Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-02-05


Presented as Soon as Mckinley
Can Call His Congress Together
in Extra Session-Four Schedules
Have Been Determined Upon
with Considerable Defniteness.
Chemicals, Wines and Spirits,
Glass and Earthenware and Ag-
ricultural Products-M Kinley
Law Closely Followed.
Washington, February 4.-The daily
sessions of the Republican members Of
the Ways and Means Committee, which
have been in progress for about two
weeks have brought the tariff bill
which is to be laid before the next Con-
gress to a stage where the character Of
the measure can be somewhat gauged
and where certain of the most import
ant schedules are definitely fixed Four
schedules have now been fairly COM
pleted, the chemical, agriculture, wines
and spirits and earthen and glassware
schedules. All of the rates which have
been decided upon are subject 10
change before the committee finishes
the bill. but most of them probably
will remain as they have been fixed in
the first draft of the bill. To-day $
meeting was the most important Of the
series, for it resulted in the framing
of the agricultural schedule, which was
made a re-enactment Of the Mckinley
law with few changes except on Unim-
portant products. The most import
ant step in connection with this sched-
ule was the establishment Of rates Of
50 a head on cattle more than one year
old and of p per cent ad yalOrem on
cattle valued at more than $40 a head.
Ii is against the Mexican stock that the
increase is particularly directed, on
the representations Of western cattle
men that their business had been ruin
ed by the impOrtations from Mexico un-
der the Wilson law. which amounted
to more than 100000 head.
Much interest CenteIed upon barley,
which the committee puts back to the
Mckinley duty of 80 cents a bushel
because the farmers cCntended that the
Wilson tariff had turned over the mar
ket into the hands of the Canadians,
while the malsters, who have been
using Canadian barley, have made q
hard fight against any increase. The
Mckinley rates have been restored on
fruits and berries mainly for the be0e-
fit of the fruit growers Of the Pacific
coast.
Among the products in the agricul-
tural schedule which are returned 80
the Mckinley rates are breadstUns and
rice, dairy products, potatoes and
starch. castor beans and tiaXseed. meats
and meat products. eggs and poultry.
vegetables and salt The demand OF
the farmers for the Mckinley rate OF
81 a ton on hay insted of the Wilson
I rate Of 81. was granted.
In the chemical schedule many Of the
Wilson rates viii be retained. The
Wilson duties on soaps and on sodas
and kindred chemicals which are the
raw materials of soap, are lett IN
changed The present rates on oils. In
cluding castor oil. also will be retained.
The duties on lead in ores is placed at
one cent a pound, ON pig lead > cents,
on white lead and lead aceJatcs 212
cents.
The committee has decided to retain
the Wilson rates on wines and spirits
throughout the wine and spirit sched-
ule. This schedule Of the Wilson act
was generally higher in its rates than
in the Mckinley act.
The committee has devoted some
time to the consideration Of maruiac-
lures Of iron and steel and TO cotton
manufactures, but has not perfected
these schedules. IN the cotton sched-
ule there will be few changes from the
present law except in rates on finer
yarns and the most costly fabrics. The
changes in the iron and steel sched-
ule will be limited 10 few speclaiues
like cotton ties. on which Mckinney
duties will be re-establshod on tin
plate. which has not been settled. and
some forms of tube steel and surgical
instruments.
No other schedule has given the
committee so much trouble as the one
which includes earths, caIlhenw2re
and glassware. It has been claimed by
all the pottery and glass interests that
the Wilson law has proven destructive
TO their interests and that no system Of
ad valorem levies could properly pro-
tect them. Accordingly the commit
tee has determined to adjust the items
of the schedule TO such specific duties
as will be equal TO the duties of the Nc
Kinlev law. most Of which were ad va
loren. On account Of the decorative
features of such wares. which often are
the chief element in their value. /, is
particularly difficult to adjust satistac-
tory specific rates.
Plate glass has been arranged rs fol-
lows:
Under 1924 inches, eight cents per
square foot. (present rate, fVe) above
16x24 and net exceeding 24X20. twelve
cents. (present rate. eighD ;aboye 24&oo
and not exceeding 24X60. the present
rate of 221b cents; all above 24X6o the
present rate OF 50 cents.
Lumber will be the next subject TO
engace The committees attention.
Troughouu the work The policy OF
establishing specific rates wherever 1t
was found possible to substitute them
for ad valorem has been followed.
---O-
REPORTED INDIAN RAID.
Kansas CITY. Mo. February IA spc-
cial IN the star f,om Guthrie. Okla, says:
II is reported that am attempt to raid
the Sac and Fox Indian agen"y was made