The Portland daily press., 1897-06-17
THIRTEEN PAGES GONE.
Senate Gets Through Lots Of Tariff
Bill.
THE AGRICULTURAL SCHEDULE
WAS COMPLETED YESTERDAY.

Finance Committee Proposed Many
Changes, Mostly Advancing Rates
Motion to Restore Salt to Free List Re-
jected-The Debates All of the short
and scrappy Order.
Washington, June 16.-The Senate made
rapid work on the tariff bill today. There
was no long speeches, and the debate was
of snappy character which at times en-
livened but did not delay the serious work
on the bill. I thirteen pages were dis
posed of, carrying the Senate through the
agricultural schedule and up to schedule
Fl, relating to spirits, wines, etc. During
the day the paragraphs of dairy products,
farm products, fish, fruit and nuts, meat
products and miscellaneous agricultural
products were acted on. The finance COM
mittee proposed many changes, in the
main advancing rates somewhat over
these heretofore reported. The committee
was sustained on every vote, although
a contest was made on almost every para
graph. Mr.. Vests motion to restore salt
to the free list was re ected. Yeas, "a
posing a tax on tea went over at the sug-
gestion of Mr.. Allison who expressed
hope that this duty on tea might be dis
pensed with.
The Senate met at II o'clock and will
continue to meet at that hour until the
tariff bill has been passed
When the tariff bill was taken up,at the
suggestion of Mr.. Jones, an arrangement
was made by which the Senate after
agreeing to several amendments, mig hit
return and secure a vote on six more at a.
time.
The consideration of the agricultural
schedule was continued.
In the paragraph on hay Mr.. Allison
withdrew the committee amendment
leaving the House rate of 81 per ton.
Propositions to reduce the duty on
honey, hops, garlic, onions and peas were
rejected.
Mr. Allison offered new paragraph
covering certain flowers including or
chids, ETC., 80 per cent ad valoran.
This caused lively contest. The para
graph was agreed to.
On stocks, seedlings, ETC., Mr.. Allison
for the committee, propose several
changes.
At this point Mr.. Pettus of Alabama,
gave notice of an amendment to the sugar
schedule, making unlawful the importa-
tion of sugar by any trust or combination
formed in restraint OF trade or to increase
the price of sugar. The amendment pro-
vides that such sugar when imported
shall be forfeited to the government and
that the Attorney General Shall take steps
to enforce this forfeiture. The debate
then proceeded on the paragraph as to
nursery stocks. The paragraph was agreed
to.
On potatoes Mr. Allison withdrew the
committee amendment of 20 cents per
bushel leaving the House rate of 25 cents
per bushel.
Mr.. Jones of Arkansas moved to reduce
the rate to Is cents per bushel.
Mr.. Jones amendment was rejected
and the paragraph as changed by Mr.
Allison was agreed to.
The seed paragraph went over.
Straw 81. 80 per ton was agreed to; also
teasles and VEGETABLES.
This brought the Senate to the fish
paragraphs. The committee amendment
to paragraph 255, relative to anchovies,
change making the clause apply to these
fish in bottles and jars, as well as boxes.
Paragraph 256, relating to fresh water
fish was agreed to as reported at one
fourth cent per pound, fresh herring being
excepted.
In paragraph 257 the committee amend
ment was agreed to making the rate on
salted herring one-half cent per pound and
on fresh herring one-fourth cent per
pound.
The committee amendment to paragraph
25S, fish in barrels was agreed to with
notifications. The House paragraphs 259
and 260 were struck out as reported. They
cover the retaliatory provision on fish,
elsewhere provided for, and shell fish in
cans.
Fruits and nuts were then taken up. On
changes including peaches, currants,
ounces, cherries and plums, with green
or ripe apples and pears at 25 cents per
bushels, and adding cranberries at 25 per
cent ad valorem.
Those were agreed to and a motion by
Mr.. Vest to make the rate on fruits 20
per cent was rejected. The committee on
amendments to paragraph 262 relating to
committee of its preserved fruit, etc.. was
agreed to with other modification as to
the amount of alcohol.
Paragraph 263, figs, etc., was changed
on motion of Mr. Allison, SO that the rate
on figs, plums, prunes and prunelles is
two cents per pound; olives 25 cents per
gallon. In this paragraph the item of
stoned a lengthy discussion. Mr.. Mills
of Texas, maintained that these currants
came exclusively from the island of Zante
while the California Senators White and
Perkins insisted these currants were a
leading product of California.
Mr.. Jones of Arkansas moved an
amendment making the rates 1912 cents
per pound on figs, plums, prunes, pru-
nelles, raisins and other dried grapes and
20 per cent ad valorem on Zante currants.
Mr.. Jones amendment was rejected
without division and the paragraph as
amendmed by Mr.. Allison was agreed to.
Paragraph 264, grapes i'll barrels, ETC..
was agreed to as reported at 20 cents pei
cubic foot.
On oranges, lemons, lines, grape frui
and pomeles, the committee had substi-
tuted the rate of one cent per pound for
the House rate of three-fourths cent on
the fruit and thirty per cent ad valorem
on the boxes, etc. The paragraph caused
some discussion.
The paragraph was then agreed to as re-
ported.
On paragraph 266, orange peel or lemon
peel, preserved, etc., and cocoanut meat
the committee rate was changed on
motion of Mr.. Allison to 1-2 cents pei
pound, the remainder of the paragraph
being agreed to.
PineappleS went over at the reouest ot