Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-18
Finance Committee Amendments on
Flax Withdrawn.
TIE PRODUCT OF. THE NORTHWEST
Messrs. Vest and Bacon Have a
Little Discussion.
TILLMAN WANTS "HIS SHARE

In the Senate today bills were passed for
public buildings at Cleveland. Ohio. to
cost s25OO.0OO. and at McKeesport, Pa, to
cost S2OO.OOO.
Owing to the interest in the Hawaiian
annexation question Mr.. Davis of Minne-
sofa secured an agreement for the printing
of 5000 copies Of the treaty and other
documents.
The consideration Of the tariff bill was
then resumed. at schedule ], relating to
flax. hemp and jute and manufactures
thereof. Mr.. Vest of Missouri made a test
contest at the outset, moving to strike
out the first paragraph, fax straw at IS
per ton. He said The whole flax schedule
was based on the idea that we could pro-
duce the flax. but he denied this.
Ireland uss the only country in which
the fax for linen could be successfully pro-
duced; and he declared that the Mime
sofa max ha0 not proved satisfactory.
The amendment was reJected-19 10 28-
Mr. McEnery voting with the republicans.
Mr. Allison of Iowa, in charge of the hill,
Withdrew the Senate committee amendment
on fax. not hacked or dressed. leaving
the House rate Of 1 cent per pound stand.
He also withdrew the committee amend
ment on dressed flax, leaving the House
1T Is evident" remarked Mr. Jones of
Arkansas. that all the committee reduc-
tions are to be abandoned and the chairman
might as well move to accept tho higher
House rates in bulk
In further criucising the fax paragraph
Mr.. Vest ironically referred to that era of
prosperity which had been ''ofiicially and
enthusiastically announced" in a recent
prayer by the chaplain Of the Senate, ian
emissary Of providence" Mr.. Vest de-
clared that such faith could move noun
tains, and that the ordinary citizen mot
accredited by the Almighty" had not OBJ
served the advent Of prosperity.
Mr.. Davis (Minn.) said the flax produc-
ton of the northwest was a demonstrated
| success. He presented samples of the ar
ticle produced in Minnesota, Michigan and
the Dakotas.
Mr.. Gray Oel) expressed regret that
the discovery Of a new American product
such as flax must be accompanied by the
calamity Of heavy tax on an article of
universal USE
Mr.. Morrill, (vt) said the position of Mr..
Gray was the same as that Of Mr.. Glad
some. The English free traders wanted
the American farmer to continue the pro-
auction of raw materials and then to send
them to Belfast for manufacture
Mr.. Pettigrew Is. d. declared that the
proposed rates ought to be doubled. an
announcement to the Furnishing fax in
dustry of the northwest. The committee
had raised the duties on manufactured fax
from 30 to 100 per cent. said the senator
but on the raw material Of fax they had
given a duty equivalent to only IL per cent.
Inc SOttOA
Mr.. Pettfgrew derided the result Of plac-
ing duty on raw cotton. Southern SEN
ators had done this to keep out Egyptian
cotton. and yet the New England manu-
facturer had been given a compensatory
duty to bring in Egyptian cotton. So that,
declared the senator. all that was accom-
plished was to help eastern republicans to
break up the solid south
This brought a response from Mr. Bacon
(Ga-), who took the lead in the contest
for duty on raw cotton. He did not be-
| l.eve the cotton manufacturer should re-
ceive compensatory duty to offset the duty
| on raw cotton. as the manufacturer al
ready had ample protection. The commit
| tee was most sensitive in seeing that the
manufacturers received speedy compeDsa-
lions. but there was not the same sensitive
ness In looking after the producers of raw
materials. There was fragrant discrimina-
ton. he said, between the raw products of
the farmers of the south and those of the
north, the cotton bagging and cotton ties
used by the south being taxed, while the
binding Irvine used by the north was free
MI Allen interjected the remark that the
committee comm was celebrating on these ques-
through with the bill. that a Just eouilib-
i rum would be established.
Mr. Bacon had some sharp and good
natured sparring with Mr.. Jones and Mr.
Vest over their position that tariff rates
should be limited to revenue purposes
| And yet. he said. these senators believed
| In compensatory duties TO the Ilanufac-
,' which were not based on revenue,
MIR. Vest Immediately declared lis op-
| osition to compensatory duties.
MIR. Jones said that he opposed tax On
raw materials but when such a tax was
imposed the manufacturer was bound to
have d compensation.
But ought they to have itT' persisted
Mr. Bacon.
| Mr.. Jones responded that they ought
| not to be robbed any more than any one
] else should be robbed. TO direct uues-
ton on compensatory duties Mr.. Jones
| said he opposed anything not based strict
! ly on the revenue principle.
There was an exciting Interruption when
MIR. Bacon criticised the position of some
Of his associates in not favorins a revenue
duty on raw materials.
Mr.. Vest sprang to his feet, and with
great vehenence exclaimed: This is very
delectable to republican senators. Their
hearts are cheered, and 1 can see their
eyes glcam."
He had refrained thus far. he said, from
exposing democratic diScords but since the
senator from Georgia had gone into this
lavatory for washing democratic dirty
linen," he (VesD would ask his associates
a few questions.
Questioning MIR. Bacon.
Mr.. Vest was about to put a series of
sharp interrogatories, but Mr.. Bacon de-
INJURED. He did not like the idea Of being
put on the witness stand by his democratic
| associates, and being put through a course
Of categorical questions.
Mr.. Vest, whose manner had been In
tensely earnest. said the questioning had
been undertaken in no offensive way.
do you believe" he asked, 'in taxation
limited to the needs of the government,
economically administered"
Il do" responded Mr.. Bacon.
'"Then how persisted Mr.. Vest, could
the Georgia senator reconcile his position
with the fact that an idle surplus of mil
lions was now within the treasury? Why
should there be more revenue?'
IF / had my way" proceeded Mr.. Ba-
con. there would be no tariff bill. The
senator (Mr. VesO remarks that since there
Is to be tariff bill. want my share. l
! utterly repudiate that suggestion. l have
no sympathy with the cry that if the treas
ury is 20 be looted, l want my share. But
1 declare that il any revenue bill is passed
| 1t ought to be eQualiZed in its benefits"
Mr.. Bacon added that he and the other
democratic senators who had voted with
him had been constantly prodded by Mr.
Vest and others. They had remained silent,
but he did not feel that he should sit dumb
day after day and listen to these attacks
He paid high compliment to the ability OF
Mr.. Vest. and said he had no purpose to