Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-06-03
FEDERAL LAW MAKERS.

devoted by the senate TO us nrSL de-
bate on the new tariff bill At 2 p.
"a. the bill was formally introduced
without opposition. Mr.. Vest gave
notice that when the paragraphs were
read he would move to strike out the
provisions relating to beer, manufac-
tured tobacco and snuff and cigarettes.
Senator Aldrich then opened the de-
bate for the republicans, making a
long and elaborate argument. 1t is
my purpose" said he, Ito keep the bill
continuously before the senate, 70 the
exclusion of all other legislative bust
ness until it is finally disposed of, and
in this shall expect the hearty coop
Grafton of senators on both sides Of
the chamber.
The committee" he continued, be-
lieVeS congress to provide in the meas
ure under consideration for a reVenu
which will certainly meet the require
mentS OF the government for the fiscal
year" After giving in detail the house
estimates of revenue, Mr.. Aldrich pro-
ceeded: 1T will be apparent from an
VIZ
house bill that the estimate of $40,-
100000 increase of revenue, if the bill
should become a law by the first of
July, was excessive. Instead of an in
! creased revenue from tobacco, we may
safely count upon a decrease in the
! first year; the increase from sugar will
De much less than the ways and means
| or mi oct inn of IN n
fact that one quarter of the year S
supplies OF raw sugar will probably be
imported before any new rates of duty
can be applied to them. The secretary
of the treasury estimates the
expenditures for all purposes 70
/ the fiscal year ending June 80
1898, at $466, 946, 047.2S. The finance
committee estimates the revenue to
be derived in the same fiscal year from
customs, if the provisions of the bill
reported by it should be enacted
into law, at 1882, 744, 900. This in
cludes an estimated revenue from the
temporary duty on tea of $S,000,0 900.
In selecting the sources for addi-
tional revenue the committee decided
|
articles Of voluntary use, rather than
to assess additional duties, which
might prove imperative, upon articles
of necessity or upon those which en-,
ter into our manufactured products
Assuming that the necessity for addi
tional revenue exists, and of this We
believe there can be no question
there is no economic reason, dnd GER
tainly none that affects the public in.
terests, why beer and tobacco should
not bear their share Of additional tax.
alton"
Sen ,tor Vest followed Senat Aid
rich in a vigorous speech against the
republican tariff policy. Senator Vest
inquired why, if there was now suf.
ficient revenue for the expenses of the
| government, the republican party
should adopt the policy of it's oppo-
nent and put a tax on tea. He urged
| that there was in the treasury more
money than when President Harrison
turned it over to Grover c eveland
NJ. Cannon, the silver republican OF
Utah, closed the debate. He intro
duced an amendment for a bounty on
agricultural exports and spoke briefly
Mr. Cannon's amendment provides
for a short bounty on wheat, corn
, flour, tobacco and other farm products
by way of equalization to agriculture
alists of the benefits of this tariff act
This amendment is a result of the
/ conference Of silver republicans, popu-
lists and some democrats which may
! be said to represent the sentiment of
the element which puts silver above
all other legislation.
Washington, May 6.-Today the
first vote on the tariff bill was
! taken by the senate. 1t came after
| two hours debate on the item of bor-
acic acid, which although compare
! lively unimportant, afforded an oppor-
various elements. Mr.. Vests amend
ment to make the rate on boracic acid
! three cents instead of five presented
a direct issue between the committee
and the opponents of the bill. The
amendment was defeated largely on
party lines, the vote being "a to 20.
The senate adopted the Chandler
resolution authorizing the sending of
supplies to the famine sufferers in
India by any suitable ship instead of
combining them to an American ship.
An arrangement was reached that