The San Francisco call., 1897-07-04
TARIFF DEBATE
NEARLY ENDED
Amendment Offered for
a Beet Sugar
Bounty.
Jones of Arkansas Insists on
Its Full Discus
sion.
Rather Than Delay the Passage OF
the Bill Its Promoters May
Withdraw 1t.

WASHINGTON, D. c., July 3.-When
the Senate met to-day there was little evil
dence that the close of the long and
arduous tariff debate was near at hand,
with possibility OF the final vote late to-
day. The attendance in the galleries was
no greater than usual, and during the
morning hours there was considerably less
than quorum present.
The chaplain's prayer referred to the an
niversary of the Nations birth and the
profound significance of that event in tho
civilization of the world.
A resolution was agreed to calling on
the Secretary of the Interior for the ma mes
and political affiliations of pension ex-
aminers in the field recently dismissed.
Gallinger of New Hampshire secured an
amendment extending the inquiry to
those dismissed from March 4, 1898, TO
July l, 1893.
The tariff bill was then taken up and
Allison presented three new amend
ments, not for immediate action, he said,
but in order that they might be speedily
printed. The first provides for bounty
of one-quarter of cent per pound on beet
sugar made from heets grown in the
United States from Iuly l, 1898 to 1903.
Jones of Arkansas expressed surprise
that on the day which he hoped to be the
last of the tariff ebate the com mittee
should bring In this far-reaching amend
ment, EN- bodying one of the most radical
departures made in century. Such ex-
periments as had been made in the line of
bounty legislation had proved disastrous,
he said.
Allison explained that the amendmen
was a pre- else reproduction of the bounty
clause of the law OF 1890. except that i:
was confined to beet sugar and that 1t
was limited to one-fourth OF q cent q
pound.
"Of course there is no use in talking
about hurrying this proposition now,'
said Jones. There must be time 10 look
into it,"
Certainly. There is no purpose to
hurry it," Allison further explained, say
ing that the purpose of the amendment,
and the only purpose, was to lncre ase the
production of sugar beets and the making
of sugar therefrom, as these beets could
be grown as we'll in this country as abroad.
Allen of Nebraska proposed an amend
ment specifically stating that the bounty
Is to encourage the cultivation of sugar
beets."
The amend me mt then went over tempo
rarily.
The Senate this afternoon concluded
the first reading of the tariff bill. admin
istrative sections and all. The House Sec
ton prohibiting the entry of all convict
made goods was agreed to and many 9th
ers of the administrative provisions were
restored to the bill.
Jones forced the withdrawal of the
r-bounty amendment. After the first
reading of the bill had been com pie ted
Jones announced that in view OF the new
amendment on sugar bounties the Senate
W. bo in aaSSi0n a ttpOO0 long time
1t could not be passed without the fullest
discussion. The weather was intensely
hot; therefore, Jones proceeded decisive
ly, he thought 1t we'll to give up the early
daily meetings of the session, resuming
the IL o'clock sessions, and he thought it
desirable that the Senate now adjourn.
Allison responded that he thought the
bill was 10 be passed to day.
In surprised tones Jones answered that
such an idea was preposIerous. With this
bounty question brought in, could it be
possible to expect the passage OF the bill
this week, or next week, or tho week after
next? He was absolutely astounded. he
said, to have this proposition brought in
at the last moment He again expressed
hope that IL o'clock sessions and an ad-
journment for to-day woIld be agreed to-
Thurston of Nebraska, who had been
comforting with Allison, took the floor
He spoke OF the part he had taken III urg-
ing this Deet-Sugar bounty anu his earnest
wish that il be incorporated in the bill.
"But recognize he continued, that
the people of this country are demanding
the immediate passage of this tariff bill.
They are i'm patient that the rates of duties
shall be so permanently established that
the calculations of business can be made.
As one of the prime movers OF this propo-
siiion / reluctantly. in the discharge of
W hat believe 10 be patriotic duty, yield
to the threat OF the other side of this
cham Der to prolong this debate indefi-
nitely and that the wheels OF industry
may begin TO revolve. that the smoke Of
the chimneys may arise, that tho spindies
may begin to sing, withdraw the amend
ment."
Thurston's announcement was made
with impressive effect and was received
with awelike silence by Senators and
spectators.
Allen of Nebraska, the colleague of