The San Francisco call., 1897-06-06
Bacon of Georgia, However,
Puts Himself Firmly on the
Side of Republicans.
MCLaurIn OF South Carolina and
Clay Of Georgia Make Their
Maiden Speeches.

! the Dem ocratic Senators, Bacon OF
! Georgia, put himself firmly on the side
OF the Repu ublicans so far as that para
| graph Is concerned, arguing in favor OF 1t.
When the Senate convened a communi-
cation from The Secretary of State was re-
celyed transmitting a letter from the
Minister of Ausiro- o-Hungary, Baron Won
| Hengelmuelier, protesting in behalf OF his
Government against the discrimination
OF tie sugar schedule in the present tariff
bill against bountied sugar. The Minis
ter's letter was read in full at the request
OF Vest. 1t urges that the discrimination
| against sugar receiving bounties denies to
Austria Hungary the most favored ma
ton treatment, and also threatens to
damage heavily the exports OF the coun-
| try. the communication was referred TO
the Finance Committee
at 12:15 o'clock the consideration of the
tariff bill was resumed. The first para
graph of the wood schedule relating to
hewn timbers, ETC., was agreed TO at y
cents per cubic foot-the new rate pro-
posed by the committee.
When the next paragraph relating TO
sawed boards planks etc, was reached
Vest said he would later move to place
[
the previous on the free list.
Allison then perfected the provision re-
latinC to the addition of the export duty
so that the proviso will apply also to
"broomsticks and chains used in towing
logs" This amendment was agreed to.
Jones of Arkansas, referring 10 the
heavy burden it imposed On the people of
the West said the rates of the Till were
the result of a determined and systematic
effort by the lum Der men, and il this con-
nection he read letter from the n ational
Lumber Convention that was issued from
an office in Washington urging chat petit
tions to Senators and members be pre-
pared bearing the names of worKingmen.
This Jones declared was the means by
which the high rates we're being urged.
Vest said there was not a single item in
the bill so utterly indeiensible as that tax
ing white pine from the free list and plac-
ing a rate of So per thousand feet upon il.
| White pine was justly called 1.-The king of
conIferous woods" and yet the clear in
tent OF the trainers of this bill was to
make the rates absolutely prohibitory on
tais wood.
1t was due to some extent to combina-
ton between the lum Der interests of the
West and South, and he had been con-
fronted by this com bination during his
last canvass. The Senator referred to the
manner n which the Maine delegation
the ablest one in Congress-had succeeded
for years in keeping spruce on the dutiable
list. 1t was a credit to their capacity
which they displayed il all directions, Sc
curing among other things more public
buildln lngs than any other State.
Vest declared that the proposed rate on
white pine was in the interest of the
"lum Der barons, who have accumulated
millions upon millions" at the expense of
the people. As evidence of this the Sena-
tor read letter from Michigan giving the
names of Michigan pine kings In fervid
tones Vest referred TO this added burden
on the poor, 20 whom every penny was
almost dollar and every dollar almost
drop of blood. 1t was, he said, the most
indeienslble item OF the bill, without jus.
tihcation or palliation.
Jones of Arkansas warned his Southern
associates against the argument that the
lum Der interests OF the South would be
benefited by the exclusion of Canadian
lumber. He read letter from an Ameri-
can lumberman on the border, saying the
result OF the rates would be TO compel the
Canadians to reduce the price of their
lumber, and it eventually would come
into the United States cheaper than at
present.
McLaurin D.) of South Carolina. who
recently entered the Senate, made his ini-
tiaI speech, critIcizing TIE rates OF the
wood schedule, saving ehey were not de-
signed TO benefit any Southern industry,
and that If there was anything of the kind
it was merely incidental.
Vest moved as amendment exceptin z
white pine from the operation of the
paragraph.
Bacon (D.) of Georgia EXPIRE Esed his diff
ferences from Vest. The latter, he said
had advocated rates increased 100 per
cent, while in this sc edule the average
ad valuEem was below 20 per cent. That
being the case Bacon asserted that Vest s
statement that this was the most unjusti-
fable feature of the bill was not war.
ranted. 81 regard it as the most reason
able feature of the whole bill, F" declared
Bacon. Il regard the schedule as proper
one irrespective of the party from which
it comes"
The idnior Senator from Georgia, Clay,
made his maiden speech. He did not :
heve in free trade, but did believe in tariff
sufficient to support the Government
carried on econom cally. He denied that
the pending bill deserved the support of
the people or that it should suppIant the
existing tariff law. He also denied that
there was any necessity for tariff agita-
lion now and he went on to critic ze In
detail some provisions, particularly those
In the sugar schedule.
Vest moved to except white pine from
the provision in paragraph 1893 putting
duty OF 81 thousand on sawed lumber
not es pecially provided for.
Petugrew favored Vests amendment,
but asked that the paragraph go over un-
Ill Monday.
Hale objected.
Pettigrew remarked significantly that
more progress would be made if his re-
quest was complied with. Hale replied
ne was not to be frightened by q threat.
Alien, who had been absent some weeks,
SAID he desired to speak on the paragraph,
but was not prepared to do so to-day.
Pettigrew began a long speech against
the wood schedule. The principle of pro-
lection put forward by the Republican
party was, he said, that under protection
there would be such home competition