The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-07-01
IN embarrss the whole bill.

to embarras the whole bill.
Mr. Allison declined. saying the asser
ton that the rates reached 700 per cen
was merely an unfounded assertion Of
other schedules.
Mr.. Morgan of Alabama declared thai
the tariff bill marked the entry of the
United States upon forcible and re
lentless commercial war with the rest OF
the world. He regretted 1t particularly
as TO Japan. Just as she was joining
the other commercial centers, we should
not outrage the sense of fairness of the
japanese nation, when she was mani
Testing her friendship, building her war.
ships in American yards. and showing
| every evidence of cordially.
Mr. Morgan referred incidentally ia
Japan's protest against the annexation
of Hawaii to the United States, on which
subject he said he thought Japan had no
positive ground of complaint.
1t was unfortunate at this particular
time to have this particular nation feel
! the ferocity of the tariff bill, although,
Mr.. Morgan declared, there was not n
nation. from Mexico to Turkey, which
did not know that the United States was
about TO enter upon n war against the
commerce of the world.
Mr.. Whites amendment, limiting the
duties to 200 per cent, was rejected, %
to 90.
Paragraph $50, handkerchief, was
agreed TO as reported; also 3SG, bindings,
etc, with an amendment adding hand
bindings, braids and fringes; also 3S1,
laces. with an amendment emitting
braids and ribbons; also 3SS manufac-
tured silk not otherwise provided for, and
$50. weight of silk. ..
This completed the silk schedule.
The tobacco schedule was then taken
up.
The first paragraph was materially
modified by Mr.. Allison, making the duty
on wrapper tobacco and filler tobacco
when mixed with more than - per cent
of wrapper tobacco and all leaf tobacco,
etc, SIZE per pound; if steamed, $2.25
per pound The balance of the para
graph remains unchanged.
Mr.. Vest said the controversy rs to
rates was between the Connecticut wrap
per tobacco and the Sumatra tobacco.
The desire was to shut out the Sumatra,
one tobacco man having said before the
ways and means committee that he
would favor duty of 1000 per cent if
necessary to prevent its importation.
Mr.. Hawley of Connecticut said other
states than Connecticut were interested
in the industry of wrapper tobacco.
There was no desire to exclude Sumatra
tobcaco, but to give adequate protection
against the labor rate of Sumatra of
about Is cents Il day.
Mr.. Pascoe of Florida expressed salts
faction with the proposed rates and said
that as tobacco was recognized subject
of revenue taxation he would support the
rates.
Mr.. Mills of Texas declared that the
smoking of good cigar had become Il
lost art in the United States as a result
of the enormous and uncOnsciOnable tax
on cigars. These taxes, customs and in
ternal revenue, had driven small makers
out of the business until the trade was
in the hands of great concerns. He in
sisted that tobacco was not luxury, but
was an article of common use, to be
found in the humblest cabin.
Paragraph 210 was then agreed to as
reported, with the changes indicated;
also paragraph 211. In paragraph ~,
covering all tobacco not otherwise pro-
vided for. the committee rate of 40 cents
per pound was increased to 50 cents. A
similar increase from 40 cents to 80 cents
per pound was made on snuff, etc (213).
This completed the tobacco schedule.
At 5 o'clock the senate held an execu-
tive session and adjourned.