The record-union., 1897-07-22
Formal Reading of the Conference
Report Concluded.
The Paragraph Relating to Printing Paper
Debated at Length.
Though No Agreement Has Yet
Been Reached, It Is Thought
Probable That the Senate Will
Vote on the Bill Sometime To-
Morrow,


tariff conference report to-day. The
debate was spiritless in the main Early
in the day Jones of Arkansas made
contest against the Conference Com
mittee, on the ground that it had ex-
ceeded its authority in so amending the
paragraph relating to printing paper as
TO place a retaliatory duty against the
countries paying the export duty on
wood pulp. His point of order was de-
bated at much length, and finally over
ruled by Vice-President Hobart. rms
removed the only obstacle thus lar en-
countered by the report. The reclproc-
ity amendment and the abandonment OF
the stamp tax on bonds and stocks de-
veloped much criticism.
1t is probable that a vote will De
taken in the Senate on the conference
tariff bill Friday. No agreement mas
been reached, but private understand
ing to that effect seems to have been
arrived at.
The tariff conference report was
taken up in the Senate to-day after
routine business was disposed of and
the formal reading Of the report pro-
ceeded.
During the early hours the discussion
was purely formal, most of that time
being given to identifying the numbered
amendments with the text of the Senate
bill
The first contest arose over amend
ment $50. relating to printing paper
The conference reported a reta1latofy
proviso as follows:
IF any country or dependency shall
impose an export duty on pulp WOOD
exported TO the United States there
shall be imposed upon printing paper
when imported from such country OF
denendency. an additional duty of one
tenth of one cent per pound for each
dollar of export duty per cord so I'M
posed. and proportionately for fractions
of a dollar of such export duty
Senators Vest, Jones of Arkansas and
Teller vigorously protested against TINS
amendment, saying it was new pro-
vision. not acted upon by the Senate,
and lies beyond the power of the Con-
ference Committee.
Teller criticised it as an outrage, and
came before the Senate, saying in eff
feet: What are you going to do ABOUT
it?"
Jones finally made a direct issue
against the Conference Committee,
making a point of order against the re-
taliatory clause, on the ground OF us
being new matter. He said he would
ask for a ruling from the Chair on the
regularity of the conference action
AldTich. one of the conferrees, de-
Tended the retaliatory clause, saying II
was strictly within the rights OF the
,.onferrees. as the general subject was
in the difference between the Senate
and House. The conference report must
be accepted or rejected as a whole, salo
Aldrich, and the main question shoulo
not be diverted by appeals for ruling
from the Chair.
White of California referred to the
secret sessions of the Republican con-
ferrees. and ironically read Chandler 5
sentiments on the Wilson bill, in winch
the New Hampshire Senator declared
that the bill had been brought forth III
4he dark and should be blasted by leg
islative lightning.
lengthy discussion followed on the
mowers of the Conference Committee.
Morgan argued that the committee
had exceeded it's powers, and it couid
mot arrogate to itself the right to orig
6nate new amendments. The present
ain was framed on purely partisan lines,
declared Morgan, and was designed to
give benefits to party favorites. He re-
ferred to the reports that the splendid
and ponderous Speaker" OF the Rouse
of Representative had secured House
victory on the sugar schedule. Inc sen
ator thought there must be some mis-
take about the Speakers success, for
Notwithstanding his ponderosity, the
harder he hits down on a thing the
harder it rises. Notwithstanding his
sitting down on the sugar schedule, up
go the prices" If he can't work the
safety valve better than that he had bet
ter retire from politics.
President Hobart announced his
decision on the point of order, holding
that it was not well taken. 1t was not,
he said, for the Chair to determine
whether the matter in conference re-
port was new or relevant All such
questions were for the Senate itself to
act on the question of accepting or re-
jecting the report.
on hides, Allen of Nebraska asked
why the conferrees had provided a
drawback of duty on leather exported
made from imported hides.
Aldrich explained that the House had
Insisted on this proviso. and he felt that
the drawback was payable under the
law, without reference to the provision.
He thought about $500. 900 to $3.50, 900
of revenue would be obtained from the
duty on hides. and probably half of this
would be paid in drawbacks.