propos-
| ed to put the members of the committee
on record, and he would also seek to get
| separate vote on his amendment In the
| House.
! When the roll was called, Messrs. Nc
| MILAN and Wheeler voted with the repub-
l
/ young blood democracy on the committee,
| Messrs Bailey, McLaurn Robertson and
| Swanson, for the amendment
| Representative Rrantley of Georgia says
| he proposes to join in the fight for duty
| on raw cotton, on the ground that 1t viii
| benefit the cotton growers of the south.
| He Is familiar with the subject. and no
| will Join Col Lester and the other pro-
1 gressve members Of the delegation, who
claim that II a duty on manufactured cot
ton Is a good thing, it is also good thing
| for the cotton growers.
All Of the members of the Georgia dele
| CATION who were spoken to on the sub
| ject to-day, excepting Mr.. Bartlett, favor
| duty on raw cotton. MIR. Bartlett con-
tends that 1t would be against his idea OF
| true democratic principles to vote pro-
tectiye duty on cotton, rice or any other
article produced In this country.
| Representatives. Lester. Tate, Lewis,
| Fleming, Maddox. Livingston and Adam
son win vote for a duty on cotton when
| the question comes up In the House.
The South Carolina delegation Ia praeti-
| cally solid for duty on cotton and the
| Florida members also favor II. There
win be lively fight over 1t in the Senate.
| as Senators Bacon and Tillman propose
| to demand fair play for cotton.